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1. How to Improve Your iPhone Pictures 2. How to Correctly Share Photos on Instagram 3. Simplifying Your Instagram Photos for Great Impact 4. Beyond Selfies 5. Capturing Life’s Candid Moments 6. Instagram Safety Tips for Photographs of Children 7. Rule of Thirds 8. How to Take Silhouette Photographs 9. 4 Steps to Improving Your Food Photography on Instagram 10. Tips to Capture Nature on Instagram 11. Tips to Improve Your Garden Photography for Instagram 12. Love the Life You Love & Life the Life You Share 13. How to Host an Instagram “Something-a-Long” 14. How to Be in the Moment with #Latergram 15. How to Use Hashtags to build Instagram Communities 16. How to Rock Videos on Instagram 17. Top 10 Photography Apps for iPhone & Android 18. How to Move Photos from your PC or Camera to Instagram 19. How to Scrapbook Your Instagram 20. How to Print Your Instagram Photographs ______
The iPhone could possibly be the best camera you own. I know that may seem crazy, especially if you own a much nicer camera. However, the main difference between some large DSLR camera and your iPhone, that gives it the distinct advantage, is that you are more likely to have your iPhone with you all the time. The best camera is the camera you have with you at a moment’s notice.
Since you likely always have that smartphone camera with you, let’s talk about some things that you can do to improve your iPhone pictures.
Hold Your Phone Steady While Taking Pictures
Just because an iPhone is light and you can hold it with one hand while taking a picture doesn’t mean that you should. Of course, if we’re talking about a selfie while showing off your new haircut on Instagram, you’re probably stuck using just one hand. However, in general, you’re going to be more likely to get a better picture when you are holding the phone steadily, which will mean keeping both hands on the phone.
If you’re using the on-screen circle button as a shutter, this can be difficult. Another option to avoid needing to use that button is to make sure that one of the hands that you’re holding the phone with is near the volume button. When in camera mode, your volume button also acts as a shutter button.
Accept that the iPhone is Not Meant to Take Pictures Far Away
The iPhone really does best taking pictures of things that are closer to you. If it’s a once in a lifetime picture or something you really need and have no other way of getting, go ahead and use the magnification box on the screen to zoom in. Otherwise, see if you can move to get the same shot and avoid doing that.
Pictures taken while using that magnification tool aren’t going to be as crisp as ones without. If you use it a lot and have noticed that your pictures have noise (what looks like there is an overlay of a TV “snow pattern” effect on them), that’s why. Try to avoid using it when you’re able and accept that your iPhone just takes better pictures closer than farther away. ______
Look for Unique Angles
This is a good tip for any picture taking, but especially with smartphones. I think that because we’re used to using them near our face or at chest-height while texting or using apps, we can forgot to try different angles out. Try to get to your subject’s level. Or, perhaps even crouch down and look up. Look for a unique angle or setting. Not every picture should be taken from above, looking down.
Experiment as Much as Possible
Keep your phone safe, but take time to experiment and take lots of pictures. It’s easy to delete pictures, so why not use that to your advantage and really practice your skills by experimentation and repetition.
Just make sure to keep your best photos, and keep your picture gallery manageable by clearing out the less than stellar ones.
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Instagram can be a wonderful place of inspiration. From photos with the perfect quote, to scenic views and dream wanderlust destinations, to funny photos that bring a smile to your face – there is always appealing content ready to be shared. Just like any other social media network, sharing content you find is a way to be just that – social.
Going beyond the like and comment on a photo, you can repost directly to your Instagram account with a few short steps.
One of the best and free apps to use for sharing content on Instagram is called Repost.
When launching the Repost app you will be prompted to sign into your Instagram account. This allows you to find the photos you want to share from your feed.
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There are several options for finding content to share. You can search through the recent photos in your feed, browse the popular content on Instagram (even if you are not following the person) or use the search feature.
When I find a photo on Instagram that I want to share I will launch the Repost app from my phone and search for that user’s photo.
Click the blue button that says “Repost” – it is located at the bottom right of the content you want to share. You will instantly be brought to an edit screen with several options.
The default edit has the dark gray bar across the bottom with the user’s ID and image on the far left. This shows your followers which account you are sharing content from.
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You can move the bar from bottom to top, left or right. As you can see in the image, leaving the bar at the bottom blocked part of the man in the photo. So, I moved it to the top.
You can also change the shade of the bar from dark to light depending on what shows best on the content you are sharing.
Once you are satisfied with how the image looks, simply click the big blue Repost button.
Finally you will launch the Instagram app within the Repost app and the caption for the photo will auto-fill with the original caption from the user’s account you are sharing content.
I highly recommend adding your own commentary in front of the previously written content. This will allow your followers to see what you have to say about the photo you are sharing and will clearly define your personal words from those that come after the #Repost hashtag.
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Always leave the caption and tag of the user you are sharing within the photo description. This provides proper credit.
If the caption on a photo sounds similar to something you would say, or if you just want your words to stand out, you can put brackets around your personal caption.
An example would be: {I just love this photo and can’t wait to visit this destination} #Repost @InstagramUser On a tour of Venice, Italy
Don’t forget to add relevant hashtags and treat the content you are sharing just as you would your own content.
Quick Recap of Things to Remember:
Always repost Instagram content instead of taking a screenshot Make sure the repost bar is clearly shown on the image you are sharing Always provide proper credit Make it clear which caption is yours verses the words written by the owner of content Add hashtags and promote!
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A picture is worth a thousand words.
A great picture can stop you in your tracks, make you laugh, make you feel angry or bring you to tears. Pictures are powerful, tell stories, and preserve memories.
But sometimes, the message, the idea or emotion we are trying to convey gets lost. The viewer misses the point and scrolls on past. Why?
Well one of the most common reasons is that the subject of your photo gets lost. It could be a busy background, trying to cram too much information (people, things etc.) into a small space, or not having a strong subject to focus on.
