Congrats!

You just got engaged and your first instinct is to tell the world about your proposal and show off your new engagement ring. Not so fast though! There are a few things to keep in mind before you post that pic. Luckily, we’re here for ya!

Read ahead for a few tips on how to take the perfect ring selfie!

1. Get your nails done.

Everyone wants to see the ring, but no one wants to see your hangnails. If your fiancé caught you with a surprise proposal and you’re due for a manicure, but just can’t wait to snap a photo, put on a little lotion and get creative with your pose. Hold hands with your fiancé, frame your nails out of the shot or do a fist pump pose at the camera. These are some great solutions for being caught by surprise (but staying in the moment!) without fresh nails.

2. Lighting is key. Don’t use the flash.

When it comes to taking a picture of your ring, make sure that you are in a well-lit area. If you’re indoors, the best option would be the largest source of natural light available to you. Stand by a window, pose, and take the shot! It’s as easy as that.

If you’re outdoors, make sure there are no harsh shadows from the sun. One last thing to avoid is using flash because it will alter the appearance of your ring or create an unwanted flare effect. We wanna see your ring in all its brilliance!

3. Scout an exciting or fun background.

Find an Instagram-worthy skyline, landscape or patterned pillow to serve as the backdrop of your ring selfie.

4. Avoid the zoom.

Smartphone pictures will never be true professional quality, but there are a few tricks we can use to make your shots look almost as crisp as theirs! First, avoid the zoom on your camera. Simply physically moving your phone closer to or farther from the subject will make a less pixelated/blurry photo.

5. Tap to focus.

If you’re using an iPhone, set up your shot and then tap the screen to focus the lens. You can adjust the brightness sensitivity by moving the sun slider. To do this you start dragging with one finger up and down on the screen. Avoid shaky shots by pushing the buttons on your earbuds to snap a photo instead of tapping your screen.

6. Strike a pose.

Say good-bye to stiff/weird hands by relaxing your fingers, such as by adding a prop or resting your hands on your new fiancé’s arm. Avoid shots that highlight every pore and strand of hair on your hands by a slight tilt of the camera—or your hand—instead of shooting straight on.

7. Take a few options, but settle on one.

You want your ring to stand out and look awesome! Skip the multi-photo collages and pick one great shot to feature your ring beautifully.

8. Change angles.

Experiment with the angle of your shot so you capture the most amazing qualities of your ring. Love the unique setting? Take a photo on an angle to highlight it. Can’t get over the shape of your stone? Try an overhead shot.

9. Touch it up before you post.

Use an editing app like Photos (iPhone only) Photoshop Express, etc. These apps make it easy to experiment with cropping, contrast, saturation and sharpness to get the very best from your digital photo.

10. Share!

Write the caption about marrying your best friend, get creative with the emojis and tag the location of your proposal to share on social media. (Don’t forget to tag @laurenbjewelry and hashtag #laurenblove too!)