I hate to break it to you, but if you don’t have Instagram you are living in the dark ages. Inspiration, ideas and all things aesthetically pleasing can be found on Instagram. Grammers (that’s slang for the users of the app) are creating careers out of their Insta profiles. They have produced unique brands, styles and trends by using Instagram as a platform for traction and reach. Businesses are now using Instagram to expand by targeting the tech-head generation through the art of pretty pictures.
Gone are the days of tatty diaries and hand written doodles and in are the days of online personal portfolios. You can document the special memories in your life and constantly connect with people through social media. An Instagram photo can create a huge impact to audiences all over the world if it is done right. But how do you do that? Here’s how:
- Stick to your theme
Your Instagram should represent you, and this means it should have a sense of continuity and harmony. Your feed should flow with the same colours, tones, filters, exposures and perspectives. However, a little variation is essential to create interest.
- Use natural lighting to your advantage
You’re glowing girlfriend! Natural lighting creates depth and enhances the features of the image – including your gorgeous outfit from The Volte! Sunlight is also ensures that the camera can focus as photos shoot in the dark with a flash tend to blur as the camera struggles to capture all the details in one click. At a festival and its nighttime? No stress, look for stage lights and make sure the lighting isn’t placed behind you as you will become merely a silhouette.
- Underexpose your shot
Ever had a photo taken where you’re basking in the sunlight and then you go to edit the picture but light has brightened and distorted everything? This is because iPhones tend to over expose lighting in pictures. Luckily, there is an easy solution! Here’s a little video explaining how:
- Keep HDR off
This feature captures many exposures of the same photo so your photo is extremely detailed. HDR (High Dynamic Rage) is difficult to perfect if you are an amateur like me. Less is more. Simplicity will help the clarity of your style.
- Use Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is a fundamental rule of photography. It allows any photographer to apply literal guidelines to images and to frame the images exactly right. Each intersection point creates squares and by varying the energy of each square to balance the photo will flow better. In other words, it’s like paint by numbers, just without the paint. Actually, not really.
- Create movement and action
An effective Insta post is one that looks like a moment has been captured and not staged. Yes, I understand I am technically telling you to “stage” an unstaged shot but hear me out. Viewers like to think they are flies on the wall and have a little window into your life through your account. To achieve this move around in your photo – jump, skip, flick your hair, bite your meal, swish your dress. Also direct eye contact with the camera can feel confronting and inauthentic to some viewers so look at something interesting, slightly off camera, or close your eyes and laugh!
The irony of Instagram is that “insta” is short for instant yet there is nothing instant about the pictures you see on the app. A lot of planning and editing goes into an a wicked Instragram picture.
Happy snapping #voltecult!
Madeline Palmer
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