It sure seems to me that the further we get into the digital age the smaller the screen gets! This is great for convenience, but it makes it much harder to get a strong message or idea through.
It is good to keep in mind that the smaller the screen gets the more important it becomes to have a simple strong subject.
Example #1: Get in close, use the crop tool to take out the extra space and that big ole’ pink tongue becomes more noticeable.
You’re Assignment: Scroll through your Instagram feed
Take a few minutes and scroll through your feed and take note of what grabs your attention. What images do you take a more time with than others? Which ones compel you to leave a comment?
I can pretty much guarantee you that unless they are pictures of your sister’s kids, the ones that capture your attention the most will have one or all of the 3 elements below:
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•Close-ups / Macro Shots that shows fine detail •Little to no distracting background •Strong focus on a foreground object
Example #2: Get creative with cropping. Take out the extra space, distracting background and focus on the detail.
Practice: So how do you get an image with a strong subject?
It’s easier than you might think.
1. Move Your Feet
That’s right, move your feet. Get yourself closer to the subject, move slightly to the side and get a better angle. Just by moving over a couple of feet can make a huge difference in clearing up the background of the image you are taking.
2. Check the Perimeter (all 4 sides of the picture area)
I can’t tell you how many times I have seen the offending tree branch, person walking in the background or crumbs on the table only when I go in to my photos folder and look at my images.
It is so disappointing to find that and it can totally ruin a shot. Most of the time (not always...) you have an extra second or two to double check your shot. So check the edges and the background and see what might interfere with the main subject of your photo.
3. Use the Crop Tool
There are times when you just cannot avoid it. You can’t get close enough or there is a distracting object on the side. That’s okay too! Your crop tool can be your best friend in these situations. Take advantage of it and create a close-up picture through strategic cropping. ______
4. Change Your Perspective
You might need to get higher so you can see more, or you may need to get on eye level with your child to get their face full in the picture. Keep in mind the best picture is sometimes behind you. So take a minute and look around to see if there is a different background, better lighting, or better angle for you to create your picture. Just a couple of steps to your right or left can completely change the outcome of your picture.
Example #3: Grandeur can be overwhelming in a small photo. Take some of it out and the picture becomes even stronger. The larger picture works for prints but on a smaller screen it loses some of its impact.
Thankfully, with digital photography it is free to practice. Take several pictures from different angles and perspectives. Play with height, get in close, step back so you can crop it down to the size, change your angle but most importantly, have fun!
With just a few tweaks and changes I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it can be to fill your Instagram feed with pictures that are beautiful and fun.
See you on Instagram!
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If you spend time on social media, including Instagram, you’ll notice that people LOVE to take photos of themselves (aka selfies.) I will admit to doing them on occasion as well as it provides a face behind my online persona.
While it can be fun to snap some here and there when you are out enjoying life, it also makes for a slightly less interesting Instagram profile. After all, there’s only so many poses you can strike before looking rather vain.
So what can you add to your Instagram which will help show what you are doing in life without having people want to skip over your photos?
Family Members:
This doesn’t have to be just kids! Why not snap a photo showing a beloved parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparent. Doing this can also help to create a personal history of your family in the process.
I love to share the accomplishments of my kids, too. So, when they obtain a desired goal, I share a photo snapped for the occasion. One such example is my third son earning the rank of Tenderfoot in Boy Scouts this past summer.
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Food:
Eating something wonderful or wanting to maybe document your own culinary adventures? Snap a photo and share it on your profile.
Everyone eats and many of us like finding inspiration from what other people are making.
Your Home:
Shows like House Hunters are popular for a reason, we like to get glimpses of how other people are living! Pictures of chaos (something my house has in abundance) could help you be accountable for a decluttering project and maybe help others know they aren’t alone in their struggles. Photos of neat decorating ideas can definitely be inspirational for others. I’ll admit to being drawn to photos showing how other parents organize the chaos which comes with kids, especially kitchen and learning spaces.
This past December, I snapped a picture of a corner in my master bedroom which I’d decorated for the holidays. I have to admit that it is so pretty I am thinking about changing decorations on the tree to reflect a Mardi Gras or Valentine’s Day theme.
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Quotes that Inspire:
Everyone has their problems in life. Sharing some great quotes is a way to add positivity to the Instagram stream. Plus, I know that there are times when I need a pick up to my day. I’ve seen some where the picture is just the quote and others where a quote is superimposed upon a picture.
You can make your own using online services like Canva and Picmonkey. This one on love from 1 Corinthians was made with Canva.
Share Things You Love Which Make Life Easier or More Fun:
I have been known to snap a photo of a book I’m reading, a movie we just watched, or a product that makes my life easier. I have always enjoyed sharing what I love with friends and now this can be extended into Instagram.
As a blogger who does product reviews, I will occasionally have something sponsored in my stream which is clearly marked as such. But, I’d much rather share something I’ve stumbled across with no strings attached. One example from my stream is finding a bunch of K-Cups on sale to stock my Keurig love.
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Short Videos: Instagram allows you to share short (15 second) videos to your account. At first, I would capture the video in the Instagram app. However, thanks to another blogger, I now know how to create my own on the computer and upload it to Instagram. She’s sharing that in a later article here. The video could be something as simple as capturing a baby’s giggles or in my case a panoramic view of an Alaskan landscape.
View a sponsored video about our visit to Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops View an Alaskan landscape video taken in the Instagram app
The World Around You:
Beyond photos in your home, you can grab shots when you are out and about. Nature shots can be rather popular and great to share. Since we currently live in Alaska, I am prone to snapping a photo of my community with the mountains as a backdrop.
This past year, I was up all night with a group of teens from our church’s youth group at the Summer Solstice retreat. It never gets truly dark at that time of year up here in Alaska, but you still can have incredible sunrises or sunsets.
