As Instagram continues to grow and attract people, users also need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. It pays to learn the ropes of posting on this top photo and video sharing site to earn the attention and respect of other members.
Sharing photos and videos on this social networking site is more exciting what with the various features available such as the filters. Photos are no longer restricted to just the square type while longer videos up to 60 seconds are now allowed.
When you’re on Instagram, it’s best to be a little more creative. This is definitely one great way of catching attention and gaining new followers.
Here are some simple steps that you can take and should practice consistently.
Experiment
Do focus on what you want and experiment with the subjects you like. Snap from different angles and shoot as many as you like as this helps develop your own style. As for your subjects, do not hesitate to take closer shots to grab attention.
Veteran photographers agree that angles can make or break a picture. For the newbies, though, it is worth snapping your subject in different angles and then review the ones that bring out the best photos. Apart from taking a photo in a straight-on shot, you can also use the overhead shots or shoot directly from the sides. This way, you not only figure out your best angle but as well as that of the different subjects or objects you want to showcase.
It’s okay to get out of the box as long as you are doing what you love and not trying to be someone else. Keep in mind that it’s important to be honest when you’re on social networking sites. And instead of being concerned about what people will like as well as the likes you get for every post, just do what you want and share them.
Be Different
Many young people are fond of copying trends when it comes to taking photos. But if you want to be a cut above the rest, you have to do something out of the ordinary. For example, you can get down low when shooting pets or flowers or hold your camera from different angles.
If you’re snapping food, do ensure to consider contrasting or complementary colors. Other factors to take into account are the plates, background, texture and angle. Close-up photos are the best but also play with various angles. Hampton Creek has lots of photo ideas on Instagram.
You can also check out the posts of well-known photographers and get inspiration from them. Learn from their techniques and don’t be afraid to develop your own style. The same is true when making videos. So go ahead and ask them questions if you’re really interested in improving your photography skills.
Be Aware of Lighting
Lighting is very essential when taking photos or videos. As such, you need to pay attention to it to ensure that your photos are clear and of top quality.
To those who like to shoot outdoors using natural light, expert photographers recommend shooting during the so-called golden hours which are during sunrise and sunset. It is during these times when you get a natural glow without the harsh lighting. But always avoid taking pictures in direct sunlight particularly if you’re snapping people as you will only get squints and imperfections in their faces.
If you’re taking a selfie, it’s best to do it in front of a well-lit window. Just don’t do it when harsh sunlight is coming in so that you can achieve the perfect flow not only on your skin but as well as on your hair and even clothing.
Take advantage of Instagram’s filter and edit features. The edit function lets you enhance your image such as adjust its brightness and contrast, saturation as well as color and face. The filter option, on the other hand, allows you to add effects to your photos.
Fortunately, people can now take great pictures with better lighting particularly if they are using more advanced mobile devices. Most phone cameras today are already capable of automatically adjusting the lighting regardless of the situation.
Use Hashtags
When posting photos on Instagram, remember to include a caption and most importantly, hashtags. By using hashtags, you can be sure that your photos will easily be searched. Also, people who don’t follow you on the site will be able to see your photos when they search for a particular subject using hashtags. You can also use more than one hashtag if you like.
The main function of hashtags is to organize and categorize images and videos. This is helpful in discovering content and search engine optimization. And when you link your Instagram account to Facebook, your hashtags also get published there which means you expose your photos to more people.
0 Comments