5 tips for better Instagram Photos

I've proclaimed my love of instagram many times. Lately I have been getting more into it and have been receiving quite a few questions about how I make my pictures look the way I do. I know a lot of people don't want to give away their "secrets", but I'm not greedy so I thought I'd do a little post with some tips I've been learning for making a more beautiful feed.

1. Lighting

This is important. Bad lighting usually equals a bad photo. So get closer to a window or go outside. Don't take pictures in your basement (or in my case, not in the depths of my dreary apartment.)

2. Staging

Look before and check after you snap a photo. Many times I have taken a picture and not even noticed a stray cord or pile of papers in the corner until it's too late to go back and change it. Clear anything from the area that you don't want distracting from what your photographing. Also, consider your backdrop. If you moved that vase of flowers over a few inches would there be something more pleasing behind it? If you walked to another room would that picture of your feet have prettier floors beneath them?

3. Take pictures of things that are already beautiful or interesting. 

Is it worth looking at or sharing? As much as I may be enjoying my bowl of split pea soup, if my goal is to take beautiful pictures, I might not want to Instagram it. And also, this may just be a personal preference, but I don't generally desire to see pictures of your gnarly toes. Yep, I said it. I'm tired of seeing people's bare feet in my feed. If I've unfollowed you this is probably why. Put some cute shoes on (preferably that cover your toes) and snap away.

4. Take several shots.

Taking several shots (with slight variations) gives you options and ensures that you won't end up with only one shot and realize later that it was blurry. Usually I will take a bunch and when I go back through them there is always one that stands out over the others and I'm glad I had more than one to choose from!

5. Use other editing apps.
This has been where I have had the most fun lately. Only recently have I discovered the joys of utilizing other apps before I upload a photo to Instagram. It has changed everything. My two favorite and most frequently used iPhone photography apps are Snapseed and VSCO cam. Snapseed is helpful for fine tuning and VSCO cam is good for more natural/subtle filter effects. I have no special formula for you. Just play around with different filters or lighting effects until you get just the look you're going for, save it to your photo album and upload into Instagram! You can even still add an Instagram filter on top.

What other Instagram tips have you learned? Have any favorite photography apps? Share away!

find me on instagram: kynoelle