Keep reading to see a few of these ideas expanded upon in subsequent writings by my fellow bloggers. Before you know it, you will have a rather varied Instagram profile page which you’ll be quite proud to call your own and others will enjoy visiting.
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I love capturing every single moment I spend with my family in photos. I am that mom who seems to always have her cell phone camera out and ready to take a photo. The best photos I have shared on my Instagram account have been those capturing an unplanned, or candid moment. Most recently I captured my youngest child pulling out his tooth. I literally sat there and snapped photos during the whole process and ended up with a few adorable candid shots that were “in the moment”.
While I may not share every candid moment my family spends together, there are some special ones that just stand out to me as the perfect share for my Instagram family. I think the best advice I can give you will be found as you read on, Capturing Life’s Candid Moments …
Always Have a Camera Ready - whatever you are trying to capture; nature, children, spouse, pets - be sure to have that camera ready to snap, snap and snap again. Click to Take a Photo More than Once - Most of us just say cheese, make a face, or set something up to be just perfect, but nothing is more beautiful than a moment captured because you were simply click, click, clicking that picture-taking button. Every Picture is Perfect - For those who want that perfectly planned picture at every turn, this method is not for you. However, I do invite you to try to be open-minded and remember candid pictures are perfect too. They tend to capture the most personality.
There are so many pros to capturing and sharing life’s candid moments, but here are a few important ones as it pertains to Instagram:
More likes and comments. More interaction equals more followers. Build a real life experience with your Instagram family.
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Anyone can share a lot of planned photos on Instagram, but when you capture life’s candid moments, you capture a whole new view of your world. Candid moments are fun to look back upon and remember that particular memory or moment in time when that scenario happened. Candid moments may mean a fuller SD card or cell phone camera, but you can easily transfer those photos to a backup service provider to keep your photo gallery ready for more snapshots of life through your camera lens. I firmly believe candid moment photos tell a story that you can go back and relive over and over again simply by looking at that photo.
You get more likes with candid moments, now who isn’t on Instagram to get more “likes” or comments? Nothing makes me smile more than looking at my Instagram stream to see my photos have received likes. Candid moments seem to be my personal favorite and my followers favorites as well. You would be surprised what capturing life’s unplanned moments can do for your Instagram experience and your life! I invite you to try this method today.
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Quite rightly, we are all acutely aware of safety when we take pictures of our children and post them online. If we have public social media profiles, this means that anyone can see photographs of our kids.
Clearly, that makes many of us un-comfortable. It doesn’t matter whether you are a seasoned blogger, and are flabbergasted at some of the search terms that bring people to your blog, or a parent wanting to show off your child’s latest achievement to your family. Online safety needs to be at the forefront of your mind when posting photographs of your kids.
There are many resources on the internet about helping our kids to understand social media, and staying safe online, but what about what WE can do to protect our kids when we share our photographs of them on Instagram.
Anonymity A simple way of staying safe when you share your kids photos online is to keep their names out of any Instagram updates you make. If no names are mentioned then no-one is any the wiser. If this feels weird, then give them a nickname or a pseudonym. Both my kids have them, and are actually used to using them on Instagram videos now!
Stay badge alert A classic mistake I see when I view photos online is that people post images of their kids on Instagram in their school, club, or other easily identifiable uniform. If you avoid this type of shot, you can make sure that you only take pictures when you kids aren’t wearing clothes that identify them as part of a specific group, from a specific location. ______
Play with the angles Depending on what you are photographing, sometimes a different angle can add something extra to your Instagram photographs. Consider closely what you are trying to achieve. Perhaps a shot from behind your child, or one of them in the distance, or a close up of their hands, feet, etc. will actually be more effective in the composition of your shot. Sometimes the most beautiful shots of kids don’t even include their faces.
Factor in the teen embarrassment My children are now 7 and 9 years old, and my eldest is approaching tweendom. I have been very open about what is posted on the internet about her, and always ask whether I can share something before I do. We need to be safety conscious, but we also must take into account the feelings of our children too. As they grow older, their “safety” includes whether or not mummy is embarrassing them! It is worth bearing in mind what trail your posts will leave behind for their friends, and family to see as they get older. Are they going to be comfortable with it? Are you?
Send in the Instagram police If you are unhappy about sharing with the public, make your Instagram account private. It is absolutely your choice. In addition, if someone makes you feel uncomfortable on there, perhaps liking too many of your photos at once, or commenting on photos in a way that upsets you, block them. If you feel it wise, you can also report users on Instagram too.
Stay in YOUR posting comfort zone When you consider all these pointers, it is worth making that final decision on what you are comfortable sharing, and stick to your own comfort zone. That might sound a little un- necessary, but you should ask yourself what you feel happy doing, and then make sure you stay within those boundaries. Consider how your child will feel as they get older about those photographs you share, as well as the safety risks too.
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You might want to think about all the ideas raised above including:
•Will they remain anonymous? •If they do, will you give them a nickname, or a pseudonym? •Will you show their faces? • Are you going to show naked bodies, for example when they are babies? •Will you keep your social profiles private? • Are you only going to share photographs up to a certain age? • As your kids get older, will you discuss with them what you are putting online?
Once you have in your mind what you are happy with; stay put in that sharing comfort zone; the one that works for you.
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Instagram is a wonderful place for me to journal and document my daily life while giving my wonderful friends, close and long-distance family members, and the people of the world a glimpse of who I really am. It allows me to share with others those random moments of time that they would otherwise have missed if I had not grabbed a simple image comprised of pixels and posted it onto my Instagram account. A video I had taped of my brother taking his first bike ride would just happen to grow electrical dust in my camera roll, forgotten and unseen for years or perhaps never to be seen again. Instagram has in some way built a connection between me and my world of followers. I 'heart' and comment on their wonderful pictures and videos and they, in turn, return the favor.
If you haven't been on Instagram enough to explore all the wonderful benefits and begin to build relationships, I implore you to spend a little bit getting to know some of the people on there and begin to expand your library of pictures and videos that will give your followers the idea of who YOU really are.
