Instagram is my favorite, & least favorite part of the job.

My favorite because I love evolving & getting creative when it comes to my content… & that’s really something I feel passionate about. I love the aesthetics of it all.

My least favorite, cause I am sure you know- Instagram can make you feel pressured AF. Pressured to post 3x a day, pressure to do more with your life, pressure to dress cuter, & so much pressure to get that PERFECT SHOT.

First of all, relax!! It’s just Instagram. Second of all- I GET IT. IT’S INSTAGRAM & we all want a cohesive, cool, & interesting feed for people to look at. SO, today I am sharing some fun little tips & tricks to help you up your photo game.

Tips for Taking Better Instagram Photos

1. FIND (& MATCH) YOUR LOCATION

You can read my previous post on scouting locations here… & read it closely cause I really think location major key to a good photo. I think it’s safe to say we’ve all seen enough pink wall photos or coffee shop shoots to last a lifetime, so really OPEN YOUR EYES & THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!

Some ideas: a retro diner, an amusement park, a construction site (this has been on my mind lately for a future shoot), a rooftop vibe, or you could even get a rad photo at your local In N’ Out… which speaking of, matching your location is also always a good idea!! It adds major flair to your photo. This day, we knew we were gonna shoot at In N’ Out so I planned in advance to wear yellow… & this ended up being one of my more popular posts. I don’t always plan though- sometimes I will bring 4 outfits to shoot & pick locations based off the look.

2. GET AWKWARD AF

I am NO model, so posing doesn’t always come easy for me as others. Luckily I have an amazing photographer (shout out to my girl Arielle!) who just knows what’s cool & she ALWAYS says to me “IF IT FEELS AWKWARD, IT LOOKS GREAT!”. This was a hard concept for me to grasp, but once I started seeing how my awkward feeling photos looked on camera- I was into it. You may think it’s dramatic when you’re doing it, but the result will be the perfect amount of drama w/out looking weird af. I SWEAR!

3. KILLING IT W/ A PHONE CAMERA

This isn’t as much as a tip as it is just a general piece of advice- you can 100% be an established influencer or blogger without a crazy expensive camera. I do have a fancy camera (Fujifilm XT2), but honestly- we use the iPhone more I think. As your brand grows, you may find it handy to have a professional camera, but if that’s not in your budget- YOUR FINE. W

Few tips for taking BOMB photos on your phone: never ever use HDR (it always turns out weird), be sure to under expose before you take a photo by holding down your finger on the lightest part of the photo (i.e. a blown out sky), if you have someone else taking your photo or are short for time utilize BURST MODE- you can get a ton of pictures in a short amount of time (options!) & you can capture some cool movement, & if you wanna take your own photos get a selfie remote & a phone tripod!

4. LIGHTING IS EVERYTHING

…but also everyone has a different idea of the “right light”. I, for one, am not a fan of ‘golden hour’, while everyone & their mom thinks that is the prime time to shoot. It really takes some trial & error to figure out YOUR light. Natural light is great, but shooting in the shade can be cool as well. Try shooting morning, noon, & right before sunset. Once you figure out what time frame is your fave, you can streamline your shooting schedule & not waste time shooting in light you don’t like.

Right now I like shooting in bright sunlight (glowy), with a flash (night or day!), & I am still down for a shooting in the shade if the backdrop is cool enough. I like to mix up, just as long as it’s not golden hour.

5. FIND YOUR ANGLES

My left side is my best side, I love a low angle, & if it’s a half body shot I want it head on. I know what I like & it’s just kind of foolproof- if my good angle is being shot, I am gonna like the result. When people try to “experiment” I get nervous… & often for good reason. Stick to my angles!!!

Once you find your angles you can then help train your family & all your friends to memorize your good angles. You should see my Mom/Sister/Boyfriend/Dad squat for the gram to get that low angle.

6. TO PROP OR NOT TO PROP?

I am 50/50 when it comes to props. Yes- I think they can definitely add a lot to a photo, but they can also be cheesy. It’s a fine line between being cool vs looking too overproduced. I prefer props that make sense vs. over the top or cliche props (i.e. farmers market flowers). If I do have a prop it will be a magazine, newspaper, purse, or some sort of cool beverage… subtle, but adds to the photo.

7. FILLER PHOTOS FOR A FEED “BREAK”

A filler photo is just basically a photo that your face isn’t in. It’s a lot to get to someones feed & just see photos of them, over & over & over again. When there are too many photos of me in a row, it feels slightly narcissistic… but because filler photos don’t get as much engagement, it seems like people don’t wanna post them.

First of all, give the feed some breaks here & there w/ a killer filler photo. Second of all, I personally love a filler photo & with the right caption- your filler photo can do great. Honestly, my filler photos get the least comments but get some of the most saves.

8. NOTHING A GOOD EDIT CAN’T FIX

& at the end of the day if you’re not obsessed with your photo, editing can change that real quick! I, personally, edit only using the Fashionlush Presets. Yes, a plug, but honestly- I edit all my photos in Lightroom either on my computer or on my phone. I only use apps to add dust, scratches, & special effects to my photo. Filters just don’t do the cut for me & editing apps always ruin the photo quality. There is so much more control in Lightroom to transform an ‘EH’ photo into something really rad.

10. STOP STRESSING SO MUCH

& the best for last… stop caring a little! I know this whole post was about taking better photos & maintaining a cohesive feed, & while that is important, everyone has to stop beating themselves up over the appearance of their feed (myself included!). I find that when I am so fixated on the look of my feed as a whole + my individual photos, it hinders my creativity & productivity. I start to become super critical of my content & then become all around creatively blocked when it comes to posting & creating content.

…& if it makes you feel better, I did a poll & like 98% of people said they care more about an individual photo than a cohesive feed. So, stop stressing & channel that energy into creating content that you’re proud of, even if it doesn’t match the feed!