Equipments for Jewelry/ Portrait Photography

[hcho22]

<p>Hi Everyone,<br>

My friend owns a jewelry company and he wants to shoot his jewelry and models in house. I'm shopping for some lighting equipments and was wondering what would be the best gear for him. His goal is to achieve pictures with great lighting and details like the following:<br>

<a href="http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Category.aspx?cid=287466&mcat=148204">http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Category.aspx?cid=287466&mcat=148204</a><br>

<a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3127009?origin=category&resultback=0">http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3127009?origin=category&resultback=0</a><br>

Can he produce these kind of photos with 2~3 speedlights or does he have to buy something with more power? His budget is around $1300 for the whole setup. I want to suggest the following equipments...<br>

2 Alienbees 800/1600<br>

2 lightstands (over 9 ft)<br>

2 Umbrellas/softboxes<br>

cybersync trigger/receivers</p>

<p>Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Hyung</p>

[Charles_Webster]

<p>Before buying equipment, buy and read "Light - Science & Magic" to learn how to light reflective objects.</p>

<p>Two lights and a couple of umbrellas will not give you the kind of results you see on those sites. Search here on PN for jewelry photography to see some of the advice Matt Laur, I, and others have given in the past. This question is asked frequently.</p>

<p>Lighting small reflective objects like jewelry requires great precision in light and reflection control. Expect to spend weeks or even months practicing before you get one picture of that kind of quality.</p>

<p><Chas><br /><br /></p>

[ken_yee]

<p>Jewelry photography is probably one of the hardest types of product photography. Think little spherical mirrors...</p>

 

[model mayhem gallery]

<p>I think what you have proposed is over kill for the pictures you showed. When I shot jewlrey for a diamond store we used those tiny 1" lights that you see in the stores and small pen mag lights using AAa batteries with holders. It was important for the light to only hit the diamonds to make the spakle stand out from the rest of the ring. Mag lights you can focus the beam like a fresnel light but way smaller. Also you don't need a lot of power because it washes out the details. I used an 85 1.2L at 1.2 with very little additional lighiting. The quality of the lens was more important. Maybe, look into a 100 F2.8 macro lens.</p>

[b_christopher]

<p>You can spend $1300 or $13,000 on lighting equipment and achieve good product photography. But, without knowing how to use the tools effectively(i.e., much experience), it won't make much difference. If your friend is not experienced in lighting products(your question insinuates he is not), you might as well have him look into a light tent and a couple of cheap continuous lights. It'll get you close, and he'll save some money and lots of heartache in the long run. Certainly, as mentioned, producing images of such caliber(as in your links) takes many years of experience and lots and lots of tools to achieve.</p>

[hcho22]

<p>thanks everyone for your input.<br>

Charles,<br>

I'll get started on that book.</p>