In some ways similar to an actual photo exhibit where people walk in, have champagne while mingling and celebrating your creative works, Instagram allows you to harbor a great deal of patrons and followers. Here are some of my personal photography tips to have an Instagram feed that people would want to follow.
Start by taking good photos. Shake-off the thought that you can always manipulate and fix your photos in post-production. Remember the saying, garbage-in, garbage-out. Try to squint whenever you review your shots. This helps you see unnecessary elements in the frame that can ruin your shot.
Establish a theme.
Like artists who are well-known because of their signature style or genre, an Instagrammer who has a consistent theme in their posts attract many patrons/followers. Themes could be anything from nature, travel, street, food, portraits, et cetera. In my case, I’m a street photographer and my feed showcases people, cityscapes, and architectures.
Captions and By-lines.
Part of your posts are your photos’ captions, where you can add titles or descriptions that complement or complete the message of your shot. Keep it short and simple – Instagram profiles are not intended to be blogs and it should really showcase your photos more than anything else.
Composition. This is probably the most important principle of photography. Elements of your shot that are properly put together and arranged will have a massive effect on your audiences’ visual stimuli.
Editing.
Instagram has powerful photo editing tools and presets that you can use to make your shots more interesting. Editing your photos is one way of telling your followers that you are a serious photographer, willing to spend time perfecting your obras before posting. There are plenty of free third-party editing apps available for download for various devices. I personally use VSCO CAM for fine-tuning and color-grading, and SKRWT for precision cropping and symmetry.
Be mindful of what you post. Unless your account is private, photos uploaded on Instagram are open for the whole world to see. Think before you click. Although deleting is just a tap away, hundreds of people may view what you post the second you upload. Instagram is your online photo exhibit and what you post mirrors the kind of photographer you are. One post that lacks taste can ruin your whole feed.
Google rule of thirds from photography 101. Incorporate lines and shapes that will lead the viewers’ eyes to the subject matter. Unlike standard cameras that have an aspect ratio of 3:2 or 4:3 (such as iPhones), Instagram has an aspect ratio of 1:1, giving you more options to crop and frame your shots to have a more striking composition.
Create your identity by editing your photos in a unique “you” style. Try to set moods by having your signature color palette, or by using consistent presets. This will help your posts stand out amongst the hundreds of other photos that come up in your followers’ news feeds.
Enjoy and follow profiles that give you inspiration and identify what style you are drawn to. You will likely be more effective in executing a style that personally appeals to you. Study various techniques but do not just copy them. Use what inspires you as the main ingredient in finding and fine-tuning your own style. Add your own flavor. Innovate and use your imagination. These are just tips, there are no hard and fast rules because at the end of the day, good photos, like any other form of art, are in the eye of the beholder.
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