Meghan Trainor may be all about that bass, but personally, I’m all about those likes. There’s just something about posting a photo to the Gram, knowing that anywhere from 300 to 1000 people are about to see a facet of who I am. It’s exhilarating and I’d argue that the rush parallels what one may feel when playing a sport. Photoshoots over shooting hoops, am I right ladies? By turning my Instagram notifications off, I let the likes and comments stream in while I’m busy on other apps. It’s like finding money you forgot about in your pocket when you open Insta again, and I’d take a 100 likes and 5 comments over that any day of the week (I think).
Maybe I’m a sad human, ,maybe I’m a genius. Regardless, there’s an art behind a good Instagram aesthetic. It isn’t as simple as snapping a pic, and throwing it onto your feed. It isn’t as simple as a quick crop, or a red eye fix. There are a few guidelines I’d like to propose to the community of Grammers, cultivated from my own personal experience.
1. Be wise when it comes to editing and filters.
Let’s talk editing. Do not abuse VSCO. We all adore these beloved filters; they somehow blur our imperfections, and alter the lighting so that the photo looks borderline professional. However, the last thing you want is a profile with all the same looking, over-edited photos. If anything, mix your filter up. Or choose one, but dial down the intensity of it. Nothing says “you didn’t try,” like a page of completely C1’ed photos. My trick is to begin with the app Beauty Plus (if needed for blemishes, etc.). Then, whip out VSCO, pull the contrast up a tad, fiddle with the exposure, and do what you gotta do. If you’re dealing with photos of people, please steer clear of the “saturation” element. All it does is Ooma-Loompa your skin tone. Once you’ve played around a bit, it’s time to hit the ‘gram. I’m not a huge fan of the Insta filters, but I always try them out in the instance that something enhances my photo. I turn up the highlights, and pull up the contrast a little bit more. Sometimes, a #nofilter post is necessary. Because you’re natural, effortless, and the world deserves to know.
2. Stay aware of spacing and content.
An important thing to keep in mind is how everything looks together. It’s easy to forget that each post is part of a larger sum: the whole account. It is vital to ensure that each sacred square is in perfect harmony with those around it. This is KEY to IG aesthetic. Post quickly to see what it looks like on your page. Does it blend in too much with the photo next to it? Did you post four selfies in a row? Two sunsets pics? You don’t have to have a creepy algorithm (friends, landscape, food, repeat), but it is imperative that you change it up. Anything is fair game; a cool tile floor, a fun drink, or an up close and personal photo of those new earrings you just purchased. Keep it fresh with photos of you and your gal pals, or contribute to a movement by posting media that is in relation to a current issue. No matter what you post, switch it up. That being said, if the aesthetic you are going for has more of a “natural/artsy/flower-esque” vibe to it, stick with that. If your account is to chronicle your nights out, stick with that. If you’re a trendsetter who wants to do it all, DO IT. No one is stopping you or your caption game. Speaking of captions, there’s no real advice on this one. Either you’re good at it, or you have a BFF who is.
3. Stay true to you.
Like what you post, do it as much for you as you do for others. Maybe you want a page of photos that look similar. Hey, it’s cohesive. Maybe you don’t care if you post mostly food pics, or post with the same person four times in a row. This is all for you, it’s a reflection of yourself. Instagram is just another aspect of your personal brand. Treat it with the same care you would put towards your LinkedIn profile. It can help you in your journey to success and utilizing a social media platform to put yourself in your best light (physically and metaphorically) is just another way to further yourself. Some say Holy Grail, I say Holy Gram.
Also, make sure to follow me… @annetrager…. #noshame.