You are in the right place to learn some great tips for your Instagram photo. There is something tremendously satisfying about getting that perfect Instagram photo but doing so can have its challenges. From the type of lighting, to the camera you use, to even the filter you put on it, there are so many different options! Not to worry, though, by following the ten helpful tips in this article you’ll be well on your way to the perfect Instagram photo in no time! Let’s take a closer look at 10 killer tips for your Instagram photo.
Ten Killer Tips for Your Instagram Photo
- Natural Lighting
- Avoid Overexposure
- Wait for the Opportune Moment
- The Rule of Thirds
- Viewpoints
- Subject Framing
- Depth is Everything
- Filtering
- Creativity
- Caption
Strive for Natural Lighting
We’ve all been there: the lighting is terrible, but we really want a specific shot to then share on Instagram. So, we opt to take the shot, we use the flash and get excited and the picture comes out looking absolutely terrible! Some Instagrammers would proceed to still share this picture on their feeds in hopes other might not be as judgmental, but, we’re here to tell you: don’t do it!
When it comes to your pictures you want to post on Instagram, you should always, always, always strive to use natural lighting before any type of flash or false lighting settings! False lighting, like the flash, just looks tacky and it completely distorts your picture to make it look grainy and fuzzy.
Overall, your best bet is to shoot (literally) when natural lighting is available and to forego any flash situations. This will make your pictures look more natural and higher quality, which your Instagram audience will greatly appreciate. Moreover, users on Instagram will be much more drawn to pictures that look natural and clear.
Avoid Overexposure
Along with false lighting, overexposure is another thing you’ll want to avoid when it comes to the photos you take to use on Instagram. Of course, some of the pictures you take and then want to share, are just going to come out looking too dark. It’s bound to happen, but, that is something that can be fixed with photoshopping and editing. What can’t be fixed is when your pictures are overexposed, meaning they’re entirely too bright.
To prevent overexposure, you can adjust the lighting settings on your phone or on your camera to become more suitable for the lighting situation you’re trying to take pictures in.
When your Instagram followers see pictures on your feed and profile that are overexposed, they’ll simple be turned off and uninterested in your pictures and that, my friends, is the very last thing you want! Therefore, be sure to take as many shots as you need to ensure the shot you decide to share on Instagram isn’t overexposed!
Wait for the Opportune Moment
So much of having that perfect Instagram photo is getting the shot you wanted, or perhaps weren’t expecting, at the perfect moment! When this happens, it’s so exciting and your followers will be able to tell when you got the perfect shot at the perfect time!
Of course, your safety is always first! Don’t do anything that’s going to get you injured but do seek out opportunities that will give you that perfect split-second photo. Try to strive for impeccable timing and the “right” time, which could mean, waiting around a bit.
Furthermore, shoot for golden hour. This is the time of day when the sun is sitting low over the horizon, casting just the perfect amount of light on all of its surroundings. This is exactly the perfect time to be taking pictures!
Lastly, if you’re unable to take the pictures you want at, or around golden hour, and you have to shoot at a time like mid-day, remember, clouds are your friends! Direct sunlight will just inhibit your pictures and make them overexposed. So, remember, the time of day matters when taking pictures!
The Rule of Thirds
This one of the tips for your Instagram photo may be a new concept to some of you. Another relatively important thing to remember when it comes to creating your very best Instagram photo, is how you compose your pictures. By that, we mean how you arrange your pictures when it comes to the shapes, colors and textures you’re trying to put on display. The elements and how you choose to lay them out, if you will, can make or break your photo!
Therefore, you will want to follow a straight forward rule most photographers, skilled or novice, live by. That being, the rule of thirds. Essentially, the rule of thirds calls for you to balance the elements in your picture. So, you’ll want to imagine splitting your picture up into a 3×3 grid and then lining up the different elements in your picture with these grid lines.
What Does This Rule Accomplish?
This rule ensures not all the elements in your pictures are forced into one half, while the other half sits vacant. It adds balance and sophistication to any picture. For example, if you’re taking a picture outdoors, of, say, flowers, many sure the flowers are on one side of the picture and the sun is on the other, thus, making the photo balanced.
For the most compelling Instagram pictures possible, you’ll also want to use unique vantage points. And the more unique the vantage point, the more eye-catching your photo will be! For most people, taking a picture for Instagram means holding up their phone or camera, front and center, taking the picture, slapping on a filter and uploading it to Instagram. It works, but it’s simply not the best!
When taking photos for Instagram, try your very best to attempt for unique vantage points. Crouch down, lay down, move your camera further up or down or, even scale a ladder if you need to! There are so many different options and it will defiantly benefit you, your pictures and your Instagram feed to get creative!
