How to post good pics on instagram
How to Take Good Instagram Photos: 5 Tips to Try Now
When Instagram first began in 2010, smartphone cameras were still lacking in features and quality. Instagram photos were taken with the in-app camera and on today’s screens, those old posts look blurry and pixelated. Now, the feed is a mix of smartphone photos and professionally processed photos. The smartphone camera is good enough now that it’s possible to use it on the fly and some won’t even know the difference.
If you’re looking to learn how to take Instagram photos or improve your Instagram photography skills, then this article is for you. Small businesses are not always able to hire a professional photographer so the next best thing is to understand some basic photography principles and learn what actually drives engagement on Instagram.
Instagram photo tips
This is a general guide to taking good photos for Instagram with your smartphone. If you’re looking to expand your photographic skill set even further after mastering these tips, check out phone model-specific guides or in-depth photo skills work through course platforms like Lynda, Coursera and Skillshare host classes. There are also plenty of lists where free photography lessons are compiled.
1. Understand light
Light is one of the biggest photography factors. Too much light and your subject looks washed out. Too little and the dark photo doesn’t grab your audience’s attention. When you’re doing brand photography, you want to understand how light affects the location you usually shoot in.
For example, if you’re in a restaurant, note when and where the sun comes in.
- Are certain windows more favorable than others?
- Does the afternoon sun make everything too bright?
- Where are the artificial lights and do they cast unfavorable spotlights on a table?
Early morning and sunset sun usually tend to cast the softest glow. An afternoon sun’s harsh rays often blow out a photo’s white parts. If you know how the sun and lights behave in your space, then it’ll be easier to plan the photo shoot.
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A post shared by Jojotastic 🌲 PNW cabin decor (@jojotastic)
In this example, the photographer uses the sheer curtains to diffuse the incoming light. The result is a well-lit photograph with no harsh sun.
For smartphones, it pays to be patient with your camera. Take a few minutes to tap on different focus areas to see how light and shadows change. Use the slider to adjust the brightness.
Tip: Take a photo of the same subject, angle and scene throughout the day so you become familiar with the lighting that’s available to you. It may be that you’ll need to have food ready to photograph hours before any foodservice because that’s when the best light is. Be creative with simple hacks to solve typical photography problems: if you need to highlight some shadows, use a white poster board to bounce the light.
2. Add layers to create interest
While a simple, minimalistic look is always en vogue, switch up your photos by adding layers. This means mixing in different textures and having a foreground and/or background. You’ll still have a subject in focus but layers add interest and guide the viewer to your subject.
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A post shared by Jenn Chen (@thejennchen)
In the above example, an empty glass was used on the right side to blur some of the image. Your eye moves instinctually to the left to focus on the coffee and then to the right to the vase’s elements.
Some smartphones have portrait mode available to you so you can easily create some depth in your photos. If you have complicated backgrounds, it may be better to focus on your subject and blur the background.
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A post shared by Smitten Ice Cream (@smittenicecream)
In this example, the ice cream and cone are in center focus while the person behind is blurred. There is just enough of an in-focus and blur contrast for you to understand everything that is going on in the photo at a first glance.
Tip: Instead of a straight-on shot, add a leaf on the side of your lens or duck behind a larger structure. Taking photos through a window so some reflections are in the foreground can also be fun. You’ll need to tap on your phone screen to change the different focal points, so try it out and experiment with how it affects your resulting pictures.
3. Use continuous burst for action shots
When you’re at an event and you need to snag some photos, don’t just take one or two.
In event photography, you want a high amount of photos to choose from. Why? You’re always bound to catch someone in a mid-talking expression, eyes at half-mast or some strange combo of the two.
To combat this, set up your shot with the desired composition and light, then utilize continuous burst mode to capture multiple images in a short amount of time. You can sort through them later to find the best one.
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A post shared by Jenn Chen (@thejennchen)
Here, multiple shots were taken in a row for various stages of pouring the latte. This way, you don’t have to worry about having only one chance to get the perfect shot, you can review later to find which one is the best photo out of the set.
Tip: Don’t get discouraged by how many action shots you’ll need to take before finding the perfect one.
Even the most seasoned pro event photographer may deliver only 10% of the shots that were taken.
4. Utilize rule of thirds & white space
In photography principles, the rule of thirds is a composition guide. Divide up your frame in three evenly spaced vertical lines and three evenly-spaced horizontal lines. You’ll end up with nine-part grid. Where the lines intersect are where subjects in focus can be placed. This is an alternative to the perfectly centered shot.
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A post shared by Jenn Chen (@thejennchen)
The above photo has the subject (croissants) lying right on top of the lower right intersection.
For some photos, you may really want to isolate your subject. In that case, using the rule of thirds in combination with white space would create a powerful result.
Tip: Your phone’s camera may have these gridlines available for you while you’re taking the shot. Having these overlaid will help you place your subject at the gridlines.
5. Mix up your angles
We previously mentioned the gridlines before, which help you line up your shots. These are also useful for creating angles.
