LATEST: Course Update - March 08, 2024
Do you know that great looking photos can dramatically make a difference in what the perceived value is of the item you are photographing? Yes, it’s true. Several years ago I started helping my wife build her eBay business while creating the photos of jewelry and small products that she was selling. Over and over again I saw her sell her items on eBay for many times more than what she paid for them. Her items sometimes would sell for 35 or 50 times more than what she paid. Sometimes even more than that.
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LATEST: Course Update - March 08, 2024
Do you know that great looking photos can dramatically make a difference in what the perceived value is of the item you are photographing? Yes, it’s true. Several years ago I started helping my wife build her eBay business while creating the photos of jewelry and small products that she was selling. Over and over again I saw her sell her items on eBay for many times more than what she paid for them. Her items sometimes would sell for 35 or 50 times more than what she paid. Sometimes even more than that.
LATEST: Course Update - March 08, 2024
Do you know that great looking photos can dramatically make a difference in what the perceived value is of the item you are photographing? Yes, it’s true. Several years ago I started helping my wife build her eBay business while creating the photos of jewelry and small products that she was selling. Over and over again I saw her sell her items on eBay for many times more than what she paid for them. Her items sometimes would sell for 35 or 50 times more than what she paid. Sometimes even more than that.
What’s the difference between the items? Nothing, except the photos that she showed were beautiful. They were lit and composed beautifully, had interesting backgrounds and overall, had the look that you might see in the photographs displayed at high end jewelers and department stores. As the result, this gave them a much higher perceived value and her customers were willing to pay more for these items.
You are probably wondering, what’s the big deal? What makes these photos look so great? Can anyone learn to take photos like these? Yes, I absolutely believe anyone can? Here’s why:
I have been a professional photographer for many years. Our studio specialized in portrait & wedding photography and we were quite busy. When she asked me to help her take her photos of jewelry and small products she started selling, I started doing so in a simple, easy and quick way since I didn’t have too much time to spend on her photos, I was quite busy taking my own photos and running the studio.
What started as a simple and quick photo session of her items, has evolved through the years. I was able to fine tune the lighting, the set-up and overall way we photographed her items. Our method has remained simple, quick, easy to learn, and consistent. We step into our small studio room we have designated for taking these photos, turn on the lights, and begin the photography.
If you would like to learn how you can take photos of the small products or jewelry you are selling, consider enrolling in this course. Instead of photographing your items on a carpet or bed spread with bad lighting. Say NO to bad photos and start making more money. Whether you are selling your own products on your own website or small products on eBay, I truly believe this course can help you.
It really doesn’t take any more time taking outstanding and professional looking photos. I even show you several lighting methods and techniques you can use. Some of them cost very little and some of them are free.
There’s even a pretty good chance that you may already own a camera that is more than adequate and has the potential to produce these amazing photos. The only thing that may be missing is the knowledge you need to start taking more professional looking photos by using the methods I show you, step by step, in this course. Enroll today, say NO to bad photos and start making more money.
What's inside
Learning objectives
- Create beautiful small product & jewelry photographs regardless of the type of camera you are using.
- Learn how you can use different lighting styles in photographing your jewelry & small products.
- How aperture control can affect your depth-of-field in your photographs allowing you to get everything in focus or just a section of the item.
- Learn how to get the most from using light tents or light boxes.
- Create beautiful small product & jewelry photographs regardless of the type of camera you are using.
- Learn how you can use different lighting styles in photographing your jewelry & small products.
- How aperture control can affect your depth-of-field in your photographs allowing you to get everything in focus or just a section of the item.
- Learn how to get the most from using light tents or light boxes.
Syllabus
In this section I cover three different cameras used in this course and discuss how each one has the potential for giving you professional quality images.
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Syllabus
Here I show samples of some of the small products I photographed. I also explain what will be covered in this course and why better photos can make you more money and that you don't need expensive equipment to take beautiful photographs.
A brief discussion on how we will be using an iPod Touch to photograph some of the small products in this course and why.
A look at the point & shoot camera used in this course.
