Jewellery Photography: Elevating Antique Jewellery for Modern Audiences
Photographing jewellery with models is one of the most effective ways to bring a collection to life — especially when working with antique jewellery, where craftsmanship, history, and detail are everything. For a new jewellery company launching a range of antique pieces, the aim was to create imagery that felt timeless, refined, and wearable, while still being suitable for modern platforms like websites and social media.
Showcasing Antique Jewellery Through Lifestyle Imagery
Antique jewellery carries character and heritage that can be difficult to communicate through product-only photography. By using hand models we were able to show how each piece sits naturally when worn, helping customers understand scale, proportion, and everyday wearability.
Lifestyle-led imagery allows potential buyers to imagine the jewellery as part of their own story, rather than viewing it as an object behind glass.
Keeping Props Simple to Let the Jewellery Shine
To avoid distracting from the jewellery itself, we used basic, neutral props to subtly enhance the lifestyle feel of the images. Clean surfaces and understated textures were chosen to complement the antique pieces without overpowering them.
This restrained approach keeps the focus where it belongs — on the craftsmanship, materials, and fine details — while still adding depth and context to the shots.
Creating Still Life Jewellery Images Without a Model
Alongside the model-led photography, we also created a series of still life jewellery images without a model. This approach is ideal for highlighting individual pieces in a clean, controlled way, allowing the viewer to focus purely on design, materials, and craftsmanship. Using simple props and carefully styled compositions, each piece was photographed to showcase fine details such as stone settings, engravings, and patina — elements that are especially important with antique jewellery. These still life images work perfectly for product pages, catalogues, and editorial layouts, complementing the lifestyle shots while maintaining a consistent, high-end visual style.
High-End Image Quality with Phase One Capture
All images were shot using a Phase One medium format camera, ensuring exceptional image quality, colour accuracy, and sharpness. This level of detail is especially important when photographing antique jewellery, where fine engravings, gemstone settings, and patina need to be rendered faithfully.
High-resolution files also give the brand flexibility, allowing the images to be used across multiple platforms without compromising quality.
Balancing Skin Tones and Reflective Surfaces
Jewellery photography on models presents unique technical challenges — particularly balancing flattering skin tones with highly reflective metals and gemstones. Controlled studio lighting was used to maintain soft, natural skin tones while carefully managing highlights and reflections on the jewellery.
This ensures the pieces look luxurious and true to life, without harsh glare or loss of detail.
Imagery Designed for Website and Social Media Use
The final images were created with both website and social media in mind. Clean compositions and consistent styling make them ideal for e-commerce use, while the lifestyle elements and close-up details work well for Instagram, campaigns, and brand storytelling.
Having a cohesive set of images helps a new jewellery company launch with a strong, professional visual identity from day one.
Why Model-Based Jewellery Photography Matters for New Brands
For new jewellery businesses, first impressions are critical. Professional photography that combines technical precision with lifestyle storytelling helps build trust, communicates quality, and positions the brand confidently within the market.
Photographing jewellery on models bridges the gap between product and customer, transforming beautiful objects into desirable, wearable pieces.
At Howlett Photography, we specialise in jewellery photography that highlights craftsmanship, detail, and brand identity — creating high-quality imagery designed to perform across websites, social media, and marketing campaigns. Check out our jewellery pages and galleries for more
