Sunday, October 10, 2010

Picture Taking 101...

Soooooo.......I'm still workin' out the kinks in terms of what I want my Sunday theme to be. 
Not that anyone said that I have to have a theme, but it helps put my ADD into focus. 
Today, I'm going to share a secret...shhhh...don't tell anyone...
Here goes...I'm not very good at taking pictures of finished jewelry. 
I'm still trying and this one is pretty good....


Perhaps, I would get better at it if I had the time to make more jewelry.  My bead making adventure started on Christmas Eve 5 years ago when I stopped at a bead store to buy last minute gifts.   The whole Christmas thing has always been difficult for me since my Mom died right before Christmas 25 years ago.  To this day, it is still a struggle and I'm always finding myself shopping....LITERLLY at the last minute!  This last minute shopping turned into a new direction for me.  I made 3 gorgeous necklaces.  And they were gorgeous!  When I went to pay for them, the $170 price tag wasn't quite as gorgeous....but, nevertheless, they were unique gifts made by me and I still hear about them to this day.



So, as of recently I passed on the interest of making beads and handmade jewelry to my son Ben and daughter-in-law Tiffany.  All of the styles that you see here were created by them.


We had a little picture taking session yesterday and after 100's of shots, this is what I came up with.  I know that I should also pose the jewelry with inanimate objects, but I also think that showing them worn helps the buyer to get a visual of what they will look like if they were to own the piece.


Here is today's question.  When taking pictures on the model, are you supposed to take them from a distance or up close like I did?  How about sunlight and shadows? 


I'd love to hear some advice from you about your picture taking experiences.


Pretty good.....They went right for the chain and wirework....We never did the basic stringing lessons!

One more thing....I worked through some of my Christmas issues.  That day 5 years ago also started a new tradition for my family and me.  Everyone gets a handmade item at Christmas whether it's made my me or if I buy an item made by another artist. I no longer run around on Christmas Eve spending way too much money.  Last year, I had paintings done by Joy Argento.  I own the Harold and the Purple Crayon Painting on that page...that was a gift from me for me ;o)

**Stop back tomorrow for our LMAJ Monday Giveaway**

12 comments:

Bill Perrine said...

... and I have a great painting done by Joy of my woodfire kiln! She can paint anything!

Yolanda M. said...

Great post! And how wonderful to have your son and DIL wanting to make jewelry, their work is lovely! I am on too not into the jewelry so much... but continue to try. And as far as photography... oyy. I think jewelry on models would be my preference, then again I don't have one.

Artisan Beads Plus said...

Just got a better camera! I know, Yoli....it's tough to make the components and then think of jewelry designs at the same time. And not,only that, how about having enough beads to both sell and use in jewelry?? That's hard for me to juggle.

Yolanda M. said...

Well, thank goodness for digital cameras I say. Otherwise , can you imagine? It is kind of crazy trying to do both, but in the end I enjoy the process of making something with my hands, even if I have trays and trays of beads looking at me every time I pass by them.

Colleen Carroll said...

Bravo to Ben and Tiffany...great ork, but love the earrings the most! Regarding the pix, I think the shots could benefit from some fill lighting (coming in from the side) to give the objects more depth.

Lois Moon said...

I think pics on a model are simple to show how the piece will wear, i.e., size, how it drapes, etc. The model provides. I think close up is the right option.

When taking picture in the sun, be careful of glare, shadow, and washout of colors. I try bright overcast (or standing under a canopy made by a white sheet on a very sunny day) to photograph out doors. Many of my pics are shot on supermacro on my picnic table under the umbrella on a sunny day (nearly everyday in south GA).

Lois Moon said...

...the model provides SCALE...

Amy F said...

Those necklaces are beautiful- i love how you space the beads

Pretty Things said...

Remember what time of day you take pictures, and experiment with different times of day. I agree with the overcast sunny -- the clouds cut the glare.

TesoriTrovati said...

I usually take my pictures on an overcast day near a window. That way there is a soft even light and now shadows. I don't take pictures on models but I see where that can be helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Enjoy the day.
Erin

Artisan Beads Plus said...

Thanks so much! I'm going to take all of this advice. I've pretty muched developed a style for my beads, but the jewelry is an entirely different animal!

Artisan Beads Plus said...

Hey Col! I am a little taken aback looking at comments and realizing one of these comments was from my sister!!

face
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...