As I began to feel the need to improve my Instagram pictures, I set aside some time to really study my feed. I wanted to learn what it is that I could do to really improve the pictures I post. I then began to notice a trend. The pictures that seemed to entice me to 'heart' them and pull in my attention had several of the same qualities:
•They were bright and clean •The images told a story •and they followed the Rule of Thirds...
What is the "Rule of Thirds?"
If you happen to be interested in the world of photography, I am sure the 'Rule of Thirds' rings a bell in your mind, but not everyone fully understands the concept...
The "Rule of Thirds" happens to be one of the few photography rules (that in some circumstances, can be broken, but unless you thoroughly understand and use the rule of thirds quite proficiently, it is not recommended.) that exists today. The reason of existence is this: the observer's eyes is naturally inclined to search the rule of thirds, even if they do not know they are so inclined.
The rule states that "an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. Proponents of the technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject" - as perWikipedia.org.
Let me demonstrate… ______
You will observe that I have taken two pictures of the same object, one breaking the rule of thirds and the other following the rule. Notice that the first image has the main object in the center of the image. It doesn't all together look terrible, but now look to the other image, the one that is in the left two-thirds of the image. Which draws your attention more?
If you are interested in learning this trick ---rule--- of photography, Instagram has this nifty tool already installed for you to use, so you can easily visualize what is or isn't the rule of thirds. You'll notice the little circle to the left of the camera button. The one that has the grid on it.
Part of what I believe about the rule of thirds is that they want you to just change your perspective of life. Not really life itself, but the things in life. This just adds a whole new challenge to taking the perfect picture; compared to just quickly snapping the picture. ______
Use the "Rule of Thirds" in Your Own Pictures
Honestly, including the "rule of thirds" in your pictures is much simpler than what it might appear. When I took these pictures to help illustrate this rule, it took me no more time shooting the full-on, dead-center image than it did getting the same object with the rule of third. I just merely had to move around.
I would recommend you turn on the grid option in your Instagram camera to help you better visualize thirds. If you also have that option on your camera (not cell phone camera), I would turn that on as well, until you feel confident you understand how to use the "rule" or can see a noticeable difference in the pictures you are capturing. ______
When using the rule of thirds, don't restrict yourself to using only one-third of the image to capture your subject/object. Two-thirds is what is highly suggested by professionals. Once you begin playing around and applying this rule to your photography, you'll quickly realize when or when not to use one or two-thirds of the image. YOU are the photographer. Be in control of your photography.
Please note that the "Rule of Thirds" is meant to be broken. Not every picture you will take will hold the same emotional draw if you just use the rule of thirds. At times, taking a picture of the object dead-center will turn out much nicer than off to the side, or the top and bottom. My recommendation to you is to move around. Compare the pictures you capture and see which one looks better to you. Remember, photography is a beautiful thing. You can make it do whatever you want.
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A few months ago, our family went on a walk through a very picturesque area of southwest Virginia. There were rolling hills, woods, and pastures with horses. It was a crisp autumn day. Really, I’d be hard pressed to find a prettier setting or a more perfect day for taking photos.
As the day came to a close and we headed back to our car, I noticed that the lighting was perfect for a few silhouette shots with my girls – something I’d wanted to try for a long time! The effect was fun and easy to achieve and made for a handful of intriguing photos.
1. Taking a silhouette photo requires a subject that is easy to identify by it’s shape.
2. You need lighting that is coming from behind your subject. In other words, the backside of your subject should be lighted instead of the front. The perfect lighting for this would be a sunrise or a sunset. But, any bright light from behind could work. ______
3. You want your shapes to be distinct and separate. You’ll notice in the first photo above that I had my girls pose so that their silhouettes were not touching. You want light to shine around each subject, so that the subject is easily identifiable.
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4. Do not use your flash. Kind of obvious, but if your wanting to achieve a silhouette look to your photo, the flash will light up your subject from the front and that will ruin the effect.
5. Get the right angle. When I took the photos of my girls standing and jumping in front of the sunset, I actually got down low on the ground, practically laying down. For this photo below, taken of my cat, Jupiter, I shot the photo from below, looking up into the tree.
6. Depending on what you are photographing, you may want to take a lot of photos so that you can choose your favorites. When I took the silhouette photos of my girls, I had them pose in quite a few fun positions and even had the girls jump in the air over and over again while I snapped shots from my position on the ground. I think it would have been easier to get one or two kids in the air than all four, though. The point being, snap a lot of photos and then later you can decide which ones to keep and share.
I use my iPhone to take all of my photos. Silhouette photos are really easy and a lot of fun! I hope you enjoy experimenting with your own camera!
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Use Your Cell Phone Camera
Cell phone cameras are improving more and more with high quality photos. The results are that many people are leaving their bigger, more expensive cameras at home and using their cell phone cameras as their go to camera for most jobs.
However, when they take a photo for the purpose of sharing it on Instagram, they often times use the camera tool inside the Instagram app, which leaves the pictures more grainy and less crisp.
This isn’t necessary to do and you will love the better quality of photos when you only use your cell phone camera and then upload it using the Instagram app.
You can still do all the editing and other options that Instagram offers, just with a higher quality picture.
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Good Lighting
Controlling the lighting isn’t always easy, however if you are able to be sure to get the best looking photo, you will want to be sure there is back light for the food you are wanting to photograph.
This photo of my cereal was taken with our window behind it and it gave such a soft light to it that it helped the cereal pop and it turned out wonderful.
You may need to turn on or off the flash on your phone to be sure that you are controlling the type of light that appears in the photo. Take a few without the flash and a few with the flash to see which one does best.
I often take photos of my food by our opened front door, so the natural light can help deliver the best lighting possible.
Get Close
You may think that you get close to your food when taking photos, but get even closer and see what results you can get.