For the perfect overhead shot or interior shot, match the gridlines up so that your photo elements are parallel. What does this mean? The tables or walls should be parallel in your photo to the camera’s gridlines.
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A post shared by Jenn Chen (@thejennchen)
The shot above lines the edges of the cup so that they’re perfectly vertical. This gives the viewer a nice sight line straight to the subject.
And now that we suggested lining up, don’t be afraid to mix it up! Before taking the shot, step back and examine it from various angles.
Sometimes the straight-on shot isn’t the most interesting. If you’re going to try a new angle, make sure you make it deliberately not parallel to the gridlines. Having it only slightly off will only be bothersome.
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A post shared by FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA (@fentybeauty)
For this photo, Fenty took a top angle approach to include the different colors. If it was taken from the side, some of the product would’ve been hidden. If it was taken from the top, we wouldn’t be able to see what the packaging looks like.
Tip: Some smartphone cameras have a middle crosshair that appears when you’re taking an overhead shot. Use this to guarantee a perfectly lined up shot from above.
Analyze your Instagram photos that get the most likes
Before you go off snapping photos on your phone for your brand, sit back down for some analytics.
It won’t do you any good to put time into taking good photos if you don’t know what photos your audience likes.
To combat this, there are two data sources you should consider: your current posts and your competitor’s or industry’s posts.
Use Sprout Social’s Instagram report or similar analytics to find the most engaging posts. See if there are any similarities between them. Were there people in the frame? Was natural light involved? Was it perfectly symmetrical? Now that you’ve looked at these photos, you’ll have a better idea of what resonates with your audience.
Write down some image notes and screenshot the best photos. This will serve as part of your brand identity guide. Keeping a cohesive identity on Instagram helps you stand out from the noise.
Next, examine what your competitor and the rest of the industry is doing with a competitor analysis. What types of photos are being published and highly engaged with? Are they different from the ones you currently have?
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A post shared by Glossier (@glossier)
Don’t be afraid to branch out from only photos, either. Graphics, text overlays and screenshots are all utilized by brands to add a more casual element to their accounts.
Once you’ve implemented some of the photography tips above, come back around to your Instagram account analytics. Check and see if the top posts have changed in type or if you’re seeing an overall lift in engagement with the incorporated tips.
There are always fresh ideas in the photography world so we’ll leave you with a final tip: follow inspiring brands and photographers. Mix your feed up so that you’re not constantly seeing the same types of posts that might propel you to set up similar shots. Ignore the herd mentality and begin to pave your own path in brand identity. Now go out and take some fresh photos!
How to Take Gorgeous Instagram Photos with Your Phone
Long gone are the days of lugging around a DSLR to take gorgeous Instagram photos.
You can get the perfect Instagram shot by using what you already have on you at all times — your phone!
We’ve put together this handy guide to taking, editing, and sharing Instagram photos all from your phone. With our tips and tricks, you’ll be getting that A+ content in no time.
Step #1: Check Your Camera Settings for Higher Quality Instagram PhotosBefore anything else, in order to level up your Instagram photos, you have to check your camera settings.
Most phone cameras are super-powerful, with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera and a ƒ/2.2 aperture, but the tricky part is learning how to use them.
So the first rule of Instagram photography is to always look at what you’re working with before you begin shooting.
#1: Turn HDR OffHDR — or High Dynamic Range — is a feature on both iPhone and Androids and it’s basically there to help you take better-looking photos.
It takes a few of the same photo at different exposures and puts them together in one, so the final photo has a ton of detail.
If you’re confident in working with HDR, it can be awesome. But, it’s hard to get right and can sometimes actually make your photos look unnatural and off.
To make things easier, let the camera do the heavy lifting and turn your camera’s HDR setting off. You’ll still get high-quality images without the need to think too deeply on your exposure levels.
#2: Check the Photo ModeThere are so many different settings on phone cameras these days that sometimes it’s hard to know what settings are useful and which ones aren’t.
One popular photo mode is “portrait mode”, which automatically detects a well-lit subject within a certain distance from the camera and creates a bokeh effect (depth of field).
Portrait mode is great when you’re taking — you named it — portraits. But that’s not all it’s good for! Many bloggers and influencers use portrait mode for food or product shots too!
Now, let’s talk about the photography pitfalls — portrait mode isn’t great when you’re shooting inside or in low light.
This photo mode also requires a subject that is still. For example, if you’re shooting someone jumping or walking, you’re going to want to turn off portrait mode and switch to another mode.
But don’t let that dishearten you, portrait mode should still have a place in your photography arsenal — just be selective on when you use it!
TIP: If you’re using an iPhone and are shooting a moving object like someone posing against an Instagrammable wall, try shooting in live photo mode or holding down the shoot button to enable burst.
With burst, your iPhone will shoot up to 10 photos allowing you to sift through and choose the best one after.
Don’t worry, if you’re using an Android, you can also enable the burst feature by holding the shutter down.
Step #2: How to Capture the Perfect Instagram Photo on Your Phone#1: Understanding Depth of FieldCreating DOF (or depth of field) with your phone camera is a really cool way to up your Instagram photo game.
