Perfect images for Instagram: 5 tricks

Do you want your brand to go far on Instagram? Have you created an account on this network for your company, but you don’t know how to get more followers? Do you need to boost your brand? With these 5 tricks, the world’s most popular photo network will no longer hold any secrets for you.

5 tricks to have the best images on Instagram

Learn the keys to having the best images for Instagram and thus improve your engagement and brand image through this social platform.

1) Focus before you shoot

Good planning is half the battle, and Instagram is no exception. The first trick to get the most out of this network is to ask yourself what exactly you want to achieve with it. In other words, why do you publish your photographs? What are your goals?

Many of the most popular Instagram accounts are focused on a particular topic or have a very distinctive style. Defining yourself will help you stand out and connect with your audience. And speaking of audience, you should also be very clear about who you are targeting. Rather than thinking in terms of age or geographical location, Instagram moves based on “tribes”: what things are your target audience passionate about, and what can you offer them to follow you?

In addition, we explain how to monetize your Instagram account at a professional level.

2) Take (big) photos

Although many things have changed in the almost 5 years since the birth of Instagram, the basic function of this network remains the same: sharing images. Make sure yours stands out by following these tips:

• Plan your photographs. Details are very important to get the perfect image, so you should prepare them in advance. You can even make a weekly or monthly plan of the photographs you are going to take and publish.
• Take many, many photos. One of the great secrets of good photographs is as simple as repeating until you get the image you are looking for. Think that in a professional photo shoot, you shoot hundreds of times to choose only a handful of final images. Your perseverance will be rewarded.
• Use natural light. This simple trick will make your photos look much better. In particular, when photographing people, make sure their faces are well lit. And don’t forget to tell them where the camera is!
• Apply the three-thirds rule. This basic composition rule helps to achieve much more harmonious images. To apply it, mentally divide your screen into three sections both horizontally and vertically, so that you get nine rectangles. Now, visualize the four center points of intersection of the lines: that’s where you should place the main subject of interest in the image.
• Use the golden ratio. If you have already mastered the three-thirds perfectly, the next step is to apply the golden ratio. This mathematical concept is expressed by a spiral where the relationship between its segments is exactly 1.618034; This ratio is thought to be aesthetically pleasing because it mimics nature. Use it as a composition guide for more engaging images.
• Don’t forget about editing. Filters, cutouts, frames… They will give your image the finishing touch to attract attention.

3) Apps, your great allies

If you want to succeed on Instagram, you can (and should!) rely on some of the many applications specially designed to improve your photos and get the most out of this network:

• Lightroom. It is a very useful and user-friendly tool. It allows you to have quality photos with a professional finish.
• Photoshop. The mother of all image editing programs. It’s for advanced levels, but if you know how to use it, you can do wonders with your images.
• Canva. This online application is very simple to use and allows you to quickly and intuitively frame the images, decide the size of the photo, add effects or texts, and apply a filter. It is for users who are not used to professional programs, and it helps you to get images with a very good finish.

4) Don’t forget the texts

While images may be the main focus, well-curated accompanying texts will help you tell your story. You can think of the description of each image as if it were a small blog post: tell the story of the photograph, explain what is happening, ask your followers their opinion… And of course, take advantage of hashtags to increase your visibility as much as possible.

5) Optimize the process

If you want to use Instagram professionally, you’ll need a good working method. We recommend these five steps to make the most of your effort:

• Plan. Think ahead about what kind of images you’re going to post and what elements you need to make your photo.
• Create your photos and edit them. If you organize ahead of time, you can take all of a week’s worth of images at once and get them ready to post.
• Post your photos. Try to take advantage of the hours and days with the best response from Instagram users.
• Promote your post on other social networks. Sharing your photos on your Facebook, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, or Twitter page will give them a more visual touch, while also helping you attract new followers.
• Measure the results. To get better and better, you need to know what works and what doesn’t. From time to time, set aside time to see the results of your actions on Instagram, analyze the data, and continue refining your strategy. Good luck!