Help! Photos for Etsy need some critique

[MsGaia]

So I'm going to post some of my jewelry designs on Etsy, but I don't know if I'm capturing the work well. Here's a sample, what do you think? Enough detail? Good angle? Any advice is appreciated.

[southernbelle]

I wouldn't crop so tight...you need to show the entire product

[ding]

Do you have a lightbox? It might be just the thing for you. It won't have to be big, assuming your jewelry isn't huge. That'll allow you to through a boatload of diffused light at it, and you won't have a bunch of shadows covering up important details of your work.

Also, the shadows look a little noisy. What ISO are you using?

[wbduke]

I think the clarity is good, but you might pull back a bit and show the complete package

[Nicole]

I agree, you need to pull back a little more so that you can show everything. Plus, I'd work on getting the exposure a little better so that the background is more white, less grey. And one more non-technical thing, I'd make sure that all of your jewelry bits and bobs (like the hooks on the top) are straightened and laid out nicely. It makes an overall difference

One thing to consider (to help getting everything nice and even) is to take a box and line it with white paper. Make sure you have enough room for the earrings to hang down and place some clear fishing line taught across box about 1" from the top so that you have some room above the earrings, but also so that you can see the whole thing and then you can always clone out the fishing line at the end. Hope that helps!

[Canadian Mum]

I agree with Nicole, if you could hang the earrings it would make them more appealling... as purchasers could see closer what they will look like when worn.
A lightbox is a great idea, and you can very easily make your own (Check this link)

[jdepould]

+1 on the lightbox, it'll help cut down on the sensor noise as well.

[wulf]

What camera are you working with? If it is a point and shoot with minimal manual control it might take a bit more wrangling to bend it to your will but, if you have a DSLR, you should be able to control everything about the shot (focus, composition, white balance).

The thing to remember is not to rush - this kind of subject is happy to sit for hours while you experiment and fine-tune your settings.

Wulf

[Nicole]

And there was just a post today on Photojojo about taking pictures for Etsy etc

[MsGaia]

I am using a point and shoot, and I shot on my work bench by the windows on a peice of white paper. I've been toying with the idea to build a light box so I guess this is the encouragement I needed.

I took a couple hanging shots, but I think the background was too overwhelming (I staged with a wine glass and bottle, but I think the earrings got lost) so I really love the idea of stringing fishing line across the box.

OK, I will build a box and try to reshoot today. I'll post some new images.
Thanks!