In this update I discuss the digital single lens reflex camera and lens I'm currently using, and why you don't need the newest and most expensive pieces of equipment to get outstanding photographs.
There are big advantages and some disadvantages in using window light, find out what they are.
Here I discuss the type of a really nice continuous light source that I use, fluorescent lighting, along with a very popular & affordable accessory.
Using an electronic flash & an umbrella is another option that you can use for small products. Here are advantages and a disadvantage which can be corrected.
In this segment I discuss the lighting system I use for my small product photography. Although, it may be a bit unorthodox for small products, I discuss the benefits of using this system and why I can get beautiful professional images easily and consistently. Plus, I've also added an update on how I'm currently firing my studio flash units.
LED lighting is another good continuous light source that you can use for lighting small products. Better yet, is the addition of another lighting accessory used in conjunction with LED light that is discussed and shown when doing an actual photoshoot.
Here it is! The secret lighting ingredient that can make your image stand out and give them that WOW factor!
Another ingredient in creating beautiful product images is discussed here as we take a look at many sample images and see the effect how backgrounds can enhance your images.
Here I show the type of table I use and more background ideas.
There are many possibilities that you can use to help your small product and jewelry photographs stand out and add value. Here I show you the props we use.
In part 1, I show the tripod & some other accessories that may be necessary for you to use if you want to create sharp images. Plus, you can reduce your frustration level with inferior equipment when using proper gear.
Part 2 continues with a demonstration of why I use a camera bracket and also discuss using a wireless flash trigger.
Focusing issues are caused by faulty equipment, right? Usually not, Here are several tips you can use to get sharp images.
Here are several things you can do to get correct focus, whether you are using an iPod, iPhone, smartphone, iPad or even a DSLR.
A discussion about doing an actual photoshoot of a pearl necklace. Here I demonstrate my 3 light set-up and what each piece of equipment does and how it all ties together in creating a beautiful final image.
A photoshoot demonstration of a pearl necklace using fluorescent umbrella lighting and what to watch out for.
Here's another look at a pearl photoshoot using 2 different set-ups & window light. When using window light, there is another potential problem to be aware of and how to correct it.
Take a small electronic flash unit, add an umbrella and you have another source of beautiful lighting.
LED can be a good continuous light source, adding another key piece of equipment can make it even better.
A review of the advantages of the different light sources used in our pearl photoshoot. We can also see the improvements in the final image as all the ingredients are applied in the photoshoot.
Take a look at an actual photoshoot of a bracelet as I explain our lighting, background set-up and prop used in photographing our bracelet. The same set-up applies when photographing watches and similar small products.
Here I discuss several different ways and backgrounds we use in photographing small products such as earrings.
A look at some of the backgrounds and ways we photograph smaller items such as charms & key chains.
When photographing figurines such as Hummels and statuettes, different backgrounds can be used as shown in this segment.
Here I demonstrate how you can showcase your small products such as pins and brooches and why it adds value to your items.
By learning how you can add different elements of composition to your images can give your images a touch of professionalism and added value.
When you want to emphasize your product even more, this segment shows how background blur can be used to do just that.
Part 2 continues with a demonstration in Adobe Photoshop on how to isolate your small product with background blur.
A look at how I create rustic brushes and star effects and add them to our images. These effects can be used to attract more attention to your small product photos.
The effects adventure continues as we take a look at creating interesting moon effects.
Our final look at how you can add a touch of romance by adding heart effects to your photos.
A look & review of a few important key points in helping you become a better small product/jewelry photographer.
A brief introduction to what the Luci Light is and how it can be used for small product photography.
A look at the layout and photos using 1 Luci Light and 2 reflectors. Photos in this segment were taken with a Nikon D7200.
A look at the layout and photos using 2 Luci Lights and 1 reflector. Photos in this segment were taken with an Apple IPad Air 2.
An introduction to photographing dark products and the importance of knowing and using lighting techniques.
We begin photographing our product against a black background and discuss a couple different lighting
techniques you can use. Here the emphasis is on lighting your product, not the camera equipment.
