4 Ways To Instantly Improve Your Photos for Instagram

I think we can all agree that Instagram isn't the app it used to be. When it first came on the scene, it was all about posting snapshots from from our lives and sharing them with our followers right then. Now though, instagram is so much more "curated". Everyone is putting serious thought into their feed before they post. I've even heard some people say they don't want to post because they feel pressure for their pictures to be perfect

Today I've got a few tips that will instantly help you create better photos for your instagram and help ease some of that pressure you might be feeling ANDyou don't need a fancy DSLR camera to use these tips and elevate your instagram photos. They're grade A iPhone approved.

1. give your photos some polish

99% of the times photos taken straight from your camera lack what we call "polish". They're nice, but they can also look a tad bit unfinished. You can easily fix this by editing your photos, and even the simplest of edits can make your photos look 10x better.

My favorite apps for editing my photos are:

vscocam - for taking photos and doing simple edits. The in-camera grid is SUPER helpful.
snapseed - for more in-depth editing
facetune - for selfies and portraits

2. avoid OVER editing

I believe both phrases "less is more" and "too much of a good thing" are legit when it comes to editing photos. While I do think editing your photos is necessary, you should definitely avoid going overboard. All of the apps listed above, as well as instagram itself, have plenty of filters to choose from. That being said, ONE is often plenty enough and there are even a few that I would avoid altogether.

To instantly elevate your instagram photos and keep them from looking muddled and overdone, I recommend opting for the filters with cleaner edits and leaving the over-processed looking filters behind.

3. keep your eye on the lines

If you're purposefully taking your photo at an angle, you can totally ignore this tip.

Before straightening lines in vscocam app

After straightening lines in vscocam app

But if not, DEFINITELY keep an eye on both the vertical and horizontal lines in your photo. Keeping your lines straight instantly takes your photos from looking like a quick snapshot to a more intentional photo.

4. Pay attention to details

When taking the photo, make sure you first assess everything that's in the frame. Try to remove anything that's not purposeful and only keep the things that are relevant in the photo.

Before editing for details (phone on table)

After editing for details (phone on table)

If you're taking a portrait, make sure there's nothing in the background that could distract your viewer from the subject. By eliminating distractions, you're automatically increasing the attractiveness of your image.