As I’m sure you guys know, there is more than what meets the eye when it comes to getting the perfect Instagram photo. On everything from outfit posts to flat lays, I try and make sure that all the details are perfect! Instagram is a great way to document your life while representing your personal style and aesthetic. Whether you are using Instagram for fun or trying to create a personal brand, it’s a great way to show off your style! From snapping a great picture to editing, I have a few tips for creating that perfect Instagram photo!
1. Look for inspiration.
Check out feeds that you like for inspiration! Look for image compositions and styles that you like to get an idea of what you want before you begin. Do you want a clean, minimalist look to your posts, or an explosion of light, color, and objects? Do you want a dark, moody vibe, or a bright, vibrant feed?
2. Snap a photo.
Make sure you have an idea of how you want your photo to look before you take it. Lighting and composition are essential for a great picture, so make sure to have a good set up before snapping your picture. As long as you have good lighting and composition, your iPhone is great for taking Instagram photos! Whether you’re showing off your outfit or makeup look, a gorgeous flat lay, or commemorating a special event, make sure that your picture is high quality! When taking a photo for an outfit or makeup post, I usually take lots of pictures with different poses so that I can pick out my favorite!
3. Edit Your Photo
For that perfect Instagram post, you can use a wide variety of photo editing apps. VSCO is one of my favorites! I use the filters A5 or A6, then adjust the filter strength, add contrast, decrease exposure, and add clarity. I also use Snapseed, Darkroom, and FaceTune to bring out details in my jewelry and makeup, and smooth out my skin. For a cohesive, aesthetically pleasing feed, it’s good to stick to a few selected filters and editing styles.
4. Pick a good caption.
If your photo is great, an excellent caption is sure to seal the deal! Your caption can be witty, insightful, or just give a little background to the photo! This is a great place to show your personality, keep it conversational and fun!
5. Make a cohesive feed.
I like to have a variety of images like flat lays, outfit posts, makeup looks, and lifestyle shots to keep my feed from being too repetitive. However, I keep my feed looking cohesive by sticking to a theme when editing. Right now I’m loving darker, high contrast images, so I make sure that all my photos look good together. There are several free apps that you can use to see how your feed will look before you post a picture, and plan ahead! I use Unum, but there’s lots more out there!
Quick Tips: How to Pose for an Instagram Photo
- Push your chin forward and slightly down to create definition
- Stand with your hips at a slight angle to the camera and bend one knee a little
- Have someone snap a few pictures while you’re walking
- Take pictures from above for a slimming effect
- Take pictures from below to look taller
- Practice in the mirror to learn what angles work best for you
You guys should also check out Aimee Song’s book Capture Your Style for more tips! What’s your favorite Instagram filter? Let me know in the comments!
69 Comments
I’m always so frustrated with my photos, they usually never turn out the way I want them. You’re so beautiful and photogenic Sona! thanks for the tips, gonna definitely try these!!
Obsessed with your style! Thanks for always sharing such great tips with us Sona!
Thank you Joyce, I’m glad you liked the post!
P.s. #snapchatfam ??
Great tips Sona – I wish I was as photogenic as you! I avoid selfies like the plague!
Angela / Blush & Pearls
love this!!! #snapchatfam
OMG! Yes! Just what I need!!!!
Love your IG feed, btw!
I don’t have instgram but I have We Heart It. And it is very similar to instagram. So thank you ❤️for inspiration about pictures. ?? You always sharing the best tips and ideas.?
That is so funny that you posted this…
I was looking at your instagram feed and was considering tweeting at you asking to make a video about this after your snapchat BTS flat lat photo!
Super helpful, and hopefully my photos will look half as good as yours <3
#snapchatfam
Thank you Elyana! Much love!
I absolutely love this post! It’s a great insight into how you conduct your feed. I live by the taking photos from above and have been known to sit on a footpath to catch the perfect picture of my friends! ❤️?
Loved the post as usual. Thanks a lot! ?
#snapchatfam
Sona!! I love your Instagram pictures, they are always so beautiful and inspiring. I don’t really use Instagram filters, I like to use Affright to edit my pictures.
Love you so much!!!
Honestly, one of the best posts i’ve read about this particular topic!
I literally try to do all of the things when I’m taking a picture, like literally the same exact things, lol
Thanks, Melissa! These tips really do make a difference :)
Thank you for the tips, Sona! Always love your IG feed. ❤️ #snapchatfam
Thanks for posting this. My instagram game is terrible so I’m rarely on it. But I follow you on snapchat and get your blog updates from that. You’re one of my favorite “snappers”!
Keep up the great work!
Rena
A very nice and helpful tips for the loves of Instagram! :)
Merci for sharing! :)
La Bijoux Bella | by mia
So insightful….thanks Sona
Loved it thanks sona
I really like the minimalistic theme for Instagram. Thank you for sharing some of the editing tools that you use. I always end up having 5 editing tools that I use. Now, I can back it off a bit to just a few! Thanks for the post!
I’m trying to get into food blogging, could you share some tips for taking and editing good food pictures. Could you do a video on tips and tricks to create a good Instagram picture. Please check out my Instagram, would love some feedback if anyone reading this has the time.
Instagram- dream_o_grapher
Great post Sona! Very helpful! I also use vsco, snapseed but I didn’t understand darkroom lol! Love your tips! #snapchatfam btw can’t wait for pèrsona cosmetics!!? Love ya?
All these tips are so helpfull ? you take such amazing pictures ? love your post #snapchatfam
Hmmm
Ur photos r ALWAYS A.MA.ZING. hopefully I’ll step up my game with these steps . thnx ??