Not only does getting closer bring a better photo results because you are filling the frame with your food, but you are also eliminating the distracting parts of the surrounds and giving a clear subject to the photo… your food.
I get as close as my phone will allow me to get and still focus on the closest item in the photo.
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Focus
Most cell phones will allow you to choose where the focus is going to be when taking the picture. For my phone, I just need to touch the screen for where I want to the focus to be best. If I’m too close, it won’t focus, so I just move it back an inch and try again.
In the above photo of a breakfast, I wanted to highlight what I was eating for breakfast but also add my family into the photo. I was able to capture this unique photo by putting the focus on my plate and adding some of my family into the frame of the photo, but still not in focused.
It is always fun to play around with how different results you can get when you put the focus on different spots for the same shot.
Don’t be afraid to play around with your photo and improve your food photography with just these simple four steps. However, you may want to be sure you are ready to share recipes, because this will change the interaction on your Instagram feed and people will want to know how to make what you are eating, just because your photography makes it look better.
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My iPhone has become a big part of my life since I bought it. One of the ways I use it is to capture photographs on Instagram. I share a lot of different types of photographs on Instagram but because I live in rural Vermont, capturing nature scenes on Instagram is one of my favorites.
The quality of the photograph you take and share on Instagram does depend on the camera in your phone but there are also other factors that will go into the quality of your picture. I take my Instagram nature shots with my iPhone 5 and try to keep in mind these tips
•Have an interesting foreground and background. While that barn may look amazing in the distance, you need to have something interesting in front of the photo as well. Try including a few gorgeous flowers in the foreground as you shoot over the top to get the barn in the background. •Take your time. Like a photograph with a digital camera, a photograph with your phone will look best when you consider composition, lighting and angle. •Consider the image from a variety of different spots and select the one that looks best. Stand on top of the rock and look down at the flowers. Lay down flat on the ground to take a photo at their eye level. Shoot from both in front of and behind the object you want to capture. •Give your photo visual interest. A landscape shot of the forest is gorgeous but a landscape shot of a winding path that leads through the forest is even prettier. •Look for a focal point to draw your reader’s eye to one spot. It might be a building or a rock formation or a sailboat on the water. •Think about the time of day. You might think that a gorgeous sunny day is the best time to take a photograph. Depending on the glare, you will probably get a better photo at dusk or dawn.
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•Consider the sky and the ground. Is the sky a brilliant blue today? Let it take up more space in your shot. Is it a bland overcast day? Let the bright green grass take up more space in your photo instead. •Don’t be afraid to use a photo app to enhance your photo. We’ve all taken what we think are amazing nature shots only to be slightly less than impressed with the results. There are a number of different apps that will let you enhance your photo. For my iPhone, I like Snapseed.
The photo at the top of the article was taken with my iPhone in my backyard. It has had no editing. It’s darker than I thought it would be and the leaves didn’t pop in the photo as much as I wanted. I cropped out a bit of the leaves on the ground since they were rather blah and not interesting and played with the saturation using Snapseed which resulted in this photograph which (to me) is much better.
If you would like to take more nature shots on Instagram, take some time to get off the beaten path. Don’t be afraid to take a walk in the woods, head off to a deserted part of the beach or drive down that winding dirt road. Just wander but be sure you remember your phone!
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As winter moves into spring, one of the things I look forward to most is getting back into the garden. There is something almost therapeutic about digging in the dirt with the sun shining on your face. Yes, there are bugs. Yes, you get dirty and sweaty. And yes, the day after you plant your entire body aches like you went 10 rounds with a sumo wrestler. But when you see those beautiful flowers blooming, your cucumber vines winding up the trellis, and the dew glistening on the tips of your basil plant, you will realize your hard work has paid off a hundred times over. Of course, you want to share the highs and lows of your garden adventures on Instagram so your followers will experience the journey with you…but how do you capture just the right photographs? If you want to improve your garden photography for Instagram, here are a few tips I have discovered:
1. Plant your garden with photography in mind. A wide variety of colors clustered together is more attractive than a shot that includes only one color. You also want to include a variety of plants that bloom in shade and sunlight, as well as plants that will bloom throughout multiple seasons. Scatter brightly colored flowers amongst your food crops to improve your photographs AND attract pollinators! Also, look for color contrast by adding a smidge of blue sky, a brightly colored bug or even a stray weed that makes its way into your garden.
2. Often, getting a great photograph means choosing the right time of day to take it. You are better off snapping your photographs when the weather is overcast. Bright sunlight will create glares and it will be next to impossible to see your iPhone screen. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best lighting of the day if you know the skies will be sunny that afternoon.
3. Garden photography can continue past your summer harvest. Depending on where you live, you may be able to plant in multiple seasons. Consider a small cold frame to start early spring plants like greens and spring onions. I once photographed a lovely head of broccoli covered in snow. It made for quite a dramatic shot! Extend the life of your garden photograph by growing food year round if possible. ______
4. Close-ups can be spectacular. Don’t be afraid to really get into your garden and narrow your focus. iPhones can still produce some beautiful photos, even when you zoom in to see your subject more closely. To show how large or small something is, include a reference item like a ruler or your finger.
5. Try shooting both horizontal and vertical images. Sometimes just changing your camera's orientation will give you a whole new view of what you are looking at.
6. Your garden is more than just plants. Remember to include unique elements that you may have included in your garden like stepping stones, a garden gnome, or a watering can.
7. Be patient. I am fascinated by bugs in my garden but sometimes they can be skittish. If you want to photograph a butterfly you may have to sit quietly in the garden and wait for it to join you. Take a moment to smell the roses and commune with nature while you wait! ______
8. Familiarize yourself with photo editing aps. Sometimes they will really help colors ‘pop’ before sharing on Instagram. You may also want to add text or an arrow to point out something particularly small. I like A Beautiful Mess for adding these things to my garden photographs.
