Photographing jewelry...

This recent client of mine has created a website for her passion - various designer accessories brought to all the lovely fashionistas in one place. Whether you're looking for something chic or affordable, it's all there.

We have probably photographed everything from bags and belts to jewelry, shades and shoes. Yesterday we did leggings, which was even more fun, since it involved a model - beautiful Stephanie Hancock, who was such a great pleasure to work with, by the way!

What I wanted to write about today is something that I observed over the time of our collaboration.

I photograph jewelry for a few different clients. Each client has their own need for the pictures and I try to think ahead what would be the best way to keep the mood and setting that they already have for their brand or website and improve it at the same time. There's always so much room to improve, right?


Photographing rings and bracelets is pretty straightforward.
 But when it comes to earrings, there's a certain challenge. You want it to look nice, and at the same time - display them hanging, since that seems to be their natural state of being used ;).

How do you display earrings nicely while they're hanging? Yes, you can actually use someone's ear... or hang them up on a thread and then remove things in post production, but that can run expensive, since you're merging two images in post - no two earrings will hang nicely apart on the same thread :) - they tend to fall together, and they also hang under the same angle, and you want to display both side and the front, right?
So you need to stay away from what will look the coolest and find a solution that won't break the startup's pocket. Most earrings won't lay down on the side either, so, hanging them would be the only solution. There are also these special stands for displaying the earrings, but I haven't gotten to acquire one yet...


So far, I think, that having them on an ear is the most affordable way. But I don't see that method being widely popular on the fashion websites.

May be, photographing them only from the front will suffice, and then they can just lay on the table top setup, without the expensive post-production and what not. But some won't lay straight either, or look completely different when they're on a flat surface. That's a lot of things to consider :). I guess that's why there are photographers who specialize in shooting jewelry as product. It's a whole separate thing to get a good hang on in order to be able to shoot them fast and effectively.

Flooded basement and Dress to get YES

As yet another resolution to write more, I went and realized there were no posts here in May. Shame!

This morning woke up to the basement being slightly flooded after my wash load yesterday. I wished all the boxes and stuff on the floor would just disappear, but I guess that's the way the Universe hears me - I go and flood the whole thing up. And now half of the stuff can be safely thrown away :). Not that my husband would let me...

And last night had a blast at the "Dress to get YES!" workshop with Bobbie H. (www.bobbiehorowitz.com). She explains people and their colors, but also shows which colors work (and don't) for each of the participants.

I wanted to take this class for a while, even before I met Bobbie. For myself, and also, to be able to advise client at to which colors may compliment them and which make them look dreadful. 

I heard of color seasons before, and I kind'a liked the idea that my colors are cold and summery, in any case that's what I decided for myself, after all summer IS my favorite season. Yes, with all the heat and what not! I could live like this forever :)

But Bobbie showed me (with grace and sympathy I must add), that I was completely out of the ball park! I was very comforted by the scheme that she showed me though, if was like a hug, to finally admit which ones feel better on me.

So, I'm not a summery person after all. *sigh*

We also were able to order our own personal swatch books that can make shopping much easier. I can't wait to get mine!

By the way, did you know that if you register with the Network (http://www.thenetworknyc.com/) you get a free workshop? I didn't. Oh well :). I'm sure I'll come back to learn something else in those friendly walls.


So... at first I couldn't understand what we're looking at. I was a little late, and they already started. I walked in when they were trying different color schemes on one of the participants. I didn't see why applying red and red on a guy would get an enthusiastic YES in one case and a NO in another. I thought red was a bad idea in general! But then, with all that going on with a few different participants, I finally grasped the idea. I wasn't supposed to look at the color itself, but at the guy wearing it!
And judge whether he looked better in this particular color or worse than in the other.

So, now, you guys can ask me what looks good on you ;). But all hats to Bobbie - she's the expert. If you really want to know and think it's important - call her.

Studio opening party went well.

I know you're all dying to know how the event went :). Well, it went better than I thought it will, although much different from what I expected. All the friends who came to support me and enjoy the new space - thank you guys!

I had my friend Julie coming in early in the afternoon to help me set up, and a little bit later we were joined by more friends who helped out tremendously as well.

Debbie Mosel from Candy Buffet (http://www.candybuffet.net/) brought chocolate bars that she wrapped in photographs I took of New York City (awww..!).

Marc Palmer from Production Resource Group brought a projector that we used to throw a slideshow with my photos on a big white wall.

Walmart... well, they didn't exactly do anything, but they did sell me LED lights that I gelled and used to decorate the room with colorful brick texture.

Ellen from Secret Chef (neighbor in Hoboken) provided the food, and, of course, nobody will ever forget Tawny Ong with her delicious mini cupcakes. She was so thoughtful, she even brought me a separate box of cupcakes to take home, because she was afraid I won't have a chance to eat them at the party myself!

My friend Bill Rozar, brought in a microphone with the sound system, so I can say my speech and don't have yell, AND have music playing on the background quietly.

My new friends Sandy, Marie and Andrew made my evening by introducing me and a few interested folks to TANGO! I got so into it, but it was over way too quickly of course. The evening was very short! But exhausting. I wanted to talk one on one with everybody who came to support me, but I couldn't manage to do that. So, most of the first half of the evening I spent time greeting those who were coming in, then I had to do the same in reverse order - saying the good byes.

The drinks were too many, and since I'm not that big of a drinker, the leftovers will last forever. Or may be I'll use them at my birthday party in a few weeks ;).

I left the studio late. Very late. And I wasn't even cleaning up. My supporting friends put everything in the fridge and moved stuff around, while I crashed on the couch to take shoes off, and wasn't able to get up, until it was time to go. I feel very spoiled by such wonderful people!

The whole thing, while entertaining, only developed a bigger craving to see my friends again, so, this week, when not shooting, I'm hoping to spend time meeting everyone I wanted to talk to - only one on one.

If you were there - what did you think of it? It's my first time, and a feedback is greatly appreciated. I know it was quite a bit dark in there, and if it wasn't for a slideshow, I'd have to turn the lights on and ruin the party atmosphere all together :).