Tips From A Pro – Photography E-Book

HandmadeMarketing.org reader Jim Juris, who recently shared his handmade item photography tips, told us about an e-book he wrote on jewelry and craft photography. The e-book is available for download at Jim’s website.

Jim Juris moved to Englewood, Colorado in October 2000 from the San Fransisco Bay Area.  “I have been taking photographs since I was a teenager,” Jim told us.  “I have always loved photography because I can’t draw or paint. Another reason that I love photography is because photography allows me a way to show other people a different way of looking at something.”

“I focus my attention on jewelry and craft photography because when I started making jewelry, I joined a jewelry making forum,” Jim said.  “I soon found out by participating on that forum that, although jewelry artisans can create beautiful jewelry, they don’t know how to take great photos of their fabulous creations.”

Jim said he started giving tips to members of the jewelry forum that needed assistance with their jewelry photography.  “Because I was helping so many artisans with their jewelry photography, I felt that I found a need for information on how to photograph jewelry,” he said.  “I decided to fill this need by writing a ebook on jewelry photography.”

“On my website I provide lots of useful and free information to help my viewers with their jewelry and craft photography,” Jim told us.  “Great photographs are extremely important to both the buyer and seller of jewelry that is sold online.  Unlike shopping in a brick and mortar store the potential buyer of the jewelry cannot see and touch the actual item when they shop for jewelry online. You decrease the chances of making a sale when your jewelry photographs are not good because a photograph is all that the buyer has to go by when making a buying decision,” he said.

What stops a seller from taking a great photograph?  Jim outlined on of the biggest challenges he thinks handmade sellers face.

“I would say that one of the biggest challenges that most artisans face when taking great jewelry photograph is knowing how to use their digital camera properly. It is not the camera that makes you a great photographer, it is knowing how to use the camera properly,” Jim told HandmadeMarketing.org.  “A big no-no when photographing jewelry is using the camera’s flash. I recommend using halogen desk lamps or indirect sunlight (light coming in from a South facing window or going outside on an overcast day) when photographing jewelry.”

“In my ebook,” Jim tells us, “I talk about techniques that artisans can use to aid them in obtaining properly focused images. Having sharply focused jewelry images is crucial to selling jewelry online.”

“I give away about 1/3 of my ebook for free to visitors of my website so that they can judge the quality of the content and the quality of the writing before they purchase my ebook,” Jim said.  “I offer free help to people on Etsy and several forums. My ebook is written in PDF format so that it can be read on any computer. Buyers of my ebook have access to a link for immediate download of the PDF file.”

Jim shared three photography tips for jewelry artisans that are trying to sell their jewelry online:

1. “The most important tip that I have for artisans is to read the camera’s owner’s manual from cover to cover in order to become familiar with all of the features of the camera,” Jim shared.
2. Always use a tripod when photographing jewelry.
3. Always use the camera’s self-timer when photographing jewelry.

Why use a tripod and the self-timer?  “Using a tripod and the camera’s self-timer will eliminate the possibility of movement and prevent blurry jewelry images,” Jim told us.

Jim has a blog which allows him to write about different aspects of photography.  “I love helping people with their jewelry or craft photography. The best way for someone to ask for my help with their photography is to go to my CameramanJim blog at  and find the section of my blog where I ask if anyone has any questions for me about jewelry or craft photography. Post your question in the comment area of that section of my blog and I will get back with an answer as soon as possible.”

Thank you for the great information Jim!