9. Share the good and the bad! While everyone wants to portray themselves as a master gardener, gardening can be difficult work! Don’t be afraid to show your failures. I have found that I get GREAT advice from fellow garden enthusiasts on how to cure a disease or rid my garden of a particularly pesky bug.
10. Don’t forget to protect your phone! This may seem like common sense but if you are heading into a garden full of dirt where hoses are being, used you want to protect your iPhone from damage with a protective case. Make sure it is not only shatterproof but waterproof!
Gardening can be hard work but it also yields some beautiful photographs if you know just how to snap that perfect shot. Take your followers along on your garden adventure by sharing your photographs on Instagram!
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Instagram is a fabulous way to connect with others, whether it is getting to know the bloggers behind your favorite blogs or keep in touch with the daily life of family members near and far. It is a good thing, but just like all good things, there can be a catch.
It is very easy to get the wrong impression on the internet. We see these picture perfect moments and that's it. We don't get the whole story.
We see the pretty flowers in a carefully arranged vase. We don't see the same flowers a week later, wilted petals falling on the windowsill until someone has a free moment to clean up the mess.
We see the yummy serving of dinner, carefully showcased in just the right light. We don't see the sink full of dirty dishes that the cook is too tired to clean just now.
We see the fun kids crafts, with the happy, smiling children. We don't see the spilled glitter that will be swept up for months to come or the fit one child pitched because he didn't get the blue paintbrush.
And while I am sure most people would never intentionally deceive their friends and family, it seems to be rather easy to give the impression that you live the charmed life to those on the other side of the photo feed.
This can lead to unnecessary stress and even bitterness. No one has time for that. Keep these three things in mind when you scroll through your Instagram feed and when picking those photos you want to share.
Love the Life You Live
Be intentional to look for the good in your life. There is always something. Take a moment to be still and think of your blessings.
Share photos of your blessings and tell the story of the good in your life. People do need to hear the good in the world and we all need to practice seeing the good in our lives.
Live the Life You Share
Step away from your phone and other cameras and LIVE your life fully present. We live in a world that is so connected online that real life connections (relationships!) can easily take a back seat. Don't let that happen.
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Be ok with there being some memories that will just be for you and your family. Not everything needs an Instagram photo to mark its specialness.
Share the Good and the Bad
Don't be afraid to share some of the bad and the ugly! If you want your online connections to have any realness to them, you have to be willing to share the not-so-good moments, too.
And that is really what Instagram is about, connections. Make those connections authentic. Share photos that are an authentic representation of your life. You might be surprised to see what response you get. ______
I remember the first day that I signed up for Instagram. I was in the car with my then 13- year old son, listening as he was chatting with a friend. They were taking random pictures of whatever we were driving by, posting them on Instagram, and then watching and comparing the number of “likes” they got. I was totally confused. Who on earth were these people that were “liking” these pictures? And why did they even care? I just didn’t get it. But like all good moms, if my teenager was on there, I needed to be too. And before we arrived at our destination, I had officially created my own Instagram account and the two boys had taught me everything I needed to know, all in about 30 seconds flat.
Instagram is now my favorite social media network of all. I love connecting with people, yes, strangers, from ALL OVERTHE WORLD, that share in my passions of home decorating, DIY, crafting and quilting. Even though I’m a blogger, I use Instagram for personal use much more than professional. It is so much fun to share what I’m working in the moment, and to see what others are doing! The best part of Instagram is meeting new friends. We love it when that little heart lights up at the bottom of our board, or even better, the new friends icon … and the higher the number next to it, the better.
So how can we engage these people that love us? And how can we attract more people to follow us?
One creative way is by hosting a party or a challenge, of sorts, more specifically a “something-a-long.” It can be:
•a craft •a scrapbook page layout •flower arranging •make a holiday wreath •a recipe challenge
It really can have almost any theme you desire… the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Here are the basic steps to hosting a party/challenge …
1. Start by choosing something that you will enjoy doing and that you think your followers might enjoy too.
2. Create an invitation. Design it in PicMonkey or Canva. Or just post a relevant picture. Encourage your followers to share it and invite their followers too. ______
3. Post your invitation on Instagram. Don’t forget to create a specialty hashtag for your event.
4. Be the teacher! Post step-by-step pictures of how you are making or doing your challenge. Continue to encourage your followers to post their projects using the hashtag.
5. Keep watching your hashtag feed and as your followers post their finished project, repost it.
Here’s a great example of a quilt-a-long that took place over the holidays. Lori at @BeeLori1 started it. (Yes, she is a blogger, but she only hosted this on Instagram. Images are courtesy of BeeLori1on Instagram.) She started with the post below, giving the hashtag for everyone to follow … #haveyourselfaquiltylittlechristmas:
And over the next few weeks, posted her images of the step-by-step instructions. ______
This particular project took about a month to complete. The finished project was beautiful.
You can see all of the images that Lori posted as part of this quilt-a-long on Instagram. You can see the great variety of quilts that were made by those following the quilt-along by searching the hashtag #haveyourselfaquiltylittlechristmas.
You don’t need to have a huge following to host something like this. Even if only a few people join in the fun, it will be worth it. You’ve inspired someone with your creativity, and others will inspire you!
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Have you heard about Latergrams? The hashtag "#latergram" is a hashtag that you use when you post something on Instagram at a later time than when it actually happened.
Why Using #Latergram is Helpful
If you’re like me, often I just don’t have the time to post an image to Instagram at the time that the photo is actually taken. Using #latergram frees you up to be in the moment with your family or friends and save the social sharing for a more convenient time. Using the hashtag #latergram also makes it clear that that event isn’t happening at that exact time. This can also be a great tool if say, you are on a trip and post the pictures later. You don't need everyone thinking that you are out of town on a Tuesday morning, when that photo was taken over the weekend. In short, it gives it a vague, but more accurate timeline.
Why #Latergram is Useful for Business
Latergram allows brands to plan and schedule their Instagram content in advance, which can be useful for efficiency and implementing a thoughtful posting strategy. Instead of having to wait until the perfect moment to post an Instagram photo in real time, you can anticipate it beforehand and ensure it goes out exactly when and how you want it to.
