How To Get The Details To Pop
Of course there is an art to this type of photography. Getting the small details is not that easy but below are some great tips to get you the most beautiful ring shot for your bride and groom!
- Background - Diamonds show up best with a dark background. If you ever notice that it is hard to auto focus on the diamond most likely it is because it is blending into its background. Choose a location that will allow a contrast!
- Focus - If you are not getting a sharp image try manually focusing rather than auto focus. I find it almost impossible to get a great ring shot when in auto focus.
- Steadiness - Rest your elbow or hands on something when shooting or use a tripod to ensure there is absolutely no camera shake. This should be a very crisp image.
- Lighting - Lighting is a must. Do not try to get a ring shot in low light. You need the light to bounce off the facets of the diamond to create the bling effect. Make sure that you take the rings into a well lit area and even put the diamond directly under a ceiling light. You can also set up a couple off camera flashes to hit the facets from different angles.
- Lenses - Use a macro lens. This, to me, is an important piece of equipment in wedding photography. If you were not doing weddings as a profession I wouldn’t suggest the large price tag a macro can come with. However, if you are charging a client to photograph their special day then you should be investing in high quality lenses. My favorite macro lens is the 105mm 2.8
- Jewelry Poses - Taking multiple poses of the rings is a necessity. I include three shots for my bride/groom.
- The traditional – sitting inside the box.
- The modern – find dark surface that will reflect back the glow of the diamond.
- The artsy – find a prop to sit the ring on such as the spiked heel of your brides shoe, a fence or the invitation.
- Get up close – Up close and personal with the diamond is best! Ring shots are all about the ring! Fill up your frame.
- Editing – Use an action that will bring out the sparkle, twinkle and take out strange color casts that gold can reflect. Click here to see an action set by Colorvale Actions made specifically for weddings!
Colorvale Photoshop Actions For Photographers - Speed up your editing time and create amazing photographs with these digital tools
