How to take great Instagram photos?

Many of you ask me how to take beautiful photos for your Instagram feed. It's true, I admit, it's not always easy when you're just starting out or even when we want to improve. In this article,learn how to take successful Insta photos directly from your phone!

Choose your photo spot in advance!

A photo taken in a stylish location will immediately give your Instagram photo a little something extra! To choose your spot, first think about the atmosphere you want to give to your photo: urban/street, floral, minimalist, colourful, etc…? This allows you to have no surprises in the light and to be able to match your outfit & its colors depending on the place, and that's so cool!

I also recently discovered the Spotr app which allows you to find the best Instagrammable spots (available for Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux & Lille). I recommend it x1000!

Learn to use natural light!

Knowing how to control light is the basis of a successful Instagram photo. Choose a beautiful light, preferably natural! Above all, avoid backlighting and photos in direct sunlight, the light will mark all the imperfections and shadows.

Take your Insta photos at the beginning or end of the day, so that the sun is not too high in the sky. Personally, I love taking my Instagram photos when it's "Golden Hour" at the end of the day!

• Find an original point of view!

Try to find a different point of view for your photo, which we are not used to seeing on Instagram. Your photo will be even more beautiful, will be much more successful and will receive more likes thanks to its originality! For example, you can take your photos from above or below, crouching on the ground, etc...

Follow the rule of thirds when framing your shots!

You've probably heard of the rule of thirds. This is THE method to follow to take photos with harmonious proportions. I'll explain how to apply this method in concrete terms.
You must divide the image into 3 thirds – i.e. into 9 equal parts and place the subject on one of these lines or one of the intersection points:

For the record, you can activate this grid on the camera of your phone (iOS or Android)!

Play with Lightroom filters/presets!

Last tip, do not hesitate to use Lightroom presets to enhance your Insta photos and harmonize them. I only use our Lightroom presets (heart on the 4 seasons pack to change the feed with the sandstone of the seasons) but there are also others .

I hope this article will help you with your next Instagram photos. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to write to me.

Justine from Creative Kits ♡