Most necklace photography is best done using a bust for a prop.
This shows how the jewelry will appear on the wearer and more accurately displays how it will be displayed to the public.
The bust should be stark black, crimson, or deep blue to provide a contrast that makes the necklace stand out.
Of course, any color of backdrop has to take into consideration the colors of any precious stones within the necklace.
Rubies are better with a black background than crimson because the black forces more attention to the stones.
The last thing you want in a photo is for more interest to be placed in the prop than the jewelry itself.
Some photographers still prefer to lay the piece loosely on a cloth to give the full view.
Any advantage gained by this would be in a large rendering where the detail was great enough to show even the type clasp used.
In e-commerce use, this has less value because the size of the photo is reduced for online viewing.
The importance of bust photography is negated with a piece that involves a very simple chain with a pendant type attachment.
In these cases, it is more important to focus on the singular part and less on the chain.
Close up photography of the pendant will provide more detail of the most important part of the piece.
Another way to display the necklace is with a glass bust.
This can render some interesting reflective lighting results, but many of these photos might not turn out as anticipated.
It does, however offer more angles for sparkle from the gemstones.
We typically assume most necklaces will feature diamonds and other stones, but there are many fine jewelry pieces that combine other non-reflective materials.
These are generally easier to photograph because the element of sparkle is basically eliminated.
It is also easy to produce a dull photo that provides little interest for the potential buyer.
If the items used in the jewelry have shine, then that has to be captured in order to produce a worthy photo.
Sometimes, the side lighting must be moved more to the rear of the camera to get the reflection to show properly.
Because necklaces are no longer simple hanging ornaments, photography has to be adjusted to capture both the beauty and the flare of each piece.
For instance, some creations might have so many different types of material that it is impossible to show the full magnitude with a bust or simple spread.
Some artists have created jewelry that defies a central point or even a central focal part.
These pieces might hang lower on the body or shift to the side, making a huge statement.
The jewelry becomes more a part of the complete outfit than just a compliment to it.
This presents an almost impossible way to present the piece solely on its own.
In most jewelry photography, you do not want to draw attention away from the jewelry by introducing a person into the mix.
With some of these creative pieces, there is no way to properly, and effectively, represent the item without doing just that.
If a necklace has the presence to dominate the photo, it matters little that there are other features present.