A look at how you can use light to photograph and bring out highlights in a set of black earrings.
Two ways of using window light are discussed when photographing dark products.
A look at an interesting way you can control your background tone.
See how you can enhance further the product you are photographing by adding ambient (existing) light.
Here we look at an interesting way for you to add background color. This is a popular method used in advertising photography.
An introduction to what the course will cover along with several images to show the type of photography you will be able to create.
Here is an in-depth look at setting up and using the light tent along with lighting techniques and backgrounds.
Getting the most from your light tent & lighting set up as we look at and compare different images.
Here are the simple steps you can do to obtain a clean white background when photographing your small products, regardless of whether you use a tablet, your phone, or a DSLR.
Take your background adjustment & enhancement up a notch with simple techniques you can use in image editor software such as Adobe Photoshop.
For those who want to learn a few more advanced techniques in background control such as adding a shadow and changing your background color.
Sometimes it may be an advantage to add an image to one of your product photos. Here's the technique I use to do that.
Please note: Some of these techniques require a certain level of skill in using an image editing software program like Adobe Photoshop.
To my serious students: I highly recommend taking the time to learn such techniques. Yes, it's important to get the best possible image straight out of the camera, but, many of our world's famous great photographers used post processing techniques to help create their finished masterpieces.
Don't limit yourself. You may want to consider expanding your photographic knowledge and skill level
A Look at the results when using a set of LED lights without the Light Tent.
A look at defocus backgrounds and using selective focus to blur your background even more. Also, comparing background focus of a small sensor camera like an iPod touch or smartphone to a larger sensor camera.
Here's an amazing photo effects editing program that offers thousands of effects and enhancements to your photos.
This section starts with a brief discussion about how you can use depth-of-field to your advantage.
Here we continue with aperture control by looking at images taken with different settings to show how you can use this as an advantage and what a big difference aperture has on your images.
Using a continuous light source such as LED & Fluorescent lighting, along with a special light modifier, you'll learn the lighting technique to help you reduce reflections while improving color balance of gold & silver items.
Here we switch from a continuous light source and use flash to reduce reflections while improving color balance of gold & silver items. Also shown are several other light modifiers you can use.
Here's a simple way you can fire one or several studio flash units without using a cord or radio control unit.
Here two Fluorescent Bulbs are placed in a Light Clamp Reflector. The reflectors are placed on a light stand with one on each side of the tent.
This clip shows a zoomable tactical flash light used as the light source.
A simple one light source such as the LED Hanging Magnetic Work Light can also be used to light your photo tent.
In this final clip on alternative lighting techniques, we take a look at this powerful LED video light and it's soft light qualities.
Here's a look at some new LED lighting gear that you may be interested it.
Keeping you up to date on the current DSLR & iPhone I'm using for our small product & jewelry photography.
Here I share with you the phone apps that you can use for image editing, shooting manual, transfering & resizing your images.
An introduction to the type of photos we can get when using this type of table.
Using this type of table gives us the ability to minimize shadows and add backlight capabilities in the amount we choose.
Using our plexiglass shooting table offers us a great opportunity to not only minimize shadows but also lets us use different backlit lighting effects to give us the look of spotlighting for achieving professional quality images easily.
See what makes this type of set up so great for small product photography.
Here we look at what's included in this light box kit and we also look at different ways you can use the light box along with photos taken with it.
See why this particular light box is easily capable of helping you create professional looking images.
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Reviews summary
Mastering small product & jewelry photography
Instructor explains concepts well.
Achieve professional photos, boost sales.
Learn easy, affordable techniques.
Activities
Review Basic Photography Principles
Show steps
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental photography concepts like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to better grasp the course's lighting and camera techniques.
Browse courses on
Aperture
Show steps
-
Read articles or watch videos explaining the exposure triangle.
-
Practice adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO on your camera.
-
Experiment with different compositions and lighting scenarios.
Read 'Light: Science & Magic'
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of lighting principles and techniques for product photography.
View
Light — Science & Magic
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the chapters on light modifiers and their effects.
