Friends, readers and fellow Instagrammers often ask me what camera I use and how I edit my photos. For a long time, all of my Instagram pics were taken with my iPhone – now it is a mix of my DSLR and iPhone.
There is no argument that when using a DSLR camera, your photos are going to turn out better. But, at the end of the day, what makes them look better really all comes down to how the photos are edited. The most important things is having the right apps and knowing which app to use and when.
Use a Good Camera
Yes, I consider the iPhone 6 a “good” camera but clearly you will get a better picture using a DSLR. Even though I frequently use my iPhone to take my Instagram photos, I love using my Canon 60D.
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Use Whitespace
Don’t be afraid to use whitespace. This is one of the key elements that I’ve learned about my Instagram photos. Not everything needs to be a bright splash of color, at least in my opinion.
Composition & Alignment
Not necessarily every picture should have it’s subject centered. Sometimes putting your subject off center is what brings balance to a picture. Also take into consideration your horizon and it’s placement.
Photo Editing Apps
In my opinion, Snapseed is the best free app out there. Majority of photographers use Lightroom to edit their photos but for the phone and Snapseed is the closest thing to using a comparable app like Lightroom on the go.
Saturation
Be careful to not oversaturate your photos. You will end up with a very grainy image and an unrealistic looking photo. Of course, there are Instagrammers who play with color and that’s awesome but my admiration lies with photographers who keep their photos “real.” Nothing wrong with saturating a photo just do it within reason.
Tell a Story
Use your photos to tell a story. Try and convey how you felt, what the moment was like in order to engage your followers and let them live vicariously through you. After all, that is what Instagram is all about – sharing moments and telling stories through pictures!
Happy Instagramming! If you have any other tips, be sure to share them in the comments section below and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram.