It’s not too difficult and once you get the hang of it, your followers will be asking what camera you use to take your photos!
Let’s say you’re taking a picture of a person facing the water and you want the person in focus and the background blurry, tap your subject and wait for a yellow square to appear (if using an Android, tapping the screen to focus works too!)
Where you see the yellow square shows who/what is in focus. You’ll have to move around to get that perfect DOF.
The best photos take trial and error, but we’ve no doubt you’ll find your mojo soon enough.
#2: Get Your Composition RightGorgeous Instagram photos direct viewers to the subject of the photo while capturing an emotion or a story.
When you’re taking a photo with your phone camera, the composition is what will help your picture go from “good” to “great”.
So, how do you get the composition on point? With something called the rule of thirds.
Known as the golden rule of photography, the rule of thirds helps break down your image into (you guessed it) 3 portions or sections.
The goal is to put the most interesting aspects of the photo in the intersections of the grid to create a balanced and natural-looking photo.
If you can’t imagine the grid yourself, both iPhone and Android cameras have an option to turn the grid on when shooting.
Note: If you’re working with an Android phone, go to your Camera Settings, and select Grid Lines
Like any rule, they are made to be broken, right? You don’t need to follow the rule of thirds when taking Instagram photos with your phone camera. But it’s just there to help you as a guide if you need it.
#3: Think About Lighting and ExposureYou know when you take a photo outside you’re excited to post it, only to realize later that it’s totally overexposed? It can happen to the best of us!
One of our favorite photography hacks is to combat this: underexpose your camera!
When you’re shooting, it’s always better to have an underexposed shot to fix in post, rather than having a blown-out photo.
This is super easy to do on both iPhone and Android. If you’re using an iPhone, tap your phone screen when you’re taking the shot and wait till the yellow box appears.
Once it’s there, move the little sun on the right of the box and you’ll see the exposure lowering and keep moving the yellow sundown until your liking.
It’s basically the same deal on Android — just tap the screen on darker and lighter parts of the shot and it’ll manually balance the exposure.
TIP: The absolute best way to get a killer Instagram photo is to shoot in natural light! If you’re able to use natural sunlight or actually be outside, do it. You’ll notice your photos will look so much more professional than shooting inside or with flash.
Once you’re ready to post the photos, you want them to stand out on your feed, right? Plan and re-arrange your feed posts with Later’s Instagram Visual Planner.
Later’s Visual Instagram Planner is the best way to plan your Instagram feed and make sure all of your photos are flowing together — it’s an aesthetic game-changer!
Use Later’s Visual Instagram Planner to see where your new photos will sit in your Instagram Feed.
Plus, you can do it right on mobile (iOS and Android).
With Later’s Visual Instagram Planner, you can Quick Schedule new posts, see what your scheduled posts will look like on the feed, and drag and drop scheduled posts to rearrange them.
Ready to nail down your Instagram aesthetic? Design, curate, and plan your feed with Later!
Step #3: Learn How to Set Up the ShotYou’ve got your camera settings down and now it’s actually time to take the photo.
Whether you’re taking a selfie, a flat lay, a picture of your lunch or a picture of a blogger in front of a mural wall, it’s important to consider the art direction of your shot!
On Android, you can set up and capture your shot with voice control. Take a photo by saying “smile”, “cheese”, “capture”, or “shoot”.
The voice control feature can be helpful for selfies and those moments when you have the perfect shot but don’t want to push the button and ruin the moment.
Mastering The Flay Lay:Flat lays have always been super-popular on Instagram, but nothing looks better than food in a dreamy flat lay set up!
When you’re taking pictures of food, there are a few things you have to remember.
Food looks best from above and with natural light.
Think of using textured backgrounds when you’re planning your shot. Whites, light concrete, marble, wooden tables, and pastels are great options.
Jenna Rae Cakes, the cute aesthetically pleasing Canadian bakery, does a great job of photographing their baked goods.
Of course, it’s not just food that works in flay lay setups — product shots, and the fun “deskie” always works well in your grid!
You don’t need to have a professional photo studio or photoshoot to take killer content for your brand or business. With a minimal budget, you can set up your own at-home photography studio.
Ready to take beautiful product shots at home? Check out all of our tips and tricks here.
Finding the Perfect Backdrop:If you’re looking to capture scroll-stopping Instagram photos, you’ve got to find the best photo spots. But, remember, you can make any spot Instagrammable using your creative eye.
Whether it’s the city you live in or are traveling, you can browse locations and hashtags on Instagram for inspo!
Studio DIY Wall Crawl is a great place to start to find those awesome backdrop walls for your next shot!
Tip: Posing in front of the camera is hard, instead, ask your photographer friend to take bursts of you and just keep moving in front of the camera — some of the best shots are taken while in motion.
Think About Props
Whether you’re going to be the subject of your photos, or you’re capturing some product shots, a prop or two can go along way in building a better photo.
From holding a cute coffee cup, to green foliage and plantlife, having something “extra” to your frame can bring it to life.
Step #4: Editing and Post ProductionYou’ve captured the photo and you know it’s the one, but now it’s time you bring it to the next level.
#1: Edit using Lightroom PresetsUsing Lightroom to edit your photos is one of the best ways to get your photos looking beautiful for Instagram. And, on top of achieving super trendy beautiful photos, Lightroom presets make the editing process super easy and fast.
Plus, you can edit with Lightroom CC on your phone for free!
Once you start editing with Lightroom, even just by using the in-built Lightroom presets (which are like “filters”), you’ll start to see your image quality drastically improve, and you’ll start to develop a style that is unique to you and your Instagram feed!
When you’re happy with your content and feel ready to post, save time by scheduling, and auto-publishing your content with Later.
Taking the time to schedule a few days’ posts all at once is a great way to batch posts at the beginning of each week so you can spend more time shooting and planing your content without having to spend so much time on your social channels each day!
On mobile, view your scheduled Instagram posts in a list, preview, or on a calendar (iOS only).
With Later’s Visual Instagram Planner, you can Quick Schedule new posts, see what your scheduled posts will look like on the feed, and drag and drop scheduled posts to rearrange them.
Ready to nail down your Instagram aesthetic? Design, curate, and plan your feed with Later!
#2: Edit Using Editing AppsLooking for quick-as-a-flash edits to help you level up your photos? There are tons of apps that can help you do that — with on-trend filters, clever editing, and perfect color correction tools.
These are some of our favorite photo editing apps to try.
VSCO
Tezza
Snapseed
A Color Story
But the editing fun doesn’t stop there, check out our 12 Best Photo Editing Apps for Instagram blog post for more great photo editing tips and tools!
#3: Stand out from the Rest with Collages and StickersInstagram overlay stickers and collages are the new creative trend on Instagram.
Many users are hopping on the trend and it’s working! If it’s in line with your brand, consider adding overlay stickers to your photos for a little fun touch.
In fact, we love the Instagram overlay sticker trend that much, that we created our very own stickers for you to use on your posts!
Instagram photography shouldn’t feel overwhelming, or out of your reach — with just a phone you have all the tools you need to create standout images and posts for your profile.
But the first step to getting that gorgeous grid is to getting out and snapping your content!
To spend more time shooting and planning your photos, Auto Publish your content with Later!
Plus — if you have an Instagram business profile — you can enable Auto Publish right on your mobile (for both iOS and Android).
If you’re a beginner, stick to these tips and you’ll soon be feeling confident in your photography skills.
Ready to start posting your gorgeous Instagram photos to your grid?
Don’t forget you can plan, schedule, and automatically post to your Instagram account with Later for FREE.
Sign up today!
How to take cool photos for Instagram*
InstagramProduct belongs to an organization recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation. remains a social network about beautiful photos, so you can't do without good shots. Amplifer support manager and InstagramProduct belongs to an organization recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation.-blogger Anastasia Chernykh has already told how to blog in InstagramProduct belongs to an organization recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation., and now explains how to learn how to make cool photos, find your style and make publications more attractive. nine0009
Learn the basics
You don't have to use a camera to take beautiful photos for Instagram* - your phone's camera will often suffice. But getting basic knowledge about photography is still worth it.
First, get familiar with the basic concepts:
- Exposure is the amount of light that hits the camera matrix.
The exposure determines the brightness of objects in the frame. - Composition is the arrangement of objects in a photograph. nine0020
- White balance is the color tone that reflects the lighting and temperature of the image.
- Contrast is defined as the ratio of the brightness of the lightest area of the image to the darkest.
- Saturation is the intensity of the color in the photo and how rich and vibrant the photo looks.
This knowledge will help you avoid mistakes at the very beginning.
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Study the composition of the shot
Composition is the arrangement of objects in the photograph, which helps to make the frame harmonious and interesting. If you are not going to do photography professionally, then basic knowledge will be enough for you. I'll tell you about two options for the arrangement of objects in the frame that I use:
Rule of thirds .
Divide the frame into 3 equal parts horizontally and vertically so that the main objects are located at or along the intersections of the lines. nine0009
The subject is at the intersection of lines
Diagonal rule . Draw a diagonal from one corner of the photo to the other. The diagonal from the lower left corner to the upper right is more "calm" and is called descending , and the opposite, from the lower right corner to the upper left - ascending , it is more "active".
An example of a composition with a descending diagonal
This means that if you place objects along an ascending diagonal, the frame will be more dynamic, and if you place it diagonally downward, it will be harmonious and peaceful. nine0009
An example of a composition with an ascending diagonal
You can turn on the grid in the camera settings on your smartphone - turn it on and it will be easier to deal with the composition.
Shoot in good light
A photo in good light is good for an avatar - it's an important part of your profile.
Light is the basis of everything. When it is good, the photo does not require additional processing.
Good lighting on the left vs bad on the right
For beginner photographers, daylight will be a real help and will do most of the work - the frame will be rich, with natural light and shadows. nine0009
In winter it is better to take pictures from 10 am to 3 pm in clear weather, and in summer there is much more time - suitable light from 7 am to 9 pm. These recommendations are suitable for most residents of the European part of Russia.
Photographers have the concept of "golden hour" (Golden Hour) - this is the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. At this time, the light is soft and especially suitable for shooting.
Photos taken during the golden hour
Important: You can shoot during the daytime and when there is no sun. Moreover, taking pictures in bright sunny weather is much more difficult than in cloudy weather - extra shadows and sharpness appear.
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Get the most out of your phone
Often your smartphone can do more than you think - be sure to explore the camera's settings and features and see what it has to offer. Portrait mode, stabilization, optical zoom, reticle or HDR will all help you when shooting.
For example, HDR is available on almost all smartphones - it creates several frames with different exposures and combines them into one shot, so the photo is clearer and more contrasty. nine0009
On the left is a photo without HDR, on the right is with HDR
Be sure to wipe the camera before shooting - such a trifle, but the frame will definitely be better 🙂
Do not forget about processing applications make the picture better, keeping the picture natural. The main thing here is not to overdo it with filters - do not use filters to the maximum and do not go away from natural colors.
We have compiled a selection of apps for beautiful photos in Stories. nine0009 And to decorate your photo, try using apps to create beautiful "Stories" in InstagramThe product belongs to an organization recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation.
Applications help you correct light, remove excess, make your photo brighter, emphasize details and bring frames to a unified style. Here are my favorite apps and why:
VSCO is the most popular and easiest photo editing app. It has 15 free and more than 100 paid filters, you can edit the exposure, contrast, sharpness, saturation, add graininess. nine0009
Snapseed is a simple application for editing basic parameters with filters (“styles”). From interesting:
- Photo enlargement function that "enlarges" the picture to the desired size.
- Spot correction removes unwanted objects from a photo. For example, you can remove wires from a photo.
- HDR adds this effect to the finished photo
- Double exposure combines multiple exposures into one for an unusual effect. nine0020
Lightroom is one of the coolest applications for light and color correction, which spoils the quality of the source the least. There are curves for editing here - they help distribute the brightness of each pixel in the photo.
In Photoshop Fix , you can not only edit light, colors, brightness, temperature, but also remove unnecessary details from photos using the Recovery tools.
Here you can choose point restoration or the stamp function - in the first case, you just need to swipe over the object and the program will delete it for you, and in the second case, you yourself choose from which part of the photo you will take the part for replacement. nine0009
Also in this application there is a Liquify function that will help you adjust the shape of objects and add volume.
Do not abuse, please - real photos always look more interesting than retouched ones to the ideal.
Removing silhouettes of people in the background in Photoshop Fix
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Shape your style
It is very important to find your style, then your photos will catchy. Think about what profiles you enjoy looking at? Through which photos would you like to present yourself? What do you like to photograph?
And go in search of inspiration in InstagramThe product belongs to an organization recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation. and Pinterest - find a few blogs whose style is close to you, save photos and take note of interesting ideas. Then try to repeat and turn on your fantasy. You should not get an exact copy, because each author brings something of his own to the frame 🙂
For example, I really like the profiles snova_nastia, vicky_od, kate_voina - sometimes I take note of ideas for a photo from them.
Publications snova_nastia
Another way to develop your style is to shoot everything that seems beautiful to you. Take 10-15 frames, process them and evaluate the result. What photos came out? What color is dominant? Is it possible to group them and get a beautiful picture?
Through the search for inspiration and daily practice, you will find what you can call your style 🙂
Don't be shy
Nowadays, a person photographing food, the city or himself does not surprise anyone. There is nothing like stopping, taking a picture, setting the timer on your phone, or asking passers-by to take a picture of you.
Get ready to experiment and look for unusual angles in pursuit of a beautiful photo.
Feel free to ask friends or passers-by to take a photo. The main thing is to explain what you want to see in the frame - then everyone will be satisfied. nine0009
Make a variety of content
Try different styles and don't get stuck on one thing - shoot portraits, food layouts, selfies, architecture, landscapes.
Don't be afraid to shoot close-ups - this way you can get more interesting angles.
The more diverse your content, the more interesting the feed looks, and the higher the engagement of readers will be - everyone will want to go to your feed, view an interesting frame and leave a comment. nine0009
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How to take cool photos for
InstagramThe product belongs to an organization recognized as extremist in the territory of the Russian Federation.: - To get started, learn the basic concepts of photography - read about exposure, composition, color balance, contrast, saturation of photography.
- Check out all the features of your smartphone's camera, maybe it can do more than you think.
- Learn how to place objects in a frame - the rules of composition will help you with this.
- Shoot in good light so you don't have to worry about post-production - the light does it all for you. Try taking pictures during golden hour. nine0020
- Find your style - first go in search of inspiration, then practice.
- Forget about embarrassment and take photos for your pleasure - shoot what you like and ask other people to take pictures of you.
- Use editing apps to fix essentials, clean up, and style your photos.
Convenient auto-posting service for Instagram*
Amplifer works with Instagram* and other major platforms to help you create better content and achieve results. Evaluate the effectiveness of posts, get recommendations on the best time to post. Take advantage of the 7-day trial to evaluate its benefits. nine0009
36 tricks that will help you take cool photos for Instagram using your phone
You don't have to be a professional photographer to succeed on Instagram.
Smartphone cameras these days can deliver surprisingly good quality and compete with DSLRs. Knowing a few tricks and a lot of practice, you can quickly learn to photograph like a pro.
Our guide contains simple yet effective tips on how to take great photos for Instagram, as well as ideas for creating a powerful online presence. nine0009
3 basic rules for creating cool photos for Instagram
Overly staged shots are gradually falling out of fashion; many users are tired of pictures with a perfect image. These days, these types of photographs tend not to capture the attention of the audience because they simply lack creativity.
So, the three golden rules of photography that still apply:
- A good Instagram photo should convey a certain message; nine0020
- It is necessary to capture bright moments with sincere emotions;
- Editing should be used in moderation and appropriate.
And most importantly, always clean your phone's camera lens before taking a picture.
This may sound trite, but it's important.
Remember that creativity and emotion must be conveyed with talent focused on achieving goals. Otherwise, your Instagram followers will not stay with you for a long time.
Tips for amazing pictures
If you don't want to get into the technical details of photography, this part of our guide to creating Instagram-worthy photos is just for you. These tips are enough to understand the basic principles of photography and get started.
How to take pictures of yourself
Selfies aren't the only option you have. But self-photography requires a little more imagination to set up the scene and create something visually interesting. Here are five tips and tricks to help you get it right:
- Use your phone's main camera for better quality.
- Think about the composition and mark your place.
- Hold the camera as far as possible and then frame.
- Be natural: move or use props.
- Make sure the light is installed correctly.
How to photograph your girlfriend
While your girlfriend may enjoy taking beautiful pictures alone, it's hard to beat a good shot taken by a special person. Follow these tips to get your hands on some simple photos and great shots for her Instagram:
- Learn the rules of composition, symmetry and exposure.
- Center it in the frame.
- Find out in advance which angles she finds most attractive.
- Capture natural poses or moments when she is not looking at the camera.
- Take as many photos as possible so that you can choose some of the best photos for Instagram.
How to photograph children
Children can't hold their attention for long, they don't listen and switch from happy to grumpy in seconds. But they are always honest and comfortable with themselves, which is great. We suggest the following tricks:
- Start fast, shoot fast.
- Photograph them as they are, not as you want them to be.
- Go down to their level, literally and figuratively.
- Select a simple background.
- Ask an older brother or sister to help and play along.
How to photograph pets
Like children, your pets don't understand what you're trying to do and won't just pose for the camera. But professional photographers have discovered some nuances that will help you make animal photos for Instagram the way they are:
- Use treats to make pets stay put or look in a certain direction.
- Use fast shutter speeds, continuous focus, and continuous shooting.
- Wait for a quiet moment.
- Let them show character.
- Add people to add story to the frame.
How to take pictures with your phone like a pro
Now let's move on to the rules of shooting, composition, creative direction and editing. While this may sound complicated, it's actually quite simple. nine0009
Everyone can take good photos with a smartphone.
All you have to do is use our recommendations as a guide and practice. The more you practice, the more you will develop your skills and eventually find your own unique style.
Phone Camera Setup
If you use your smartphone's camera correctly, it will instantly improve the quality of your photos and leave plenty of room for photo editing and adding effects. For example, you can override built-in settings. nine0009
Disable HDR
HDR photos are difficult to handle properly, so there is a high risk of surreal, fake, and oversaturated shots. Try turning off the HDR feature to make images look soft and natural. In addition, by applying realistic editing, you will get an aesthetic shot that will look good on Instagram.
https://www.oficinadanet.com.br/
Do not use camera flash
The camera on your phone is largely calibrated for daytime operation.
At night, there is no good reason to turn on the camera flash. Built-in flashes can hardly illuminate objects at a distance of about a meter. As a result, the flash flattens the image, removes the effect of depth, and often blows out objects that are close to the camera. nine0009
Turn on the grid
The camera grid lets you straighten photos by matching objects to straight lines on the screen. By aligning the image to horizontal or vertical lines, you can avoid cluttered, jagged photos. Plus, you won't need to rotate or skew your photos while editing.
6 composition tips for better photos with your phone
Anyone can point the camera and take a picture. However, the best results can be achieved if you compose the shot correctly. Composition is the key to creating a visually appealing photograph and keeping the viewer's attention. Here are ways to get decent Instagram photos with good cropping. nine0009
1.
Follow the rule of thirds The rule of thirds is related to the grid we mentioned above. Place the object from the image at the intersection of the dividing lines or along one of them. This way, your photo will look more balanced and the viewer will perceive it more naturally.
https://tl.23rdpta.org/
2. Add symmetry to the image
Symmetry gives us a sense of harmony and makes photographs aesthetically pleasing. You can see symmetrical objects in the world around you, and the trick is to find the best angle. Look around and you are sure to find examples of horizontal, vertical, radial, or reflected symmetry. nine0009
Picture: Symmetrical Monsters/Instagram
3. Try the center composition rule
Center composition is a good way to make your subject stand out. In addition to placing your subject front and center, also try to simplify the frame and remove all unnecessary. You should not resort to a central composition unless there is a good reason for this.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dunja0712/37600528640/
4. Use Leading Lines
A leading line creates an easy-to-see path for the eye to follow the various elements of a photo. Such lines are used for strong visual impact and to create a sense of movement. To find these lines, put everything out of your head and pay attention to the place where your eyes are naturally drawn. Roads, paths, train tracks, bridges and rivers are a good way to create leading lines in your photography. nine0009
5. Don't fill up the horizon line
The horizon line is important and is probably the first and most fundamental rule in landscape (and beyond) outdoor photography. If you do not follow this rule, then you can spoil the whole positive impression of the picture. The grid feature can help, but, just in case, you can fix the blurry horizon on any photo later during processing.
https://www.womentravelphotographers.com/
6. Fill frame
If you feel like the main subject doesn't really stand out, just try to get closer and fill the frame with it.
This ensures that the subject gets the viewer's full attention and nothing distracts from the main message. Just make sure your phone can keep everything in focus.
5 tips for getting the best lighting for Instagram photos
Having good lighting can be the main difference between success and failure on Instagram. Use the lighting to your advantage and make adjustments as conditions change. By doing so, you will be able to adjust the camera to suit the environment you are shooting and capture the perfect moment. nine0009
The best part is that you don't have to invest in expensive equipment and carry it around with you everywhere. Naturalness is fashionable, besides, it often looks much more attractive.
1. Use natural light to get good shots
Use natural light to create beautiful shadows, create a 3D effect, add texture, and generally bring your photo to life.
There is no one rule that fits all situations because you can never predict how light will behave on different objects. We suggest resigning yourself to the fact that this will be trial and error. nine0009
2. Shoot at the right time
About the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset are known as golden or magic hours. If you want to create a soft look, diffused morning light will suit you. For strong shadows, choose a midnight sun or sunset (with a warm undertone added). It all depends on what you are trying to achieve.
Picture: Stefan Nikolovski (@stefan25nikolovski)
3. Don't overexpose your shots
The most important thing is not to overexpose your main subject, especially when shooting portraits. In travel photos, it is important to keep an eye on the sand. The only exception to overexposure is when something is in the background and takes up only a small part of the photo. nine0009
4. Cloudy or sunny
Note that the ideal weather is a blue sky without a single cloud.
Mostly sunny weather is suitable for almost all types of photography. But with the help of fog or cloudy weather, you can convey a gloomy and brooding mood in the photo.
Picture: Samuel Elkins (@samuelelkins)
5. Go outside when the sun goes down
Good night photography with your smartphone can be worth the hard work. You'll have to deal with poor lighting, extreme contrast, and annoying camera noise. But fortunately, you can creatively get around these limitations:
- Mount the phone firmly to prevent image blur.
- Take advantage of great contrasts.
- Use an external light source.
- Avoid digital zoom.
Some mobile phones are specifically designed for mobile night photography. The cameras in many new smartphones have been improved with a number of features such as optical image stabilization (OIS), larger sensors, brighter lenses and even optical zoom. nine0009
Picture: Odhi (https://consumer.huawei.
com/)
19 creative photo ideas for Instagram
Some tricks always work for Instagram bloggers, and brand accounts pay attention to this. To spark inspiration, we came up with 19 creative photo ideas for Instagram. From simple ideas to trendy ones, you can choose the ones you like the most.
1. Be creative
People upload thousands of amazing photos every day, you need to show your creativity to stand out. Avoid cliches and try to find interesting angles of everyday things. This will make your account more memorable for others. nine0009
@artsypatee
2. Add more positive emotions
Photos with people get 38% more likes and 32% more comments than photos without them. If you also add a smile, the photo will be more interesting for users. So, your account should get more attention if you show happy human faces (remember our tips on lighting, composition, etc.).
https://www.emmasedition.com/
3. Photograph animals
On Instagram, most people love to look at pets, such photos can increase the popularity of your account, regardless of your industry.
Consumers are more receptive to those brands in which there is a human factor, and not a soulless corporation. Animals are the right complement to the individual approach.
4. Interact with props
Another trick for creating art and highlighting is to experiment with different objects. The role of props is to help show character and spark interest in a photograph or to add context to a scene. Depending on what you want to showcase, you can enrich your frame with fun things. nine0009
@kaliannakali
5. Add some humor
As it turns out, Instagram is the perfect social network for comedy stories. Unlike a carefully edited perfect image, a funny post is great for audiences in any situation. In addition, this is another opportunity to make your Instagram account more human and attract the attention of the audience.
6. Try a food layout
Find a good background (wooden tables, marble slabs), arrange your subjects and maximize the amount of natural light in the frame.
Add different textures and everyday items like napkins and accessories to make your photo look aesthetically pleasing. Also check out our tips for creating the perfect composition. nine0009
7. Look for bright colors and shapes
Bright colors, crisp shapes and lines are a great way to spice up your feed. These elements naturally draw the viewer's eye to the photo as they scroll through the never-ending feed. You can choose a fun background, dress up your subject in bright colors, or do both!
@awhimsywonderland
8. Capture moving subjects with burst shooting
Capturing moving subjects in burst mode increases your chances of capturing them in the perfect position or pose. Touch the screen to manually lock focus and adjust exposure. Then select the image from the burst that best captures the moment. This is especially useful when taking pictures of children and animals. nine0009
9. Use interesting backgrounds
Sometimes you focus all your energy on just showing off your surroundings.
Of course, giving all the focus to one main subject is a good choice, but adding a decorative wall, architecture, or nature into the frame can spice up the photo. With a beautiful background, it's easy enough to take a beautiful photo.
https://www.wheressherlyn.com
10. Use Geometry
Perceptually, it is easy for a human to understand basic shapes and geometric elements. For example, vertical lines, circles, squares, and triangles have attractive features that our brains love. You can use them as inspiration to create beautiful shots. nine0009
@geometryclub
11. Explore different patterns
In the same way as lines, our minds are drawn to patterns. When you crop a picture to highlight a pattern, it becomes more interesting, and something ordinary can instantly become intriguing and artistic. There are many examples of mesmerizing patterns that can be easily found in architecture, design, and nature, for example.
@franklindesigns
12.
Use shallow depth of field If you want to make your subject stand out, shallow depth of field is one of the easiest ways to do it. This can be especially helpful for brands that have a specific product to promote. It's very simple: just press and hold the display where you want the camera to focus. Or experiment with your phone's portrait mode to create a blurry background. nine0009
Kim Lightbody
13. Add more space and a white background
Use what's called white space to give your eyes a rest and break up an overly cluttered image. This provides free space that will fit harmoniously into your grid. Some of the most common objects that serve as white space are concrete, plaster, or brick walls.
@itslucawhitaker
14. Take pictures from different angles
Eye level photography is not the only angle that can be used. In many cases, this is not even the best angle. Try shooting from above or below, crouching to the ground, or you can even try the most unexpected vari.
In any case, it will force you to find a fresher and more attractive angle.
http://www.stilettobeats.com/
15. Stick to a color palette
You can choose one of the main color palettes for your Instagram feed - warm, cool or neutral. Alternatively, you can choose a pastel palette or a colorful and bright presentation. However, this does not mean that you can never abandon the chosen palette. Sometimes you can add photos that are a little off the single color palette if they are relevant to your profile's main theme. nine0009
@marianna_hewitt
16. Travel and take lots of pictures from there
When you travel, there are countless opportunities all around you. For example, you can visit national parks, explore flower fields, or walk around the city during golden hour. Photograph unique landscapes or authentic architecture. Anything that makes the photo interesting will do.
@doyoutravel
17. Take underwater pictures
Many modern phones are already waterproof, and some can even be used for diving.
Or you can purchase a waterproof case, which is available for almost any phone model. People often repost underwater shots, especially if they include colorful corals, fish, turtles, and other sea creatures. nine0009
18. Don't Avoid Bad Weather
Photographers know how to take photos for Instagram even in bad weather, and you can do the same with little effort. Try to capture raindrops on the window and what is outside the window (leaves, cityscapes, an airplane at the airport) or a cup of coffee in the foreground.
@beggkara
19. Use puddles after rain
When it rains, you can capture beautiful reflections in puddles on the roads. Experiment with symmetrical compositions, reflective sunsets, or capture children running through puddles. You can be creative, depending on what surrounds you. nine0009
Michael Pistono
How to edit photos for Instagram
It's not enough just to learn how to take good photos for Instagram. Editing can either significantly improve your images (and increase engagement, or ruin them.
Editing should be done in moderation - it's important not to overdo it. Let's break down some of the most effective photo editing apps and see how to use them properly.
Best Mobile photo editing apps
There are many applications for editing photos on mobile devices, but we will focus only on the most commonly used ones: VSCO and Snapseed. These free apps provide enough tools to work with photography while still keeping it natural.
VSCO is all about filters. These are soft and natural filters that make it easier to process your photos compared to many other Instagram presets. In addition, you can adjust them using the slider. Here are our top tips for using the app:
- Reduce the filter intensity as much as possible.
- Notice the built-in skin tone slider.
- Correct perspective by changing the angle of the photo.
Snapseed is used for spot editing and allows you to create edits almost like in Photoshop. Here are the main features of this app:
- Zoom in and fix imperfections with the heal tool.
- Enjoy selective editing of brightness, contrast, saturation, and structure. nine0020
- Please note that you can cancel or change any setting in the future.
Keep editing simple
People are finally starting to get rid of overly saturated presets that transform the original photo beyond recognition. Be extremely careful when applying filters and make only those changes that improve, not worsen the photo. All you really need is good light and minimal post-processing like a little brightness adjustment and adding midtones. nine0009
Analyze which photos get the most likes
Monitoring your statistics is the best way to evaluate how adequate and justified what you are doing.
