How to Take Pictures on Instagram

If you want to build a robust presence and gain more followers, knowing how to take good pictures for Instagram…

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If you want to build a robust presence and gain more followers, knowing how to take good pictures for Instagram is absolutely essential. Picture posts, like carousels, get the best engagement rates of all forms of Instagram content. If you know how to create and upload eye-catching images, you will have a much better chance of growing your account. 

Of course, there are two parts to doing this: taking a good picture and posting it. This simple guide will help you to take great pictures for your Instagram and upload them with the right tweaks to boost your engagement.

How to Take Pictures with Instagram 

Wondering how to take a picture on Instagram when the ones in your camera roll just won’t do? You’re in the right place. You can take pictures and record videos through the Instagram app directly. Here’s how:

  1. Open the app and press the plus (+) icon.
    How to Take Pictures on Instagram
  2. Press the camera icon at the right side of the bar, above your camera roll images.
    How to Take Pictures on Instagram 1 
  3. Aim the grid at the subject of your picture. 
  4. Tap the screen in the exact place where the camera should focus. 
  5. Press the large circle icon in the bottom-center of the screen to capture the image you want.
    How to Take Pictures on Instagram 2
  6. Edit and filter the image to your liking. 
  7. Press the blue arrow in the top right-hand corner of the screen. 
  8. Write your caption and add hashtags. You can also add a location, tag people, and add music at this point. 
  9. Press the blue arrow again to post the image to your feed. 

As you can see, it is easy to take pictures with the Instagram app. However, there is a better way to shoot truly compelling images that will stand out on Instagram. 

How to Take a Good Picture for Instagram  

To take a picture that will really make waves and stand out to Instagram’s 2 billion users, you need extra steps. First, your best choice is taking a picture with your phone’s camera, rather than through the app. This will give you a better image quality, because the app automatically compresses images, which damages the resolution. 

When taking a picture for Instagram outside the app, you should:

  1. Make sure there is enough light to show the details of your intended picture. Natural light is far better than artificial light, so find a well-lit area if you can.
  2. Focus the image. No matter how good the picture is, it will be ruined if it’s out of focus.
  3. Play with compositions and use the ‘rule of thirds’ to create an image that is interesting to the eye. 
  4. Think about distance. Close-up images show more detail and draw the eye, so unless you are trying to show scope and vastness, bring the subject of your picture close. 
  5. Use filters sparingly. A subtle tweak or overlay can enhance the beauty of an image, but too much tweaking can remove the quirks and character. 

Now you know how to take pics for Instagram in a way that will get attention and engagement. Your phone’s camera is by far the best option – but these tips also apply when taking pictures in-app. 

FAQs

How many hashtags should I add to my Instagram posts?

There is no single rule, but posts with 10-20 hashtags often have a wider reach. Just make sure that you only use hashtags which are relevant to the image and intended audience. 

Can I make my Instagram pictures into a reel? 

In order to make pictures into a reel:

  • Simply press the plus (+) icon and choose ‘Reel’ from the options. 
  • Once in the reel screen, open your camera roll and press the icon that looks like two overlapped boxes. 
  • Alternatively, press and hold the first image you want to add. 
  • After you have chosen all the pictures to include, press ‘Add’ and progress to the next screen. 
  • You will be prompted to add music. You can have your images synced to this music, or you can manually edit the amount of time they show on screen. 
  • Once you are happy with your reel, progress to the final screen and add your description and hashtags. 

How do I add more than one picture to an Instagram post? 

To make a carousel post, you should press and hold an image, or press the icon that looks like two overlapping boxes to select multiple images. You can add up to 10 images to a carousel.

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