Whilst the short answer is yes, you may be wondering what you’ll gain out of investing in professional jewellery photography. If you are in the business of selling jewellery or designing your own jewellery collection, it is important to have high quality photos of your products, after all it's these images that will be 'selling' your collection ultimately. Of course, it's very easy to just lay jewellery items down in some daylight, get your iPhone out and take a snap for your online platform, but don't your beautiful jewellery creations deserve a better representation?
These days, potential customers are looking at jewellery online more than ever before, and if your photos are not up to par, you could be missing out on a lot of customer interest and ultimately sales. If you value your jewellery items, then professional jewellery photography is worth the investment, especially if you want to stay competitive and stand out from everyone else. With the right jewellery photographer by your side, you can ensure they are photographed in the most stunning way. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the reasons why professional jewellery photography is worth the investment.
Of course, one of the most important factors to consider when deciding whether or not to hire a professional photographer is the quality of the photos you would like. Jewellery is one of the most complex items to photograph successfully, it takes time, experience and a lot of patience. An experienced photographer will be able to bring out the best features of your jewellery and make your pieces look their absolute best. Done successfully this can potentially lead to more sales, both in person and online. In addition, high-quality photos can be used in marketing materials like brochures and lookbooks, which can help attract new customers and grow your business.
Whilst many of us have access to high quality cameras on our phones, the reality is that it’s not quite the same when compared to a professional photographer. Any good photographer worth their salt will know exactly what angles to use, lighting to choose and how to ensure the photography looks sharp and crisp. I appreciate how tempting it may be to save some money and take the pictures yourself, but in reality, most people can see the difference and will judge a brand on poor images when the final result won’t look anywhere as near as professional.
A great jewellery photographer will be able to make any piece of jewellery sparkle and shine in the right way. They will understand light and angles, their role is to tell a story with a single shot and whatever you’re looking to photograph, they can help you sell your jewellery and make it capture the imagination of the customer. Ensuring the metal work and gems look incredible, does take some skillset and it takes a keen eye and understanding of light to capture the beauty and detail in every piece. The right shot can make all the difference, showcasing your jewellery in just the right way and capturing the imagination of potential customers. With the help of a skilled jewellery photographer, you can be sure to sell your shot and make your jewellery stand out from the rest.
Creating strong visuals are something that any professional jewellery photographer will be a natural at, but it takes a certain amount of collaboration. Whilst many people fear the photographer will simply take over, the reality is that they’ll work alongside you so they can share your vision and goals. It’s the job of the photographer to help you stand out from your competitors, all the while giving you stunning shots that give you the edge. After all, they should understand your market and target audience.
A great photographer will always aim to be as flexible as possible. They should understand that you may have never had a professional shoot before, or perhaps you need guidance on how to plan a shoot. Whatever your requirements are, a professional photographer will always try their best to accommodate you and ultimately make sure you’re happy with the final results.
Editing photos can be time-consuming, frustrating, and even confusing if you're not familiar with photo editing software. If you don't have experience with editing images (or just don't enjoy doing it), hiring a professional photographer whose photos require minimal editing can save you a lot of time and headaches down the road. A skilled photographer will understand what is possible and what is not, in post production. They will have the knowledge of what can be done to enhance, correct and showcase your jewellery to its best. Don't underestimate how much time can go into the post production of any jewellery photography. There will always be editing needed, and although the photographer will do all they can to ensure everything is done through the camera, there is a lot of time spent in from of a computer after photography getting everything just right.
There are a few things that you as the jewellery designer can do to help the photographer with a jewellery photoshoot go to plan, by providing a clear and concise brief on how you would like your jewellery to be photographed and how many items you may need to be photographed. First, be sure to have images and examples of your jewellery available for the photographer to review. This will help them get a better idea of your work and a better idea of the 'look' you like. Think about any props or specialist backgrounds you may like to have in your shots. You can also help by ensuring your items are all organised and nicely cleaned ready for the shoot beforehand. The camera will almost certainly pick up any marks under the lights, so ensuring your pieces are cleaned and polished are a must! In fact, you can read my 5 steps to preparing your jewellery for photography here!
Finally, be available for feedback and collaboration during the shoot; working together will ensure that everyone is happy with the final results.
A beautiful photo is worth a thousand words—and as you can see, there's a lot to consider when deciding whether or not to invest in hiring a professional jewellery photographer! I hope that this blog post has helped shed some light on some of those key points! Ultimately, only you can decide what's best for your business, but hopefully, these insights will help you understand some of the complexities if you are not experienced in Jewellery Photography. When it comes to your jewellery business, in most cases, the investment will be more than worth it in the long run.
So, if you feel like professional jewellery photography is the next step for your business, get in touch and discuss your requirements today.
Thanks for reading!