You’re engaged! Of course, you want to shout it from the rooftops and show your shiny new ring to every person you see!

One of the best parts about becoming engaged is sharing the excitement with your family and friends. Naturally, you’ll tell those closest to you in person or on the phone, but for the rest of the world, you’ll probably want to craft the perfect post for all your social media.

Taking a ring photo is harder than you think. You need the right lighting, the right background, and the perfect angle to show off that sparkle. And, of course, you want to make sure your ring is absolutely clean and bright.

That’s why I created this guide: to help you learn how to care for the most important piece of jewelry you’ve ever owned and to teach you what you need to know to take the best ring selfie!

Keeping Your Ring Shiny
If you’re like most women, you won’t ever want to take your ring off, but keep in mind that daily activities will dull your ring’s sparkle. Things like lotion, makeup, and hair products can dirty up the band and get caught in the setting.

Different metals and gemstones require different kinds of cleaning. Be sure to take your ring in to the jeweler at least every six months for a professional cleaning, but in the meantime, you can give your ring a regular weekly cleaning at home to maintain its shimmer and shine.

Regardless of metal type, the most effective and safest way to clean your ring is simply with a solution of soap and water. Fill a bowl with warm (almost hot) water and dishwashing soap and soak your ring for 20 to 40 minutes. Use a very soft toothbrush to gently brush the stone and then rinse the ring under warm running water. Dry your ring with a soft cotton cloth or let it air dry.

A few definite DON’Ts
Taking care of your engagement ring is as much about avoiding damage as it is about maintenance. When you go to clean your ring, here’s a few things you should definitely avoid:

• Household cleaners, like bleach, chlorine, and acetone
• Abrasive products, like toothpaste, baking soda, or any sort of powdered cleaner
• Paper towels or bath towels
• Toothbrushes with rough bristles
•  Intense brushing

As much as you won’t want to take your ring off, there are times when you should. Don’t wear your ring while cooking, as food and oils can cause discoloration or become stuck in the setting. Try to avoid using thick lotions or creams while wearing your ring as they can cause residue buildup.

Above all, be mindful of how fragile your ring is and how valuable and important it is to you and your soon-to-be-spouse. If you know that you’re going to be doing an activity that could be rough on your ring, take it off and store it in a safe place.

Getting the perfect ring shot
Once you’ve told close friends and family that you’re engaged, the next thing to do is post it to social media, and for that you need the perfect photo of your new ring! Here are a few tips for getting the best image.

Take advantage of natural light
If you can, take your ring photo outside in sunlight. The natural light will capture your diamond’s sparkle and make it really shine. If you can’t be outdoors, find a spot near a window. Try to avoid using lamps or other artificial light sources in your home that can throw odd shadows in your photo.

Choose the right background
You don’t want a background in your image that will distract from the main point: your ring. A natural background like the sky or a stretch of grass is bright without being overly distracting. Another simple option is to pose with your hand on your partner’s arm—simple but stunning.

You could also choose a background that relates to your proposal, whether it’s the restaurant or park where he proposed or a landmark from the location. If you opt for this shot, consider blurring the background and keeping focus on the ring.

Craft a perfect caption
Maybe you’ll choose to let your photo speak for itself, but if you decide to add a caption, give some thought to what you want to say. The caption is a great place to share your proposal story or talk about your feelings the moment your now-fiancé asked the big question.

Get creative
You don’t have to stick with a photo. Consider creating a fun Boomerang as your announcement or posting part of your proposal, if you have it on video. How you create your post is up to you, so use your imagination!