Hy where one can reach u gor personal msg or something…really have somethings to say…
Luv u???
Hey Sona such a great post love all the advice to take great pics. Can’t wait to try them.
this is very helpful! I try to make my photos interesting but to the point and not going overboard with the hashtags!! I’m in charge of the social media for a record production company and your posts help me think of ideas that will promote my company!
thank u for sharing!!!
So happy this helps, Deanna!
You take such beautiful photos! This is something I wish I was much better at so this post so very helpful.
Great tips! What if you take a random pic and its not the best quality but still a great shot, do you still post it?
It usually depends on how it looks with the rest of my photos and feed! I do prefer high quality images
i love your Instagram photos. They look so professional! Especially the flat lays….they’re awesome!?
YES!!! I’m so happy you shared these tips and tricks :) I LOVE your feed!!! This helps very much. I love your photos and your style. You are very pretty inside and out! Thanks Again :)
ps: I’ve been enjoying the products you sent from the Back To School Makeup Giveaway in August :D
My boyfriend also said thanks since this saved him lots of money ;) lol! God Bless! <3
I love the details in every INstagram pic of yours. Thanks for sharing the tips! I agree cohesive feeds are the best feeds
Hi Sona,
I love reading these type of blogs or watching videos with this kind of information about creating professional looking instagram posts! These are some great tips that I am sure going to use! I notice that VSCO is a highly raved editing app, which I personally love and use the filter S3 to give out the vibrant colors! Great post, Sona! Thanks for sharing :)
Awww love this post a lot.. I’ll definitely use your tips to practice in front of the mirror to get beautiful pictures ??Xoxo
Your IG feed is so beautiful, Sona!
HI Sona, I love your ig photos , keep it up girl ! I really enjoy seeing how your brand grows, love you
I needed this post right now! Perfect timing! Thank you, it helped so much!
LOVE this post, and all of your content! Your style is so great and put together- you totally inspire me! I actually just started my own youtube channel, and although we have different styles I totally get inspiration from you and your one of my favorite beauty influencers. Keep the vids and everything coming! (also CANNOT wait for Persona to come out!) #snapchat fam :)
(this is my youtube channel…still a baby, but I have so many ideas that I cant wait to film: http://bit.ly/2e48Sof )
Sona, you take the best shots! Amazing tips!! Do a blog on diy natural beauty hacks! Please!
Great post Sona! Thank you for being honest and open to sharing your knowledge. Hugely appreciated!
I’m traveling in 2 weeks, and that’s exactly what I need; I’m installing the editing apps that you mentioned, all of them :D.
I’m going to Thailand, I’m so excited, and because of your help, my pictures are going to be awesome. Thank you Sona. Love from Casablanca.
Sona, this is a great post with some really helpful advice, thank you! #snapchatfam :-)
So insightful! And I really think that the new iOS update feature ‘portrait’ mode is going to be oh so ah-mazing for getting high quality Instagrams!
Awesome blogpost not all the bloggers share how they take pictures and what one should do.
I love how complete your blog posts are. I never wonder what you mean when you give explanations. This was informative even for someone like me who only posts once and a while because I rarely like my photos. Thank you so much!
I hope after this tips my instagram will be as beautiful as yours is. Thanks for sharing. Much love ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️??❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️
Thank You so much for sharing , so helpful.
i love your tips!!! thank you!!, some days are no-photos days and its so dificult to pose and find a nice pic, but i will to use your tips since today to make my photos better!! i´m reading you from Colombia a big hug from here!! :*
nice tips !!http://intelligently-fashionable.blogspot.com
Great post! Thanks for share this tips.
Thanks for the post! This post will really help me to take picture nicely as I m not good at posing or taking picture.
It makes me so sad that you have felt unmotivated to post on Youtube :( … which makes sense due to all the work you get done! So props to you :)
TBH I look forward to them every week! I hope you find that rest & inspiration soon <3 Love you Sona!
I just started following you on instagram/snap chat! Your tips and tricks are amazing. I just went out and purchased all the G.A. eye tints to do a natural smokey eye! Looking forward to learning more from your blog. :)
These tips are so helpful, Sona. Your posts always help. I used a lot of your tips on packing from your post on travelling. Thanks for all you do for us ?
You have SUCH a cohesive feed! I love following Insta accounts that have a uniformed flow to them and yours definitely does. Keep up the amazing work, Sona!!
this post is very useful i suck at tacking or editing pictures :p
Hiii Sona ? Such an interesting and an inspiring post. I always felt I wasn’t photogenic since there was something always wrong with my pictures ! I’m going to download the editing apps and try various positions to find a good pose! Thanks a ton cutiee? Lots of love ❤️ #snapchatfam
Great tips!!!! Going to follow some of your tips from now on :)
Thank you for sharing this amazing tips ❤️❤️❤️
My insta page is embarrassing :/ lol
I always look at other accounts and think how do they get it to look so awesome. Flat lays are my fave pictures, really feel like they draw you in and make you really pay attention to the details especially when it’s makeup ?. I’ll definitely be giving these tips a go. I’ll let you know how it goes ?.
I just started an Instagram account and this couldn’t have been posted at a better time! I love your theme but I feel like it’s a theme I wouldn’t be able to maintain for long, thanks again for the tips.
Great tips Sona! Love your style!
I never have good photos! ?
Saludos desde PERU!
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Wow it’s really a great tips. Many many thanks for sharing this amazing tips
Amazing suggestion. Really this instruction very helps me. Thanks for great idea share.