Taking photos of jewellery using props

Just re-took a few pics of jewellery I’d previously taken photos of with the blank white background, only this time on a cream cloth in my ‘lightbox’ with props. I have to say that I understand now how it works in adding interest and atmosphere, and even makes the jewellery easier to see when it is placed against or near other items, rather than floating in a stark void.

Not sure whether I’d take all my jewellery pics this way, but it has been fun so far with the few I’ve taken, so will continue experimenting for future photos. My ‘lightbox’ is actually a cardboard box without the roof. The box was too small to keep the roof, but I still had the sides, and just placed an old cream throw inside. The lightbox was still the main source of light plus I had a side lamp. Although some shadows are still there they are softer than the ones that appeared when the jewellery was on paper with just one direct light. I quite like some muted shadow, as long as it doesn't get in the way of the jewellery. I didn’t even clean the props first as I was just quickly experimenting.