LIVING WITH THE RING
The photo everyone will ask for. How to take one on your phone that shows the ring as beautifully as it looks in person.
A fingerprint on the stone is the most common reason a diamond looks flat in photos. Give the ring a gentle clean with warm water, a drop of neutral soap and a soft brush, dry it with a lint-free cloth, and try not to touch the stone afterwards.
Look after the hand too: a little moisturiser, absorbed before the photo, and tidy nails.
Daylight near a window is the best light there is: bright, soft and true to colour. Avoid the camera flash, which flattens a diamond and creates harsh reflections. Direct sunlight can make the stone throw beautiful colour, but it is harsh on skin, so try both.
If you are indoors at night, use one warm light source to the side rather than overhead lighting.
Relax the hand. Curve the fingers slightly and leave a little space between them, rather than pressing them flat. Angle the hand a little towards the light so the stone catches it. Classic poses are the hand resting on a partner’s chest or hand, holding a coffee cup, or lying on a soft fabric.
Tap on the stone to focus. Then slide the exposure down a little: phones tend to brighten jewellery until the diamond turns into a white blur. A slightly darker image keeps the detail of the facets and the colour of the metal.
Avoid heavy filters, which can change the colour of the stone and the gold. Portrait mode can blur the background nicely if the phone keeps the ring sharp.
Keep the background simple: linen, a knit, skin, marble or wood. Busy patterns compete with the ring.
A short video often shows a diamond better than any still. Move the hand slowly under the light and let the stone flash. A few seconds is enough.
Clean the stone, use daylight from a window or a single light from the side, avoid the flash, and move the hand slowly so the stone catches the light. Video shows sparkle best.
Usually the exposure is too bright or the stone is dirty. Tap to focus on the stone, lower the exposure slightly, and clean the ring first.
Something plain and textured: linen, knitwear, skin, marble or wood.
No. Flash flattens a diamond and creates harsh glare. Use natural light instead.
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