How to Set Up for the Best Photos for Instagram

It can be a complete #photofail if you don’t spend a little time setting up for Instagram photo success. There are a few things that will help make sure every shot you take is one of the best.

Here are some tips from the hottest influencers on Instagram.

Natural Light Is Best

Even when indoors, you can get the best photos for Instagram with the use of natural light. You want to make sure that what you’re taking a picture of has light shining directly on it and isn’t backlit.

You can also set it up so the light shines from an upper-diagonal angle. When the light comes from the back, your photo turns out indiscernible.

When the photo or object photographed lays flat, make sure there are no shadows from the sun or your hand. You can use a white Bristol board on the floor as a light reflector to improve the pics.

There are many ways to get creative with these tools, but one is by using a board as a fake marble backdrop. This will help with its neutral color and look of luxury.

You Can Still Shoot at Night

Many people want to take night pictures to use on their Instagram accounts. The only real decision is whether to use the flash or not. This is a great question, and the answer here is to take the picture both ways.

Without a flash, the image may be blurry and grainy, while with a flash, there may be too much light.

When shooting photos indoors at night, consider having another person shine some light on the subject to make the lighting less harsh.

For people who shoot a lot at night, there are a few things to remember. Less light equals more blur and grain. A tripod is your friend in this situation because you can eliminate movement and give the camera time to get more light.

Use the “Golden Hours”

Most photographers and photography enthusiasts know that the hour right before sunset and the hour after sunrise are the best times to capture portraits and landscapes. Shooting at sunset or sunrise is the easiest way to take a magically lit photo.

Use Your Own Filter

It is time to make your way into this decade and move away from old-school filters like Kelvin and Amaro. The best advice is to always use a filter and then edit it for contrast, lighting, and shadows.

Taking advantage of editing apps like VSCO or Lightroom will help you adjust to the exact level of exposure you need. There is also room to adjust photos and use filters in Instagram.

Invest in a Professional Camera and Get Focused

While it’s true that your smartphone is capable of doing a lot, its camera has its limits. If you want your Instagram platform to double as a portfolio, you really need a professional camera.

You can find excellent beginner-friendly versions of professional cameras for less than $1,000. You will notice the difference instantly.

It also makes a big difference to learn how to adjust focus. Just tap the screen and you’ll see a yellow circle around the subject. Click on this and boost the exposure.

From here, you can adjust the final photo with a click on the lines below the photo. Adjust for highlights, exposure, shadows, and brilliance.

Create Interest by Adding Layers

The minimalistic look is en vogue, but adding layers to your shots can translate to adding interest.

This means having a foreground and background as well as a mix of textures. You will still focus on your subject, but there are other layers to add richness to the image.

With some smartphones, this can be accomplished through the use of portrait mode. If the background is complicated, it is better to blur it and focus on your subject.

Consider adding an item of interest near your subject rather than taking a photo straight on.

Continuous Burst is Best for Action Shots

Get familiar with using your camera’s continuous burst feature. This is perfect for event photography. This allows a series of shots to be captured consecutively.

It allows you to hedge your bets on getting the best shots by quickly taking one photo after another instead of ones where the subject’s eyes are half-closed.

Set your lighting up and hit continuous burst and go through the images later and find the best one.

Understand Photo Balance

Understanding basic photography principles will go a long way in improving your Instagram shots. One composition fundamental is the rule of thirds.

Imagine three equally distanced lines going vertically and horizontally across your shot. Your subject can be anywhere they intersect as opposed to the centered shot. This avoids the feeling of the photo being “off.”

Mix It Up

Once you start taking photos, you will notice that you fall into a pattern that works. This should be avoided. Mix your angles and shots up so your followers don’t get bored.

Use the idea of balance above to create a shot that looks good. Take several shots of the same subject from different angles until you have the best photo.

Study Popular Instagram Photos

Take note of some of the influencers you follow. Look at their photos and what is getting the most attention. Adopt what they have done with your work. Whether it is the subject matter or picture style, this can help you develop more of a following.

Additionally, analyze your Instagram photos regularly. Go through your account and comb over the analytics of your brand.

Your competitors’ posts and your current posts are the two most important data sources for you. Make notes about what sticks out to you in these photos.

When you consider posting your next photo, look at these notes to help you pick your subject.

Branch Out from Photos

To help keep your followers engaged in what you post, add variety. Use text overlays, graphics, and screenshots to add interest to your account.

Conclusion

Keep the above tips in mind the next time you take photos for your Instagram account. And remember that it’s always better to take more photos than you need, as this gives you more options for what to post on your profile.