Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

krissy@5 — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:06:58 GMT

what a difference using good photograph makes! do you teach other particulars of photographing jewelry, such as even more full presentation? for instance, i have seen some presentations of photographed jewelry (by sellers on etsy, for example) in which the jewelry lies on sand, or perhaps next to colored glass. I have also seen earrings in interesting presentations, such as hanging off of pretty china or clear wine glasses. do you have anything of that sort to show us? krissy knox :)

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

Skillo184 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:10:48 GMT

Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

I love your Pacifica Bracelet Jean, will the pattern for it be available in the near future? It is a gorgeous bracelet!!!

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

souls2 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:21:22 GMT

Hi, just signed up here so i'll have to catch up with you all, My name is Frannie(souls) and i Loved your blog today. this is where i'm at now and my photos are really bad :( So you have given me hope. by the way, i don't think your bracelet is artsy fartsy, its very pretty. Thanks for the show and tell.

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

JodiE@4 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:49:20 GMT

Very nice piece, I too would like to get the pattern to work on yet another project!

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

GayleB@17 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:49:51 GMT

Absolutely wonderful. Like the other posts I hope the pattern will be available on line for those who can not make your show schedule

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

brenda@156 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:42:56 GMT

sure hope the pattern becomes available!!!

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

MarjorieH@11 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:37:16 GMT

You have had as many compliments on the bracelet itself as on the article !!!! And I too would like the pattern on this one...there were some great tips on lighting and you did a really great job showing the steps and practise it takes to get it just right...thanks to all who wrote in also! Here's an interesting idea for another article.....why not write a piece on people's PET projects....there are alot of pet owners who bead and they have done some really cool collars, leashes, etc....have the beaders send in their pictures or have a contest....it would be a fun way to get to know your readers! Thanks for making this a fun site to visit! Marjorie Hopkins

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

BonnieR@21 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:43:49 GMT

This was my favorite article! It is a beautiful bracelet, and yes I also wonder about the pattern. And I enjoy the comments!

Keep up the good work. It is nice to have something interesting in my email.

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

KirstenC@4 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:17:36 GMT

Looks like it's "photography week" at BeadingDaily! Thanks for keeping the conversations going, Jean. I always enjoy your infusion of humor and wit.

Cuff Style bracelets have always been a particular challenge for getting the right set-up for me, but one trick I can offer (this is only if you don't need to show the clasp) is to roll up a stack of white computer paper, place the clasped bracelet over it, and let the roll open up inside the piece to give it support, with the ends of the paper towards the back. If you use the same color paper beneath it as a background, the bracelet really pops out. If you had to show the clasp, you could put two of the same piece on the roll, one showing the front, one showing the back. Here's an example of a few bracelets photographed as a set this way:

www.tatnuckbead.com/.../Intro%20to%20Seed%20Bead%20Stitches.html

PegJ gave you some great lighting advice, as the trick is getting the light to flow from all angles to show the true color and facets in the crystal. One dimensional lighting makes swarovski colors look flat...On a related note, as a person who photographs jewelry, my attention to detail often makes my eyes focus on the stringing material that runs through any light colored glass or crystal, as used in your gorgeous bracelet. It may not be a "glamorous" stringing material, but I often use monofilament in lieu of flexwire when using clear crystal or glass, as it can be crimped, it's strong, and it won't show through the beads in photos. Ahhhhh, another beading discussion for another day.

Keep it coming!

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

Gun-HelenA — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:19:05 GMT

Hallo Jean,

What a beautiful bracelet you have made. I am a beader from Finland. Is it possible to buy the pattern through Beading Daily, or has it been published in some of your books?

Love from,

Gun-Helen Andtfolk

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

DonnaJ@25 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:06:37 GMT

love the advice on photographing that bracelet! Love the piece can i get

the pattern?

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

PegJ2 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:37:22 GMT

Hi Jean -

I agree, this is a beautiful piece that deserves to be shown to its best advantage. I am a professional photographer - who also likes to bead!

It looks like your lighting is coming straight down from the top because the shadow under the piece is very harsh. Try moving your light farther back and angling it so the light shines through the crystals. Then position a piece of white foam core or heavy art board to reflect the light back onto the front of the piece.

Using a digital camera you'll be able to fine tune the position of the light and the white reflector to really bring out the sparkle in the beads as well as the detail in the cabochon.

pjphoto@charter.net

re: Jazzing Up Your Beadwork Photos

MaryY@9 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:24:27 GMT

Love the step-by-step critique and funny. The piece is gorgeous, too--what color are those crystals? I love aqua.