This is how you take better photos for Instagram
Instagram has become a permanent fixture in many people’s lives. You post one or more photos every day, which you have selected with care. But no matter how good the camera in your iPhone is, the final photo does not always have the desired effect. Fortunately, there are tips to make your photos just that little bit better.
- #1 Play with light
- #2 Use a tripod
- #3 Use a photo editing app
- #4 Play with the settings
- #5 Get inspiration from other photographers
- #6 Develop your own style
Today’s iPhones have fantastic cameras, but on a cold day you may be shaking so much that your photo is shaky. Or maybe you wanted to take an extreme close-up, but the lens couldn’t handle that. In any case, the photos you take with your iPhone for Snapchat and Instagram could still be a little better. And you really don’t have to put much effort into that.
#1 Play with light
Light is one of the most important factors in photography. If there is too much light, your subject is overexposed. Too little light looks dark and does not attract the attention you are looking for. If you are in a room, pay attention to which window the sunlight comes in through. Is the afternoon sun too bright? Try it earlier or later in the day or use net curtains to filter the light slightly. In the early morning and around sunset you get the most beautiful warm glow. And what about lights, which can cause unwanted shadows? Sometimes it is better to turn off the lights during photography, if there is sufficient light from outside.
If you know how the sun moves around in your room, you know when it is best to take photos. By shifting the focus you can also adjust the exposure of photos on your iPhone. And if you plan to photograph the same object (for example a pet) more often, it may make sense to take a few photos from different angles during the day, so that you know which lighting situations are most suitable. And you can lighten up a dark detail with an unfolded white umbrella.
#2 Use a tripod
Just like with other cameras, there is also a chance that your photo will be blurry with the iPhone. A tripod or tripod is a useful accessory. Moreover, you can also use it to reach more difficult positions and to choose special angles. For example, place it on the handlebars of your bicycle or a lamppost and use a remote control to take the photo.
#3 Use a photo editing app
Of course you can get started with Photoshop on the Mac, but the reality is that you often don’t get around to it. What you need is a simple app that you can get started with right away. There are countless apps made specifically for Instagram Stories, but you can also use them to spice up your other photos. For example, they contain filters and borders that are slightly different from the filters you find on Instagram itself.
If you are looking for a simple photo editor, you can also use Snapseed. This is a free app from Google with which you can, for example, fix the perspective. Most apps have slightly different filters and options, making your photos a little more original. It is wise to limit yourself to one or two, so that you do not have to keep reinventing how everything works in the app. No idea which app you want to use? We have already collected the best photo editing apps for the iPhone for you.
#4 Play with your settings
Your iPhone has all kinds of useful camera functions that help you take better photos. For example, you can use grid lines to ensure that the horizon is nice and straight. You can create extra depth with the portrait function, or use the burst function to ensure that action and sports photos always succeed. Whether you know the features or not, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your camera. That way you can use it almost blindly when the perfect moment for a beautiful photo arises.
#5 Get inspiration from other photographers
The best way to learn tricks is to follow your favorite photographers or influencers. Of course, the idea is not to copy them, but to find your own style by learning certain tricks. Almost every creator is on Instagram these days and the iPhone is a widely used camera. A search on the platform is therefore a good idea. If necessary, create a separate Instagram account, purely to follow photographers you admire and where you can find inspiration if you have no idea for a nice subject.
Also investigate which of your own Instagram photos get the most likes. Apparently you have caught the attention of the viewers with these photos. This way you know better what your audience likes. You could also look at other people’s posts. This may differ per subject. Are there people in the picture, or not? Is it a symmetrical photo? Is it a busy and colorful photo or is it a bit calmer and more minimalist? Are they photos taken indoors or outdoors? Once you know what resonates, you can continue in that vein.
#6 Develop your own style on Instagram
Women regularly opt for a pink or beige pastel theme on Instagram, as shown in the photos on the right. But if you want to distinguish yourself a little more, you could also opt for a completely different style in orange and blue tones. This sometimes poses some limitations, because not everything you see can be photographed in these shades. But sometimes you can do a lot with color filters. You could also choose a striking color effect to apply to all your photos. But be careful that it can also get boring quickly. And black and white photography may seem like an ‘artistic’ choice, but photos in grayscale can also be less noticeable and appear a bit boring. One characteristic color that comes back again and again may be a better choice. What always works well on Instagram are repetitive patterns, such as the windows of an apartment building or the stripes on a piece of fabric.
You can read more tips for Instagram here:
- Lost Instagram followers? This is probably the reason
- The best Instagram tips: better filters, tips for promotion and more likes
- This is how you change the intensity of Instagram filters