The Latergramme App
Yes, there is an app for that! Latergram.me can be used on your mobile phone and can also be managed from your desktop. The desktop interface on the Latergram website shows a calendar where you can drag and drop photos already taken and optimized that are saved to a library to the date and time you want them to post.
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It is important to know that the Latergramme app cannot post on your behalf but the app will send a push notification at the time that you scheduled the post. Open the push notification and the Latergramme App will pass you to the Instagram App with the photo and caption pre-filled. Do any final adjustments in Instagram and complete your post.
The Fine Print
The Latergramme App is currently only available for iOS and doe not support Android devices.
Relax and enjoy the moment with your family by taking advantage of the #latergram hashtag and the new Latergramme App.
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Did you realize that we've all been using the #capturinglifelaughterlove to build an Instagram community? It's really that simple.
Collaborate With Other Instagrammers
One of the best parts of Instagram is that all the other bloggers, writers, authors and friends you have are probably already using it to share their pictures. You just need to find a few who want to build their following and come up with a plan. Pick a hashtag, it can be anything-- here are a few examples of some hashtagged communities people are already posting in: #momsoninstagram, #dentoning, and even #instakids (Tip: You can search #insta-pretty much anything. #instacats, #instafood, #instalove, etc. to find already existing communities.) and start posting. If everyone starts using the hashtags, people will start clicking on it to see more, and before you know it your pictures will start getting noticed.
Join an Existing Community
When you see someone using a hashtag that you find interesting, go ahead and check it out. You might find something interesting and want to know more! See what other people are sharing, try to find out where the hashtag originated, and get in on the fun. Utilize that already existing community to build your own following. It's easy and you will find other awesome Instagrammers to follow, too!
Find the Hashtag for An Event
Real-life community events often have a hashtag everyone attending is encouraged to use. This is a great way to build an online community around a real one! Use the heck out of the hashtag while you're out at the festival, wedding, etc. and if your pictures are good, you will get new followers out of the other attendees. This is one of my favorite ways to get new followers because they're local and they will recognize the things you post.
The key to building a community with a hashtag is to find others to participate. It only takes a couple of people hashtagging their photos to grow into something bigger. Remember, consistency is key! Don't forget to hashtag your posts!
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Video is becoming all the rage online, and especially on Instagram. Those 15 seconds can be used to portray your mood for the day, whether you're happy, sad, jovial, or just passionate. From world events to your favorite candy, your Instagram followers can quickly relate to your through a video. Here are some tips to help you capture their attention once they press play.
Light It Up Lighting can be tricky when it comes to any video, let alone one that you have to rock in 15 seconds. The best way to accomplish great lighting in a quick video is to take advantage of daylight. Some of the best videos feature the subject lit by indirect sunlight, with the background dark. Here's a great way to grab the right light: stand directly in the good light, then turn 45 degrees to the left or right. The light will catch your eyes and highlight the best parts of your face. Are you filming someone or something else? Be sure to move out of their light so you don't cast a shadow. You may have to kneel or lean to the side for this, but it will be worth it.
Record On The Phone, Not The App It so easy to just hit that red record button on Instagram, but don't do it. Use the video on your phone to record, then transfer it to Instagram. This will give you time to record a longer video, and use the 15 second part that you loved the most. This will also give you a chance to break up the video into multiple updates, creating a series of sorts on your account.
Make A Video Series Yes, people love series, even on Instagram. Find a topic that you love, something funny that a family member may do everyday, or maybe your favorite view from your home or family vacation spot and turn it into a series of 15 second videos. Be sure to let them know that each video is a part 1, part 2, or part 3, so they will make sure to view all of the series.
Give Instructions This may seem a bit silly, but one of the best things you can do when posting a video to Instagram is putting the words "press play" in the update. So many people will look at a video and view it as a picture. By saying "press play," they will not only know that it's a video, but they will actually click that button!
Use The Proper Hashtags Hashtags are key for getting more eyes on your Instagram videos. Be sure to post relevant hashtags. If you are doing a mini-series that involves food, use the foodie hashtags. Posting something funny? Use the #fun #funnyvideo #funny hashtags. Also, be sure to place these hashtags in a comment under your update, rather than in your update. Some followers are annoyed with seeing tons of hashtags right in an update, even when it comes to videos.
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Utilize Third Party Apps Apps like hyperlapse and pic play post are great way to create amazing videos without much effort. Hyperlapse is great for longer scenic videos, without going over the 15 second restriction. Pic Play Post allows you to highlight different parts of your video in a moving collage. These are both interesting ways to display videos to your followers, and also get more people to follow you. Be sure to use the hashtags #hyperlapse or #picplaypost when using these apps.
Tag Away If you create a video that you think a follower or online friend would love, don't be afraid to tag them in a comment. While we can't currently tag other instagrammers within a video, you can always do so in the comments of the video. The bonus part of tagging your friends and followers is that others may follow suit and tag friends that may love the video as well.
Creating video on Instagram can be amazing and easier than you may think. Try out these tips and tricks and have fun!
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Have you seen the adorable pictures all over social media with the writing and graphics? They aren't that hard to create with the right tools. I am going to give you the tools to create gorgeous photos on your smart phone! We're going to go from drab to fab with just a few easy steps.
While I'm most familiar with iPhone apps, I'm also going to give you Android apps. Don't have a smartphone? No problem! You can make square graphics in PicMonkey. Just upload your picture, crop it to a square, add text, overlays, and you're ready to upload to Instagram. I've also heard great things about Canva, but I'm less familiar with that application.
