Photographing Bracelets

Tabby_Kitten_2

At the start of this year I did a college course and from that have started making bracelets, I now want to sell some of ebay, but am really not happy with the photo's I've taken of them.

Has anyone got any tips for how to make them look good?

frivolous_fay

Do you have a camera with a macro setting? A tripod? These will help.

What are you displaying the bracelets on?

Tabby_Kitten_2

I know I don't have a tripod but not sure about a macro setting.

I've been trying to display the bracelets on my waist, which looks ok

celyn90

Hi Op, I don't know a great deal about photography, but you could try putting them onto a plain fabric and taking pictures close up. I photographed my sisers bridal tiara on black velvet with soft lighting so it didn't reflect too much and the photos came out okay; you could see the detail fine.

frivolous_fay

I'm assuming we're talking about a digital camera - but I might be wrong! What is it about your photos that you don't like?

The macro setting (if you have one) will probably have an icon like a flower. It allows you to get better focus close-up.

Tabby_Kitten_2

Yes, it's a digital camera and it sounds like I will have that setting.

The bracelets are made from seed beads so are very small and the detail doesn't seem to show up very well on the photos, I think I'll maybe try take a photo of a small section, instread of the whole bracelet? Do you think buyers would be happy with that?

frivolous_fay

I would try to get both... remember that you can add multiple photos to your listing without paying ebay's stupid charges for doing so!

pariskate

frivolous_fay wrote: »

I would try to get both... remember that you can add multiple photos to your listing without paying ebay's stupid charges for doing so!

How can you do that?

Also, try on macro without the flash - if you put them in good daylight (near a window) and hold the camera steady you can get fine details showing up nicely.

frivolous_fay

Info here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=186598&highlight=photobucket

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=375368&highlight=photos

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=521437&highlight=photobucket

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=439994&highlight=photobucket

RFW

Try them on a white cloth and then a black cloth. Have the light behind the camera and the item, use a simple lamp if possible.

If its very reflective, a good tip is to not photograph it directly, so its not in the centre of the pic and maybe move further away. If you've got more than one, put 5 or 6 in a picture and then edit the best one using Paint if you've not got any other picture software (most PCs have got Paint).

Sarah-Jane_2

RFW wrote: »

then edit the best one using Paint if you've not got any other picture software (most PCs have got Paint).

Paint isn't that good for editing photo's, I find the colours blur too easily on saving, OP would be better off using a photo editing program, like photoshop or paint shop pro, they'd look more professional too, and if used regularly are well worth the money

I'd also recommend taking them on a piece of fabric. Or maybe buy a display hand (cheap on eBay!), using one of these displayed against a white background (I just use a white sheet) should give a good picture.
Also if they're seed bead take a close up of a small section to show the beads, and also one of the bracelet to show what it looks like. If you have a photo editing program you could edit so they're shown in one pic rather than uploading a few.
Make sure you have good lighting in the room - nothing worse than a pic that looks too dark - although again, this can be altered using a photo editing program but you may lose the true colour of the bracelet.

When i'm taking pics I usually take 4/5 of the same item in one go using different settings on my camera (ie a close up pic, a far away one, one with flash, one without... you get the idea ) then I have a good choice of pics so can find at least one to use rather than having to go through my pile of stuff again to retake pics

Not sure this will help but there ya go! lol