I have close up of jewelry in my booth. Good Lighting, a tripod, and a photo tent for me are a must.
I also have changed the settings on my camera, for silver [URL removed] no white background and change the settings in your camera to “tungsten” and to “center spot”. After shooting the picture all shots get edited in photoshop 7 to adjust the brightness and sharpness of the pictures

I fought this many times photographing my pendants. I have a photo tent that made a big difference. Reduced glare. Some things can still be a challenge. A good digital camera will help you out also. Its worth the investment. After I download the photos each one gets edited to perfect the appearance and clarity.

Try taking the photos at different angles. Filtered light is a must along with the right amount of light. Its a learning process. Also if you have a quality camera you may want to try adjusting shutter speeds and all the other things available. Good luck, you will get it right with practice.

Although I no longer photo small items such as pins, someone gave me a very handy and inexpensive hint. I bought a large white bowl from the dollar store. Turn it upside down and cut a hole just big enough to insert your camera lense. Place pin on appropriate backdrop color, place bowl over this, insert your camera lense and snap several shots. The hole in the bowl helps ‘steady’ the camera, the white bowl captures the light and helps avoid flash marks. Works like a charm and oh so inexpensive. Good luck! Hope you’ll try this and post if it works for you.

Be sure to use the macro feature.

Here’s a good [URL removed] a milk jug light tent for [URL removed]

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He has a lot of other good suggestions, if you start from his home [URL removed]

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Part of the reason i use a bowl over my item is so i can have a good contrasting color for the item.

Brad is absolutely correct because I remember last year when he was also searching for a good camera and/or photographing methods to achieve the best image…(Take a L@@k at his booth to notice good results)….

ALL of my jewelry items were taken by using a 3-squared wall box mirror system with or without the flash for clear results…

(I used 3 mirrors facing each other by placing my diamond ring, shooting it from the opening, the flash will sometimes appear; however, the results (in my images) delete all glares, etc and makes my jewelry appear as if floating in air…

I learned this method from a local professional friend photographer.

GOOD LuCK!

Some jewelry aficionados will come through for you, but here’s a site that provides insight to photographing jewelry which may help.

Do you have a scanner?

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If not, general jewelry photography site.

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Pull back on your camera. You may be too close. You can always edit the photo.

Use the close up function on your camera, use a white background, and shoot close to awindow with good indirect light.. Most of the time that works. When it doesn’t I use my scanner. Between the 2, I get decent pics most of the time.

Use a scanner to get good images of small items, like this dime.

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I have many pins listed for sale. Some of the photos (cropped from a group) are fuzzy, but I do have some that I like in a mostly unsatisfactory lot.

What seems to work best is to photograph them individually, with natural light (no flash, no yellow artificial light), and rest your camera holding-hand on something to steady the camera for a super-close close-up (or use a tripod). A neutral fabric backdrop seems to help too… not bright white, not black… something mid-tone. Try not to get too much “sparkle”, which is often what makes a thing pretty. In photos the sparkle amounts to over-exposure and makes a thing impossible to see.

~Colleen (Galrion)

I have a used flat bed scanner for sale in my booth, if you want to go that route. I have never used it since I started selling things online, and I have no opinion of using it for that purpose.

I’ve also been successful using a milk jug. I also use a small light tent but will try the bowl as well.

And again – POW!! A TON of fabulous advice!! Thank you so much….I’m going to try the milk jug thing (easily accessible materials). I do have a scanner, but not not the right type (so NOW I regret having given away the flatbed one!). Thanks folks, stay tuned, I think this is going to be a fun ride! Once I get the pin thing organized, I have some really cool ones – as far back as 1936.

Daylight near a window is still the best…forget all the gadgets. Yes, use a bowl over the item if there is a glare, but if you pick the right time of day, you won’t have that problem. Check out my site-I photo everything by either daylight or an OTT LIGHT BULB (EXPENSIVE, but true daylight). If you use Photoshop elements 8, you can easily adjust light and dark issues…Good program, worth every penny! Happy photos—contact me if you need further help. Bonanzle is a great place where sellers really help each other—now all we need to do is change the economy so we could all sell more because people weren’t so stretched out due to job losses, etc. ..Take care, pauli palm spring

I am going to try my scanner. Sounds promising.

I usually use the macro and my humble homemade light table but you can use a regular scanner nothing fancy – get some fabric you like that is color you need like white is best for gold, place the piece on the scanner plate face down then drape the fabric over it kind of like it would look if the piece were laying on the fabric to be photographed – then scan it. It’s an easy way to make a nice image and can work well for jewelry.

All of this is such great info on taking photos. I have got to try the bowl & the scanner one.
I have a tent I purchased on ebay. Yep that’s right feebay. but that was before they went postal LOL.
Most of the time the tent does the most work. Along with the tent came 4 background colors. Blue, red, black & white. I only spent $25.00 at the time. It also has a front with a slit for the camera lens.
A tripod is a must. You can get one at Walmart. Either one that is full size or and a small one that sets on the counter. I even use 3 second delay on the camera because even a slight movement to press the button to take a close up photo can give it a slight blur. You must have macro close up ability.
On occasion, I have lowered the light to barely any light with forced flash & right before I take the photo I turn off the lights in the room. Many times this has worked. Especially if it is night.
The best photos I have gotten with shinny jewelry is during the day with good natural light & no flash in the tent
And then of course there are those items to big for the tent & I have to rely on the light on hand & be willing to tweek my camera until I get an acceptable photo.
Then I use Picasa 3 for editing. Good Luck & have fun

“Be sure to use the macro feature.”

That’s it, right there. To get a good shot, you have to be close. But when you get too close, it won’t focus properly. So that is the fix.