How to photograph jewellery in a light box

Online buyers judge jewellery by its photo. A dull, yellowish or blurry picture makes a good piece look cheap. The main problem is light: polished gold and diamonds reflect everything around them. A photography light box solves most of this. Here is how to set one up and get clean, consistent photos.

Why a light box works

A light box is a small white enclosure with built-in lights. The white walls spread the light evenly around the piece. Instead of reflecting a messy room, the metal reflects soft white light, which makes it look bright and clean. You also get the same light every time, so all your product photos match.

Setting up for clean photos

1. Clean the piece. Close-up photos show every fingerprint and speck of dust.
2. Place it in the centre on a white or light grey base.
3. Fix the camera or phone on a stand. Hand shake causes blur at close range.
4. Set the white balance so gold looks like gold and silver does not look grey.
5. Lock the focus on the most important part, such as the main stone.
6. Take a few angles: front, side and a top view.

Controlling reflections

• Shoot through the opening in the light box, so the camera sees white, not the room.
• Move the lights or the piece slightly to change where the bright spots fall.
• A small white card near the lens can hide the camera's own reflection.

Getting the whole ring sharp

At close range, only a thin slice of the piece is in focus. The front of a ring is sharp, but the back is blurry. Professionals use focus stacking: they take several photos, each focused at a different depth, and combine them in software into one fully sharp image.

360-degree spin photos

A rotating turntable turns the piece while photos are taken at each step. The result is a spin view that customers can turn on screen, a little like holding the piece. It is especially useful for rings and earrings sold online.

Common mistakes

• Mixing daylight with lamp light, which gives uneven colour.
• Shooting by hand at close range.
• Editing so much that the gold or stones no longer look like the real piece.
• Using a different setup for every product, so the catalogue looks inconsistent.

Jewellery photography equipment from Semsons Tech

We supply jewellery photography light boxes, including the HAD Photo Studio range. The right size depends on the pieces you shoot: small boxes suit rings and earrings, larger ones suit necklaces and sets.

Where to see and buy it

These are the Semsons Tech machines for this job. The store links let you book online; the other links open the full specifications or a quotation request.

Tell us what you photograph and where the photos are used, and we will suggest a setup. You can also see it working first: book a demonstration or call +91 98216 12340.