10 Tips to Take Amazing Engagement & Wedding Ring Photos

Tip 1: Start by finding a well-lit area. Always have more than one source of light. If the room has overhead lighting, turn on a lamp as well. Sunshine can create great natural lighting, but make sure that all lighting is diffused, meaning that it is not shining directly onto the engagement ring. You want as much light as possible, but you do not want to position a lamp directly over the ring. The centre stone in your engagement ring can appear larger if you prop the ring on an angle and focus the image on the centre stone head on.

Tip 2: Depending on the camera you are using, adjust the focus setting until the engagement ring looks as close as possible in the frame. You will notice that the surrounding area will look blurry compared to the diamond, but that?s okay. This effect can play up the intricate beauty of the diamond engagement ring! Think Instagram style! Many high-end cameras will leave the shutter open longer to receive more light creating an issue if you are holding the camera by hand as it will likely result in a picture that is blurry. If you have a tripod handy, this is the best way to get a blur-free image.

Tip 3: If you would like to have other objects in the background of your picture (i.e. flowers or the ring box), have it close to, but behind the engagement ring. On autofocus, your camera?s focus can get confused and try to focus on the object behind the ring. So the further away the background object, the more distorted your engagement ring could be. Select your background carefully. Avoid busy patterns, which can overshadow the ring?s simple beauty. Black makes a great background, as it will allow the engagement ring to stand out. Be creative with your background and use things close to hand such as a black skirt, or the matte black surface of something electronic like the back of a computer monitor. You may also want to try a simple white background such as white paper, walls, desk or card.

Tip 4:  Don?t be afraid to try some props. When used correctly they can enhance the look of your jewellery and help give it some perspective as to size. Flowers are a popular engagement ring prop, as they are romantic and simple. Engagement rings look so great when strung onto the stem or propped against the brightly-coloured petals. Make sure the flowers are fresh and examine them closely for dark spots or wilting which could spoil your photo. Think about other props such as a Champagne glass, a favourite pair of high heels or a couple of bright red strawberries. The sky?s the limit, go crazy!

Tip 5: Without relying on your zoom feature too much, try to find a happy medium distance from the ring. Too close and you could lose the light to make your diamond sparkle. Too far, and the ring may look too small in the frame. Generally the zoom function can blur the image of your engagement ring, but a tiny bit shouldn’t distort it too much. Play around to find the right mix of distance, zoom and light. If you bring the camera too close to the engagement ring, the camera will not be able to focus properly and you?ll get blurry images. Keep it at least a foot away and then use the zoom to get a nice close-up.

Tip 6: To really show off your ring, consider using a tiny bit of wax to stand your ring up on a hard surface. This will allow you to take a picture of the ring as it looks on your finger, as well as show off its details. The wax can be wiped off easily. Avoid using your flash by taking advantage of natural, clean light sources. The flash reflects off of solid surfaces and will blur and wash out your beautiful diamond ring and even make the stones look smaller!

Tip 7:  Do not hold your camera in your hands, no matter how steady your hands are and how good your image-stabilisation technology is nothing can beat the steadiness of a picture taken with a tripod. If you don?t have a tripod, try stacking up some books and balance the camera on that.

Tip 8: Make sure your engagement ring is perfectly clean before you take the photos. Even a small amount of dirt will diminish that perfect sparkle that you are aiming for in your pictures. Take it for a professional cleaning at Diamonds International, or wipe it down first with a soft toothbrush and some ring cleaner.

Tip 9: Hand photos can be a great way to show how the ring looks on your ring finger. Ensure your hands are perfectly clean and well-moisturised and consider getting a manicure in a pale colour to accent the engagement ring without overpowering it.

Tip 10: A direct flash onto your ring is going to make it look washed out, so use ambient light or something that isn?t as harsh as the camera flash. Some photographers even suggest the inside of a refrigerator! With these tips, you should be well on your way to taking fabulous glamour shots of your new engagement ring. Congratulations and good luck! We would love to see what you come up with, please feel free to share your photographs on our Facebook or Instagram feeds.