"Tips for Beautifully Photographing Your Fingers When Shooting Rings and Nails: Overcoming the Embarrassment of Hair and Pores"

2021.01.17 published

I Want to Take a "Hand Photo" That I'm Not Embarrassed to Post

Photos of our hands that make us want to post on social media when we receive a ring or get nail art done.

@shi_i_0525wedding

For example, when it comes to an engagement ring, it’s a classic to put it on the left-hand ring finger and take a photo. However, what often concerns us when it’s time to post that photo on Instagram is the "dirtiness of our hands"...

"This is shocking... I can't post this as it is..."

Many must have experienced the disappointment and ended up with photos that never saw the light of day.

But!

Important moments should be shared not just in our hearts but also on social media, so we can look back on them anytime, which is a happy thing ♡

To ensure that the photos we take don’t get stored away, I will share "how to take beautiful hand photos" that we should pay attention to during hand photography ♩

@nagisa_marry

① Apply Hand Cream

First, this is fundamental.

If there’s any dryness at the base of the nails or hangnails, remove those and apply hand cream or oil to prevent any dry appearance＊

② Massage to Improve Blood Circulation

"Skin tone" is also important.

If your veins are prominent or your skin looks somewhat pale, your hand photos won’t turn out well, so be sure to massage to improve blood flow＊

After a good massage, your hands will noticeably appear brighter at a glance!

③ Apply Nail Polish

The condition of your nails is also important.

If you have gel nails, it’s not suitable for photography if they are "growing out, lifting, or peeling."

Aim for shooting ring and nail photos within four days of getting a fresh gel manicure♩

Even those who don't use gel can apply nail polish for a more beautiful appearance in photos＊

④ Apply Foundation

This is a method often used in photo shoots for hand models.

Ultimately, what we are concerned about when photographing hands are pores, wrinkles, and skin tone, so let’s cover those up with foundation!

This can eliminate any color unevenness and hide pores, which is the best.

If you do all this, you’ll reach professional-level quality.

⑤ Properly Shave Finger Hair

Conversely, regardless of being a pro or amateur, you should definitely pay attention to "removing finger hair."

With the intention to take beautiful finger photos, hair removal is absolutely necessary. Since you won't know how much will be in the frame during photography, ensure that you treat everything up to your arms＊

(Even if you shave, the surface hair can still appear dark, so plucking or permanent hair removal is ideal...)

⑥ Keep the Background Simple

After taking finger photos, you’ll likely brighten them or edit them in some way.

If the background is too busy, it can also end up looking unnatural when brightened. (For instance, forests and trees have many lines and dark colors, so making them overly bright will look strange.)

To avoid such unnaturalness, it’s best to keep the background as plain as possible.

A desk, the sky, a wall, or fabric like tulle can be the best options to mask any imperfections...!

⑦ Use a Skin-Care App

After being so meticulous with care from ① to ⑥, and with all considerations in mind for the shoot, you're fully prepared.

As long as you have a good skin-care app, there's nothing to be afraid of.

⑧ Indoor Lighting Instead of Natural Light

If you still find “I can't take a good photo” or “I'm worried about the roughness of my hand skin,” try adjusting the location or time when taking photos.

It’s generally advised to take photos in soft morning light (if possible),

but the meaning of “good” here is “the subject appears in its true colors clearly.”

Therefore, with photographs taken under natural light, all the details of your hand, including the texture and color, will be captured as they are (even the things you might want to hide).

This means that photos taken at night or under warm-colored lights can appear softer, making the skin look beautiful.

If you're really concerned about skin appearance... it might be beneficial to take finger photos at night under dim lighting.

(Just be careful as this might not be the best for showcasing nails or rings!)

There Are Numerous Points to Keep in Mind When Taking Beautiful Hand Photos!

I’ve shared some tips on "how to take beautiful hand photos" when capturing engagement rings, wedding bands, or nail art.

There were various points covered, but...

Many of you may have unknowingly been doing all of these already.

Since it’s a significant moment in life, it would be ideal to capture a beautiful photo ♡

Please be mindful and give it a try＊

@vmikikov