10 Top Photography Apps for iPhone
A Beautiful Mess
Rhonna Designs
Camera+
Pic Stitch
Afterlight Edited in PicMonkey VSCO Cam
Tangent
Snapseed
Moldiv Collage Editor
Waterlogue
Edited in Rhonna Designs ______
10 Top Photography Apps for Android
Pic Grid Collage Maker
Camera+
Rhonna Designs
A Beautiful Mess
Studio Design Edited in PicStitch Autodesk Pxlr
VSCO Cam
Snapseed
Photo Editor by Aviary
Camera FV-5
Edited in Camera+
There are so many great options for taking pictures with your phone no matter what kind you have. I have found that the best way to figure out an app is to play around with it. YouTube also has great tutorials. The most important thing to remember is to have fun with it.
Pictures don't have to be perfect to be shared.
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Instagram is one of the best apps for photos out there. Not only is it a great way to display your pictures, but it's a great way to stay in touch. It's very easy to use when you take most of your pictures on your phone, but it's not quite so easy when you're looking at stored pictures elsewhere. If you want to get that old high school photo ready for Throwback Thursday and you're not quite sure how to get it off of your old PC, read on - it doesn't take as much effort to move your photos as you might think.
All of the methods of getting your photos from a computer or camera to Instagram involve moving your files from one place to another. The ease of doing this really depends on your device and how comfortable you are with technology. Don't worry, though - anyone can do this.
The easiest way to move your files is with a free program called Dropbox. Dropbox is a cloud-based storage app. In order for this solution to work, you will need to install Dropbox on your PC or Mac and on your Smartphone. Once that's done, just move the photos you want to share on Instagram in your Dropbox folder. Any photos that you add to Dropbox via your PC or Mac will then be accessible on your phone. Uploading them to Instagram is as easy as moving the files out of Dropbox and uploading them to Instagram.
Things get a bit trickier when you're working with a digital camera, as you don't have access to Dropbox. The best way to deal with this process is by connecting your phone to the camera directly, and moving the files from your camera. Doing this will generally require a lightning to USB camera adapter, something that you should be able to find at any electronics store. Plug in the adapter, transfer the files from your phone, and you'll be done - no muss, no fuss.
All it takes to get your old files on Instagram is embracing a little bit of technological trickery. It only takes one or two steps to move your pictures, but you'll feel like a computer pro once you get it done. You can use the steps above to move almost any type of file from your computer to your phone, so feel free to play around with the programs a bit - you never know how much use you'll get out of such simple Smartphone tricks.
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I love how easy it to capture snapshots of life with Instagram and have been having so much fun with the #capturelifelaughterlove challenge. It's such a simple way of journaling what our lives look like today, and will be great to look back on in future years.
But come the end of 2015 I'd rather have those photos in my hands than on my phone. I'd like to be able to flick through them and show them to friends and family.
Which got me thinking about how we could scrapbook those Instagrams, so that we can save them for the future.
Has anyone in your family ever collected coins? I only ask because those coins are usually stored in binders, with each coin tucked inside a page protector. And those protectors are 2 inches by 2 inches. The perfect size for an Instagram!
You can buy those protector sheets online at Amazon, or at your local craft or hobby store and they're not too expensive.
To make your scrapbook album you'll also need your printed Instagrams and some cardstock to add journaling. The journaling should be pretty simple because you can just copy out the words you wrote when you shared your Instagram.
If you want to get a little more creative you could use scrapbook elements in the pockets, or include extra items such as ticket stubs or napkins, receipts, letters or even small bits of your children's artwork. Anything that adds to the story of your year.
Don't forget with #capturinglifelaughterlove you're taking an Instagram every day for the year. That's 365 photos altogether, so you might want to set aside some time each month to scrapbook that month's Instagrams. Otherwise it's going to be a huge mountain to tackle at the end of 2015!
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I love to take photos and put them on my Instagram account! Most of my photos are of my children and family. It's a neat way to connect with others around the world. I have lots of photos that I absolutely love, and would really like to have them printed out in a little book, or something else to keep them for forever. I was searching around the web for different ways to print Instagram pictures and I came across loads of sites, but wanted to break it down for you:
If you were just strictly looking to print your photos off then I would recommend:
Walgreens Did you know that you could also print them off at your local Walgreens? You can print out your photos for $0.36 each. Then, either pick them up at Walgreens or have them delivered to your home.
PostalPix This handy little iPhone app lets you do everything right from your phone! You can order 4- inch squares for as cheap as $0.33. They have some other sizes available too for different prices.
Now, if you were looking to do something a little more with your pictures I would check out these sites:
Shutterfly Shutterfly is one of my favorite sites to use to make photobooks, calendars, and even Christmas Cards. I have used them to print out 4x6 photos for only $0.15 each, and then pick them up at my local Target. With your Instagram photos you can make iPhone cases, mugs, plates, stickers, even reusable shopping bags!
Print Studio If you are looking to make a beautiful poster with your Instagram photos then this is the place to go! You can make a huge poster with 50-200 of your favorite Instagram photos in it for $25/$35. Looking to make a cute and creative baby shower invitation, Flyer, or a wedding invite? Check out the adorable DBL Squares! You can get a set of 16 for $24. Customize the back with your own text and then add your photos to the front. Easy peasy!
Artifact Uprising This site is beautiful. I love looking at all the beautiful photos and products that they offer. One of my favorites is the Wood Wall Calendars. The wooden clipboards are handcrafted with wood from their own Colorado backyard. I am loving their cute 3-in-1 Photo Cards as well. They are a card, print, and tag! Send it out as a Photo Card for the holidays, and then friends and family can tear off the gift tag to use on gifts, and use the picture year round.
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ImageSnap Want to make ceramic tiles from your Instagram photos? Make adorable tiles ranging from 2x2 {$4} to 12x12 {$35} The larger tiles can be installed like you would a tile floor, but the cute little 2x2 ones work great as magnets.
Postagram Want to send your photos as Postcards? Download this app for the iPhone or Android and get started creating a beautiful postcard to send to a loved one or friend, or both! You can have it delivered to anyone in the US for as low is $0.99.