How to take better Instagram photos

A huge part of Instagram marketing is creating unique, high-quality content that makes your brand stand out. Perfectly curated Instagram feeds are a dime a dozen, so you’re not really adding much value to the platform if you’re just reposting the same photos we’ve all seen a million times before. Here is how to take better Instagram photos on an iPhone (or other smartphone).

 

 

 

How to take better Instagram photos

I've said it before and I'll say it again – you should be at least attempting to create some of your own content. Perfectly curated Instagram feeds are a dime a dozen these days, so you're not really adding much value to the platform if you're just repurposing all the same photos we've seen a million times before.

(A creative way to spice up your Instagram feed is by making your own Instagram collage. I've written a blog post on how to make an Instagram Collage here).

Obviously, it's a lot of work taking all your Instagram photos yourself, which is why I don't expect you to. But, it's also a whole lot more rewarding seeing your own images come to life on your Instagram profile. So, today I'm looking at how to take better Instagram photos – even if all you have is an iPhone. In fact, for the purpose of this blog post, I'm going to assume that you're taking Instagram photos on an iPhone or other smartphone camera, because most people don't have access to a fancy shmancy camera.

I don't recommend you go out and buy the most expensive camera out there, if you're just going to use it for a couple of Instagram posts. If you want to create Instagram content without getting behind the camera, these Instagram templates are your go-to.

Taking better Instagram photos – Tip #1: Make sure you've got good lighting

Lighting can make or break a photo, especially if it's on a smartphone camera! You know how you often see photos on Instagram that look yellow and grainy? This is because the lighting wasn't right when the photo was taken.

You don't need to go and splash out on any fancy lighting kits or anything – all you need is a bit of good old sunlight and a window. If you're trying to up-level your product photography a little bit, you might look on eBay to get some light boxes or something, but you'll figure your style out soon enough. Maybe you prefer strong direct sunlight with harsh shadows or maybe you're more of a muted light type. Just try to keep it consistent across all your photos and also try to avoid using the flash on your smartphone. It usually doesn't turn out well.

Instagram photo tip #2: It's all about composition

One of the Instagram accounts I've been following for a while, @whatshepictures, does amazing flatlay builds and she shares so many tips on how to take better Instagram photos. If you look at her Instagram Story highlights, you'll see behind the scenes of how she builds flatlays, which will give you an idea into how to compose your Instagram photos better – even if you're not taking flatlays.

Things like the rule of the thirds and leading lines can make a huge difference to how your photo turns out. So, I recommend reading up on these. I'm not enough of a photography pro to teach you these things myself, unfortunately. But, one quick tip is to switch on the grid feature on your phone, so you can easily start using the rule of thirds.

Taking better Instagram photos – Tip #3: Use props but don't overuse them

Props can help you tell a story but they shouldn't be the whole story. They should support and complement the subject of your photos, not distract from it. Less is more – unless you really know what you're doing composition-wise.

Otherwise, you might end up confusing the viewer and completely distracting from the subject.

Taking better Instagram photos – Tip #4: Avoid using the digital zoom on your phone

Unless you have a newer model iPhone (8+ and above), any zooming you do in your photos will be digital. This means it's just stretching the image and it will end up looking pixelated. The iPhone 8+ and above (and some other new smartphones) have two lenses, which means you can zoom optically without losing any image quality.

But, instead of going out and buying a new phone, the quicker and cheap way is to just take a few steps closer to your subject.

Taking better Instagram photos – Tip #5: Remember to set your focal point

Most smartphones have this feature now, I think.

Your focal point is the part of the image that is in focus, which is ideally going to be your subject. How do you set your focal point? Simply tap on the part of the photo that you want to be in focus and your phone should adjust the focus for you.

On an iPhone, you can take this one step further and swipe up to increase the exposure or down to decrease it.

And last but not least…

Taking better Instagram photos – Tip #6: Don't over-edit or over-filter to your photos

When Instagram first came out, we all went nuts over Amaro and Lo-Fi and Mayfair and just ALL of the filters. It was a novelty to be able to filter photos. Now, there are just so many filtered photos out there and (for the most part) they look pretty average.

So instead of attacking your photos with filters, learn how to edit them subtly so that you enhance the image, rather than trying to change it completely. If the image that you've taken is well-composed and well-lit, you shouldn't have to try and transform the image completely.

If you absolutely must edit your photos, look at other apps like VSCO or A Color Story for some more subtle, less-used filters.

I hope this guide on how to take better Instagram photos helps you up-level your Instagram photography game. Please feel free to tag me in your photos so I can check them out!

Download my free Instagram hashtag cheat sheet here.

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