How to Take Professional Jewelry Photos at Home

Admin
Sep 5
2 min read

Updated: Sep 17

Whether you're an artist selling handmade pieces or a small brand trying to level up your online store, great jewelry photography can make all the difference. With today’s tools and a little technique, you don’t need a professional studio to create professional results.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you do it right — even from your kitchen table.

1. Set the Scene: Background & Surface

Clean, non-distracting backgrounds help jewelry stand out. Choose:

White foam boards
Neutral paper rolls
Acrylic sheets (for reflections)

Avoid glossy surfaces that may reflect the camera or yourself. For lifestyle shots, you can use props, but keep them minimal and colour-coordinated.

2. Lighting Is Everything

Natural light is ideal — position near a window with sheer curtains. If that’s not enough:

Use a light box with diffused LEDs
Avoid mixing light temperatures (yellow and white)
Place lights at 45-degree angles to reduce shadow

💡 Bonus Tip: Use white cards to reflect light back onto the jewelry for sparkle.

3. Camera & Settings

You don’t need a DSLR — smartphones are great these days. But:

Turn off flash
Use portrait or manual mode
Focus manually on the jewelry
Use a tripod to avoid blur

For DSLR: shoot with f/8–f/11 for sharpness and ISO < 400 to avoid grain.

4. Composition & Angles

Try various compositions:

Flat lay
45-degree angle
Straight-on product shot
Detail close-ups

Use gridlines to follow the rule of thirds. Highlight features like gemstone clarity, engravings, and sparkle.

5. Edit Like a Pro

You don’t need Photoshop. Try:

Canva – Quick edits
Lightroom Mobile – Colour correction
Remove.bg – Background removal

Retouch slightly — remove dust, balance whites, and sharpen edges.

6. Export for Web

For online stores (like Etsy, Shopify):

Use 2000px wide images
Save as JPEG with 80–90% quality
Keep file sizes under 500KB for faster loading

Add alt-text for SEO: e.g., "Gold necklace with pearl pendant - handmade"

7. When to Hire a Pro

DIY works, but for high-end catalogues, editorial campaigns, or brand storytelling, a pro like Peyman Khorram elevates your brand with years of experience in lighting, composition, and detail.

You can also build a hybrid workflow — shoot basic images at home and outsource post-editing to professionals.

Final Thoughts

Mastering jewelry photography at home is all about learning to see light and details. With practice, you can build a visual identity for your brand without renting a studio.

And if you ever need inspiration, explore Peyman Khorram’s Portfolio to see how professionals use light, angles, and storytelling to create impactful jewelry imagery. 🔗 Internal Links: