With millions of people on Instagram, it is difficult to stand out from the crowd. Luckily, you do not have to have a fancy camera or a professional camera to become #instafamous. Here are some tips on how to improve your Instagram content.
Location- The more interesting the backdrop is, the better! The best way to find Insta-worthy backdrops in your area is to explore your city. Keep an eye out for walls and backdrops that have unique details. Also, you can discover new locations by using the search feature in the Instagram app. Just type in the city or business you are looking for and all of the photos tagged with that location will appear on your screen. For those of you that live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I have a blog post that list the best places to take photos in Denton, Texas.
Lighting- Lighting is key for taking a good photo. I believe the best lighting is natural light. The best times to take a photo are sunrise, sunset, or when it's overcast/cloudy. I like to make sure when I am in the photo the lighting is in front of me, that way you will not have weird shadows hitting your face.
Angles- Angles can add character to your shot. For photographing objects, food pics, or flatlays, usually the best angle is to shoot the objects from above ( birds-eye-view shot) and have a simple background that doesn't clash with the objects. For #OOTD's, the most flattering angle is to shoot someone at a low angle. Have someone kneel down and angle the camera up. This will make you appear taller. Try a variety of different angles ( below, above, straight on, etc.) to see which one works best for you.
Find your Pose- The best way to do this is to try a variety of different poses until you find the one that feels the most comfortable to you. My go to poses is to cross one leg over the other, have one leg slightly stick out more than the other, and to look like you are walking. The more natural the pose, the better.
Apps- There are numerous apps that you can use to edit and help plan your Instagram pictures. These are my favorite ones.
- VSCO Cam: There is a reason why everyone and their mom uses this app, it's crazy good. This app is what I use to filter my photos. They have a variety of filters to use and you can adjust how much of the filter you want in your photo. My favorite filters are HB1, HB2, and A6. If you are tring to go for a specific filter look on your photo, search vsco cam filters on Pinterest, and a list of filter combos will show step by step how to get the look. You can also adjust the saturation, brightness, and sharpness of the photo. This app is free.
- Facetune: I use this app to make the whites in my photos brighter. You click the whiten feature on the app, zoom in, and run your finger across the parts you wan to whiten. If you make a mistake, you can easily erase it without having to start over. This is great for flatlays or to brighten anything that has white in the photo. I also use this app to bring the details out in my photos using the details feature. I run my finger across the parts that I want to pop in my photo. This app costs $3.99.
- UNUM: Before uploading uploading a photo to Instagram, I use this app to see how it will look on my Instagram profile. When you open the app, it will have all of your Instagram photos that are currently on your profile. You are able to upload the photo you are thinking about adding to your Instagram and see if the photo looks cohesive with your feed. There is a tutorial about the app here. This app is free.
BTW, you should follow me on Instagram. My Instagram is @rachelpittman_ (shameless self promotion).
What are your tips for improving your Instagram photos? Let me know in the comment section!
