How to Photograph Your Sparkle 5 Tips for the Perfect Jewelry Selfie

So, your OBY Jewelry package just arrived.

You tear open the box, lift the lid, and gasp. The Lab Diamond is blindingly beautiful. It’s shooting rainbows across your living room walls. You immediately grab your phone to post a story, you snap the photo, and...

Meh.

On screen, the diamond looks blurry, flat, or dark. It doesn't look half as magical as it does in real life. We know the struggle. Capturing the "fire" (those rainbow flashes) of a diamond on a smartphone camera is an art form, but it is one you can master.

At OBY Jewelry, we want the world to see your sparkle exactly as you see it. Here are 5 Insider Tips for the Perfect Jewelry Selfie to get that influencer-level shot.

Tip #1: Turn Off the Flash (Seriously)

This is the most common mistake. Our instinct says, "Diamonds need light, so I should use flash!"

The Reality: Phone flashes are harsh and direct. They wash out the depth of the stone, making your diamond look like a flat piece of white glass. They kill the dimension.

The Fix: Always use natural, indirect daylight. The best lighting is near a window, but not in direct, scorching sunlight. Soft, diffused daylight allows the diamond’s facets to bounce light around, creating that mesmerizing "scintillation" effect.

Tip #2: The "2x Zoom" Rule

Have you ever noticed that when you put your phone camera really close to your ring, your hand looks distorted or "alien-like"? That’s the wide-angle lens distorting the image.

The Fix: Step back. Hold your phone about a foot away from your hand, and use the 2x Zoom (telephoto) setting on your phone.

This compresses the image, making your fingers look elegant and the proportions of the jewelry look true to life. It also helps the camera focus better on the tiny details of the setting.

Tip #3: The Double Wipe

It sounds simple, but 90% of "bad" jewelry photos are caused by smudges.

• Wipe 1 (The Camera): Your phone lens lives in your pocket or purse. It’s covered in fingerprints. Wipe it on your shirt before you shoot. The difference in clarity is instant.
• Wipe 2 (TheJewelry): Gems are magnets for oil. Even one touch can leave a fingerprint that dulls the shine. Give your Gemstone Ring or Tennis Bracelet a quick buff with a soft cloth before the photoshoot.

Tip #4: Set the Scene (Lifestyle > Product Shot)

Unless you are a catalog photographer, don't just shoot your hand against a blank white wall. It feels clinical.

The Fix: Add texture and context. We love seeing how you style your OBY pieces in real life.

• Holding a ceramic coffee mug (great for showing off rings).
• Resting your hand on a chunky knit sweater or a silk dress (great for texture contrast).
• Touching your hair or face (great for earrings and necklaces).

The best photos tell a story. Are you at brunch? At the office? On a date? Let the background hint at your life.

Tip #5: Embrace the "Sparkle Video"

Still photos are great, but diamonds are made to move. The brilliance of an OBY Lab Diamond comes from how it interacts with light as it moves.

The Fix: Instead of a photo, take a short video or a Boomerang. Move your hand slowly from side to side under good lighting. This captures the "fire"—the dispersion of white light into spectral colors—that a still photo often misses.