A 5-Step Guide to Taking the Best Engagement Ring Selfie

After you’ve said ‘yes’ to your partner and you’ve shared the happy news with your closest friends and family, like most new fiancées you may be keen to make a social media announcement. And what’s the most important part of an engagement announcement? A show-stopping, jaw-dropping photograph of your ring.

Taking the Best Engagement Ring Selfie

There are a few steps you can follow for taking a flawless selfie of your diamond ring. Engagement ring experts Taylor & Hart have been in the engagement ring selfie game for years, and have rounded up their top five tips for getting an immaculate shot.

1. Natural Lighting

A gemstone can’t sparkle if it’s not in the light. The golden rule of photographing your ring is to always have it facing towards your dominant light source, or else your gemstone will be lost in shadow. The easiest way to do it is to set up your shot close to a window or go off into the great outdoors! The brighter your environment, the brighter your gemstone will shine.

Pro-tip: to avoid the ‘table flash’ effect (the reflection on the flat top of a cut diamond), tilt your hand slightly away from the light source, so that the camera picks up all the light refracting within the gemstone, rather than light simply reflecting off the top. This will give a lot more credit to your gemstone’s internal fire.

2. Background Matters

It’s worth picking a background that won’t take the attention away from the ring. There are two options that never fail to give justice to your most treasured possession. One of them is to find a dark background close to a natural light source. Try turning off all the lights in a room and standing with your back against the window. Hold your hand at eye level and your hand will look like it’s in professional studio lighting!

Alternatively, find a rich and lush natural background to create a more atmospheric image. A hedge or flowerbed make a great backdrop, or if you’re lucky enough to be close to the coast, a seaside shot will always be stunning, but be careful not to take the selfie contre-jour, which is very often the case with beach proposals.

3. Give Your Hands Some TLC

Like it or not, a ring self-portrait also draws the focus to your hands and nails. Of course, how you care for your hands is entirely up to you and you may not be a big manicure fan. However, your skin will be forever grateful if you quickly scrub and moisturise it, and hydrated skin is photogenic too.

Many of us feel awkward showing our hands, thinking they look bulky or downright creepy. If that will help, think of something to hold for the picture – a flower, a book, a puppy or best your partner’s hand. This will keep your mind off the hand-modelling part and you will feel and look relaxed and happy.

4. Cleaning Your Ring At Home

A clean, shiny diamond is essential for a good ring selfie. Unless you’ve just been proposed to, you may be wearing your engagement ring for some time now and it has probably collected build-up from showering, hand wash, and common cosmetics such as moisturisers, makeup or perfume. Dirt and oil are also picked up during daily wear, so if you don’t have time for professional cleaning, here’s how to care for your ring at home:

1. With a small drop of washing up liquid, gently scrub your ring with a soft clean toothbrush.
2. Rinse your ring under warm water and gently scrub again to remove any soap residue.
3. Dry with a microfibre cloth.

5. Follow Your Instincts

When it comes to the most meaningful piece of jewellery you own, the rule is you should follow your own rules. Take as many shots as you can so you can have plenty to choose from. In the end, you will probably share just one, so be discerning and make it be the one that captures your ring and that something special between you and your loved one. Remember to include them in the decision-making process. Odds are they played a role in designing or finding your ring in the first place, so they’ll probably have a poignant take on what makes it truly unique.

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