-
Study the examples of different lighting setups.
-
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
Practice Focusing on Small Objects
Show steps
Improve your focusing skills by practicing on small objects, which is crucial for capturing sharp product photos.
Show steps
-
Set up a small product and your camera on a tripod.
-
Practice using manual focus to achieve sharp focus on different parts of the product.
-
Experiment with different aperture settings to control depth of field.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Lighting Setup Diagram
Show steps
Solidify your understanding of lighting setups by creating diagrams for different product photography scenarios.
Show steps
-
Choose a product and a desired lighting effect.
-
Set up the lights and camera according to your plan.
-
Draw a diagram showing the position of the lights, camera, and product.
-
Take a photo and compare it to your diagram.
Read 'The Photographer's Eye'
Show steps
Improve your composition skills by studying the principles of design and visual storytelling.
View
The Photographer's Eye Digitally Remastered...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the chapters on composition techniques.
-
Analyze the examples of different compositions.
-
Practice applying these techniques in your own photography.
Photograph 10 Different Jewelry Items
Show steps
Apply the techniques learned in the course by photographing a variety of jewelry items with different lighting and composition styles.
Show steps
-
Gather 10 different jewelry items.
-
Plan different lighting and composition styles for each item.
-
Photograph each item and edit the photos.
-
Review your photos and identify areas for improvement.
Write a Blog Post on Product Photography
Show steps
Reinforce your knowledge and share your insights by writing a blog post about product photography techniques.
Show steps
-
Choose a specific topic related to product photography.
-
Research and gather information on the topic.
-
Write a blog post with clear explanations and examples.
-
Edit and proofread your blog post.
Review Basic Photography Principles
Show steps
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental photography concepts like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to better grasp the course's lighting and camera techniques.
Browse courses on
Aperture
Show steps
- Read articles or watch videos explaining the exposure triangle.
- Practice adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO on your camera.
- Experiment with different compositions and lighting scenarios.
Read 'Light: Science & Magic'
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of lighting principles and techniques for product photography.
View
Light — Science & Magic
on Amazon
Show steps
- Read the chapters on light modifiers and their effects.
- Study the examples of different lighting setups.
- Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
Practice Focusing on Small Objects
Show steps
Improve your focusing skills by practicing on small objects, which is crucial for capturing sharp product photos.
Show steps
- Set up a small product and your camera on a tripod.
- Practice using manual focus to achieve sharp focus on different parts of the product.
- Experiment with different aperture settings to control depth of field.
Create a Lighting Setup Diagram
Show steps
Solidify your understanding of lighting setups by creating diagrams for different product photography scenarios.
Show steps
- Choose a product and a desired lighting effect.
- Set up the lights and camera according to your plan.
- Draw a diagram showing the position of the lights, camera, and product.
- Take a photo and compare it to your diagram.
Read 'The Photographer's Eye'
Show steps
Improve your composition skills by studying the principles of design and visual storytelling.
View
The Photographer's Eye Digitally Remastered...
on Amazon
Show steps
- Read the chapters on composition techniques.
- Analyze the examples of different compositions.
- Practice applying these techniques in your own photography.
Photograph 10 Different Jewelry Items
Show steps
Apply the techniques learned in the course by photographing a variety of jewelry items with different lighting and composition styles.
Show steps
- Gather 10 different jewelry items.
- Plan different lighting and composition styles for each item.
- Photograph each item and edit the photos.
- Review your photos and identify areas for improvement.
Write a Blog Post on Product Photography
Show steps
Reinforce your knowledge and share your insights by writing a blog post about product photography techniques.
Show steps
- Choose a specific topic related to product photography.
- Research and gather information on the topic.
- Write a blog post with clear explanations and examples.
- Edit and proofread your blog post.
Career center
Online Seller
Jewelry Photographer
Product Photographer
Craftsperson
E-commerce Photographer
Commercial Photographer
Studio Photographer
Content Creator
Visual Merchandiser
Social Media Manager
Blogger
Marketing Specialist
Fine Art Photographer
Art Director
Retail Associate
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