In jewelry photography when photographing a small diamond ring, this requires a slightly different approach. The images really need to be able to showcase the fine detail and quality of the product, regardless of how tiny the size is. For this shoot, I worked with a diamond-encrusted, gold ring.
The client, Mikus Diamonds, is a local, high-end jewellery manufacturer based in Slovakia. For this project, they wanted to showcase their luxury range of diamond rings for an upcoming Spring campaign. Their requirements asked that the photographs include a floral feature that suggested the beginning of the season when the flowers come out.
Both myself and the client were impressed with the results, and after sharing it on social media, the photography images received positive accolades from the photography community. Below I shall provide a brief summary behind the lighting, composition and editing used in order to achieve the final results.
The flower surrounding
Firstly, I headed out to find a florist and purchased a bunch of colourful flowers. I didn’t know yet which colours or types would work best for the shoot, so I made sure to pick a few different varieties. After a bit of experimenting I decided that the dark orange-yellow flowers, I think they are Dahlia or Chrysanthemums. I started by cutting the stems off the flower and just using the heads to form a background. They were arranged in a tight, circular pattern along a whiteboard, just wide enough for the ring to sit inside.
One thing I noticed was that the jewelry photography light source was far too big for this little setup. In order to focus more precisely on the centre, I created a black paper cone. This narrowed the focal point and resulted in more interesting shadows being cast on the petals. It is so important to understand how shadows are made, and how to manipulate them on a small scale. We wanted the shadows to be only millimetres wide.
Diamond ring photography setup
The next obstacle I faced was that the ring was just not getting enough attention in the centre for more attractive photography. It seemed the exposure and surrounding scene was swallowing the detail up. I wanted the shine and polish of the gold to protrude more. For this I assembled a different shoot, where I placed white cards around the ring, to reflect the pureness of the tones.
By working with the ring separately, I created the perfecting lighting, and the result was multiple image blocks of the ring at different angles. I later composited all of the separate images together, which resulted in an extremely crisp and detailed subject.
I cut out the ring in Photoshop and placed onto the floral background for best Jewellery Photography. This focus-stacking technique is popular in macro photography. I tried Helicon Focus first but found Photoshop to achieve the desired result better.
I trust that you have enjoyed learning about the process behind this shoot. What are your thoughts on shooting small subjects like jewellery? Leave your comments below.
FAQs
What's the best lighting setup for jewelry photography?
The best lighting setup for jewelry photography is a soft light source, such as a lightbox. You can also use natural light from a window, but make sure to diffuse it with a white curtain or paper to prevent harsh shadows. A reflector can also be used to bounce light back onto the ring and reduce shadows.
How do I focus on a diamond ring to capture all its details?
To focus on a diamond ring, use a macro lens and switch your camera to manual focus mode. Place the ring on a flat surface and adjust the focus ring until the diamond is sharp and in focus. Take test shots to check the focus and make adjustments as needed.
How can I make the diamond ring sparkle in the photo?
To make the diamond ring sparkle in the photo, use a reflector to bounce light back onto the diamond. You can also adjust the exposure settings to slightly overexpose the image, which will make the diamond appear brighter and more reflective. Finally, you can use photo editing software to enhance the brightness and contrast of the diamond.