Remember Subject Framing Techniques
Each and every picture you take has a subject to it and how you display that subject can make or break your overall photo. Of course, most people’s first instincts are to zoom in, directly to the subject of the picture. This is one way to do it but not necessary the best way to do it.
For example, instead of making your subject front and center with zoom, try to leave a little space on each side of whatever the focal point of your photo might be. This way, you might be able to add a little more depth and interesting detail to the picture, overall!
This is especially important if you’re taking pictures from your phone’s camera. On a DSLR camera, you can zoom without cutting out the rest of the landscape around your subject. However, on your phone, it’s a different story. When you zoom in directly to your subject, it’s like you’re cropping your photo before you even mean to! This can greatly limit your overall photo but especially when it comes to your editing options before posting to Instagram. Always remember: there are more options to framing than just zooming into your subject.
Depth is Everything
Stemming from subject framing, depth also comes into play. As we briefly touched on, you don’t want the subject of your photo to be absolutely the only thing in your photo. There needs to be more not only to interest those viewing your photos on Instagram but to create more of a balance.
In addition, photos that feature a subject but also patterns, other objects or even layers are much more interesting because there is added depth. It’s not just a close up of a person or one single object and people appreciate that very much, especially on Instagram!
So, for example, if the subject of your photo happens to be something like a beautiful sunset, this is a great photo opp. That being said, you won’t want to zoom in directly on the sun itself and have nothing else in the picture. You’ll perhaps want to put the sunset in the top right-hand corner and then get the flowers in the bottom left hand corner and the people observing the sunset along the bottom. This makes for a much more in-depth, interesting picture!
Filtering
Of course, when it comes to Instagram, the filter you choose is important! The biggest thing to remember when it comes to the filter is to alter your picture but not make it look fake or cheesy. There are many options for filtering, especially on Instagram but not all filters are one in the same.
So, try to choose a filter that naturally enhances the colors you already have present in your original photo, instead of adding in new and awkward shading. Also keep in mind that you don’t want you filter to change your photo to be too dark, or, too light. Both far ends of the spectrum are not ideal. Overall, try to choose a filter that showcases the natural light in your photo and enhances it nicely.
Creativity
This one of the tips for your Instagram photo should be a no-brainer. Photography and Instagram are all about creativity, so when you’re shooting photos, don’t forget to bring yours! Remember, other users on Instagram are going to be most attracted to what is most unique and downright different, so strive to do something totally different than what everyone else is doing!
Furthermore, avoid, at all costs, clichés. At one time, these pictures were immensely popular. Now, however, they’re just over done and redundant. Yes, Instagram is about trends and what currently trending, but, remember that new trends are always needed!
One of the best ways you can do this is by trying to put a fresh spin on what already being done in your own, thoughtful, creative way.
Lastly, if you want the best photos on Instagram, it’s also important to be creative with where you get your followers! If you continue to only pull your followers from Instagram and Facebook, your profile just isn’t going to grow as fast, so get creative, go out on a limb and try to pull followers from sites like This Crush (http://thiscrush.net/). Here, you can post pictures, set up a profile and users can anonymously comment! It’s new and different!
Your Captions
The importance of captions cannot be overstated when it comes to talking about tips for your Instagram photo. Captions are, downright, one of the most vital aspect of your photo on Instagram. It needs to be creative, quirky, interesting, dramatic and eye-catching to get the job done! Defiantly play around with different options to see what suits your photo and the goals you have for it on Instagram best.
You will definitely want to make sure you find a balance between sharing just enough and being intriguing and the pitfalls of sharing too much and your caption just being too much. This is a delicate balance and as a general rule of thumb, if you feel as if you’re sharing too much, you probably are! Try to be catchy to draw people in, explain what your picture is about and then wrap things up neatly. Your caption should leave people wanting more at the very least!
Another great idea is to test run the photo and the caption you have in mind on different social outlets to see what the response might be. For example, try posting in an online dating chat room and seeing what people have to say! There is no better way to get a straightforward and honest response. A great option for this test run would be Chatib (chatib.us/user/chat). It’s fun, friendly and a great place to see how your Instagram content goes over! Give it shot and see what fun captions you can come up with for your Instagram audience!
Overall
This article provided you with some excellent advice and guidance when it comes to tips for your Instagram photo! From your viewpoint, to the filters you choose, to your framing and creativity, there are so many different ways to take the very best photos for Instagram! Don’t forget to always bring a creative mindset and follow these 10 killer tips to get the very best photos possible! Good luck and happy shooting!
