i've been asked several times what i use to take my pictures, so i thought this would be a great place to share the information. i hope it helps you!
it's taken me over 8 years of trial and error with various setups, lighting and cameras to figure out what works for me. the current setup i have is very economical and has really cut down on my photo editing time, which is a real plus when you do all of your selling via the internet.
here is a list of the equipment i'm currently using :
olympus sp-510uz digital camera
photo tent w/ black background
silver-mirror riser
the most essential part of this equation is of course your camera. i love this one so much that when it dies, i will definitely replace it with the same model. your camera should have a minimum of 6 megapixel and a quality macro setting. this will allow you to get right next to whatever you're shooting and still get a crystal clear picture. the only negative i can see is that it picks up SO much detail you'll see every grain of dust that's on your subject...and what kind of complaint is that, really?
set your camera to "auto" and let it focus for you on the macro setting. it doesn't get any easier.
the photo tent will disperse light and reduce glare on your subject. the "natural light" light bulbs are also necessary for true color. the incandescent bulbs you can buy 4/$2.00 are just not going to cut it. they are pricey at $6-$10 per bulb but well worth the investment. and placed in economical clamp lamps from the hardware store (about $4/ea)...you've got great lighting at less than $25. in my opinion, the lights you get in a photo tent kit aren't worth the plastic they are made with. the lighting is insufficient and tends to be too concentrated.
the riser and background... this took me a while to get right. after years of trying different methods, i finally found something i am really happy with and get consistent results with.
the silver mirror riser helps reflect the light without the harsh lines of a true mirror. using the black background at the rear of your photo tent lends the appearance of a gradient background. the only thing you have to watch for is scratches. i removed the protective film from my riser and found that sloshing my beads around on the surface scratched the riser very quickly. at $30 a pop, the riser isn't cheap, but again in my opinion, well worth the investment. take care when placing your subject on it to avoid the scratches and this piece should last a lifetime. (thanks to sis lonski for the tip on the riser!)
here's a simple photo of my setup so you can see how it all goes together. follow the links in my equipment list to get further details on each of the pieces...and good luck with your photos!
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