If you’re not currently on Instagram, we only have one question: what is taking you so long? Despite, technically being a social media tool, don’t be fooled-Snapchat is where you show off your crazy antics, but Instagram is where you curate your online presence.
Depending on your undergraduate program, employers are now looking for people who know how to promote a brand through social media. You are your own brand and what better way to promote yourself than an amazingly cohesive Instagram feed?
After making many mistakes running the Whimsical Soles Instagram account, here are some tricks we’ve picked up along the way that are sure to take your feed to the next level.
1. Good Camera:
No one is going to double tap a terribly grainy photo except maybe your mom (unless Rihanna is in one of your selfies…then you win). If you can’t splurge on that iPhone 100s+, good lighting is key. Try to take your photos in soft natural lighting to avoid graininess and harsh shadows. Make sure to auto-lock your focus for crisp sharp edges.
2. Composition:
Go forth and see the world in Instagram squares! Once you start, it’ll be hard to stop. The truth is, almost anything can be Instagram-worthy depending on how you frame your picture. We recently went a bit crazy at Sephora, which is always fun. New makeup, yay! Why not share your excitement with the world? Simply frame your new purchases in a flatlay, adjust the brightness and contrast, increase the sharpness, and apply your favourite filter in moderation.
3. Photo Editing App:
We hear there are some really great paid apps such as, Camera+. If you’re willing to fork out the money, go for it! However, we are students, so the free option wins. We love using VSCO cam because it has some really great free filters. Just make sure to adjust the intensity, so you don’t come off as too hipster (unless, that’s what you’re going for, of course). Earlier, we mentioned the importance of having a well-lit photo, but sunlight doesn’t wait for even the most amazing photo. For the pictures where lighting isn’t too awesome (like this OOTD photo we took at the bridge), we adjusted the brightness in VSCO cam and applied minimum sharpening. Pro tip: too much sharpening leads to grain. Don’t oversharpen.
4. Consistency:
Try to post at least once a day. When we first started, we were notorious for being super inconsistent. Posting randomly made it difficult for us to develop an overall style, because one day, we were into crazy borders, while the next, we were into so many collages of food that we forgot we were fashion bloggers (oops). Posting consistently keeps you thinking creatively and allows your feed to develop and grow organically.
5. Get inspired!
The cool thing about Instagram is that there are so many niches to discover. If you’re lost on what style and mood to build your feed, then it’s a good idea to take note of the photos you like. We like to screenshot any pictures we love and then look at them later to figure out if and how they fit with our feed. Overtime, you’ll realize that you might be partial to minimalism, HDR, or even ironic hipsterism.
Bolu and Nancy are roommates and bloggers at whimsicalsoles.com, a fashion and lifestyle blog. They named their blog after their love for shoes and puns, because why not.