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1. Tell a story with your photos-

Photography has been a passion of mine for a very long time now; I love how a picture literally has the capacity to tell a story of a thousand words. When shooting photos for Instagram weather is be a personal style photo, a snapshot of an event or a nice meal, we have the opportunity, even in a small way to tell a story with that image by including other elements in the image or, taking the photo from a less obvious angle.

One example would be this funky London cafe I visited… coffee has to be one of the most photographed items on Instagram so its fun to play around with a coffee break to try & produce a more interesting image. I could tell more of a story with the image by setting the scene in which I found myself by avoiding taking the trusty coffee flatlay & capturing the interior instead.

The cafe was too busy to get a neat image of the neon sign lighting up the interior but, by captured the quirky barista pouring the beans in front of one of the cafe’s focal points I allowed the image to tell more of a story than if I’d managed to find a quite moment to capture the neon sign without disruption in the image. The sign captured alone in an image would look nice but tell no story whereas the beans, hair and coffee machine all allow viewers to get a sense of whats happening, thus, taking a story from the image.

Other examples of images that tell a story:

2. Add similar filters-

If you want your Instagram to look streamlined or less cluttered, consider adding a similar filter to all of the images that you share. I use both the VSCO & Afterlight apps to edit my photos, adding a few filters but rarely at a percentage any stronger than 30… this allows me to bring out the tones I want in the image without it looking ‘over-edited’.

Cool tones (eg blue based filters) and brightened photos have been proven more popular in Instagram studies so if its ‘likes’ your after these options are a must.

3. Use light-

Sunlight… Somewhat underutilized by the general Instagram user and, sometimes nothing short of impossible to find as a resident of Ireland. Sunlight, fading light, dusk ect add a stunning element to any photo while also starting a monologue so, should be used to your advantage whenever available.

Below is an example of using light in an otherwise non-descript selfie… by adding the element of light to the photo I’ve brought the idea of sunshine, dusk and, the reflection of nature in both the trees & sunlight into the photos… not only does it add a more interesting verse to the image, it tells a story which is commonly the aim when creating a beautiful photograph.

4. Be aware of angles.

This is my trick to up my game when it comes to taking food photos… its allllll about the angles! Be aware of how the camera is tilted & which direction your shooting something from because the angle, rather than the subject can make or break a photo. Compare the two photos below for an example:

Two separate photos from lunches out…both meals just as nice in case you’re interested!… both photographed very differently. The angle of the first image is too close to allow the viewer any perspective and makes the food look sloppy; sloppy doesn’t do well in Insta pics! By taking the food photo from the top down I’m allowing the viewer to feel a bit of the atmosphere or get a feel for the occasion which is trusty way to create a beautiful image.

If the situation doesn’t suit you standing up & faffing around, rearranging cutlery & glasses to get the ‘perfect shot’, then consider a more interesting angle to photograph from… these styles often gain more praise on Instagram & allow you to avoid the mortification resulting from being a participant in the afore mentioned scene!

Angles are no less important when it comes to photographing all other types of subjects & should be highly considered before you start to shoot. More often than not, a personal style photo captured from an unusual angle will garner more admiration & be more aesthetically pleasing than a standard head-to-toe shot.

If you struggle to think of interesting angles when you’re out shooting why not screenshot ones you like & keep them in a folder on your phone to serve as inspiration at a later date?

5. Consider the composition of photos

The rule of thirds is not just for landscape photos or professional photographers… it can be considered by everyone when creating an image. Shooting a subject off center is a simple yet effective way to make the photograph a little more captivating; Its not necessary to stick strictly to the rule when looking to capture something off center (after all, rules are meant to be broken!) but, you can use it as a way to remind yourself that not all photos have to be centered.

6. Think outside the box when creating content.

Instagram is the number one place to share beautiful imagery but, it can be hard for those of us who don’t live constantly surrounded by endless beauty (or, have endless time to capture said endless beauty…) to create fresh imagery on a daily bases.

I believe that creating your own Instagram content as opposed to sharing other people’s content through your account is vital to your integrity on this platform…. posting images regularly is a great way to establish a relationship with your online community but it sometimes simply isnt possible to find the content to share; this is where flatlays come in. A flatlay is essentially a photo of variour pieces lying flat & photographed from above but obviously any angle you prefer can be used when creating this type of content.

I bought a large white artist’s board & use it to lay items on to photograph… an ironed white pillowcase will also do the trick but again, you can play around with any surface or textures that you prefer. These images work brilliantly as a mood board for an upcoming occasion such as a holiday or, as a way to share products or clothes that you’re currently loving. These images are also great as they can be created when you have the time & then shared at a later date when you need fresh content.

As well as creating flaylays, you can share quotes you enjoy by simply using paper & pens… while quotes are a very popular piece to share, it can be almost impossible to find your favorites already on Instagram so why not create your own? Its a cute way to get creative or tell your friends & followers your news.

7. Keep simple improvements in mind.

Last but definitely not least. Remembering details such as ensuring the lens is wiped clean, keeping your hand as steady as possible, making certain that the image is straight (use the lines on the screen to help if necessary) and tapping the screen to focus in on the most detailed part of the photo (usually the face).

These are all small but very effective ways to up your day-to-day Insta game… nothing like taking half a days photos before you realize that the lens had been pawed & all pics have an unwanted haze to them!

Hope you guys enjoyed this post.xx