They say a picture tells a thousand words and as one of the fastest growing social networks around, Instagram provides the perfect visual platform for bloggers to share snippets of their lives. From sharing tonight’s dinner to today’s outfit and those all important selfies (and who doesn’t love a selfie?!) It’s one of my favourite social networks to use and one that I always check when I have a few minutes to spare. But if you’re anything like me then you’re probably wondering how you can make your pics more interesting and engaging. So here are my top three Instagram tips for bloggers:
Composition
Just like your blog pictures, think about the background, angles and any props you want to include. When it comes to backgrounds, white always works well but so do different textures. So have a lookout for a wooden table, or scarf that can add some texture to your pictures. For angles my advice would be to experiment with different views. The ‘birds eye view’ works well but so does head on. And remember that you can always crop your pictures to give a different view. After all you don’t always have to share the whole piece of cake for people to know that you’re eating a Victoria Sponge. Finally onto props. At home I like to use jewellery or candles, but if you’re out and about, try using a bag or some sunglasses.
Lighting
As with most pictures, natural light normally works best. It’s just makes for a better quality picture. You can see the colours and textures of items much more clearly in natural light. However, if there is no natural light around for you to use, or it’s another grey day than don’t worry. You can always ‘cheat’ a little by using one of the filters on Instagram to brighten up a picture. Or give it a vintage feel, or turn it into a black and white shot, the possibilities are endless.
Hashtags
So once you’ve taken your picture and you’re ready to upload it don’t forget to use hashtags. It’s one of the easiest ways to attract new people and potential readers to your Instagram page and blog. The hashtag community on Instagram is huge, there is a pretty much a hashtag for more or less every subject. So have a look at the ones that would apply to your picture or are relevant to the audience you want to attract. My favourites are #bbloggers #beautyblogs and #beautybloggers
So these have been mine my Instagram tips for bloggers, what are your tips for taking better Instagram pictures? And who are your favourite Instagram accounts?