Did you guys catch last weekend’s Blog Brunch? I jumped in at the end, but it inspired me to finally finish this post that I’ve had as a draft for what seems like forever! I’ve been on Instagram for about six months now. Leading up to getting my iPhone I read a lot of posts and tutorials about it. I knew from the start that I’d want it to be an extension of my brand, and I couldn’t wait to join in!
I loved how {av} shared her Instagram editing process a few weeks ago, and I thought it would be fun to share mine with you today. As I went through it I realized that there’s a lot more than just the photo apps that goes into my process, and I thought I’d share that with you guys today too.
Content
Images
The first thing I decide when posting on Instagram is the what of the picture. It might be hard for me to sum up what my blog is about in one sentence, but it’s easy for my Instagram: I use it to capture moments of beauty in my life. When I scroll through my feed, there are some things in there that others might think is a stretch for “beauty,” but for me there’s a common visual thread.
There’s plenty of stuff that I like to share through images that don’t make it onto my Instagram:
- Things that are funny. If it’s only funny, but not especially pretty or interesting visually, it goes on Facebook or Twitter.
- Memories with friends and family. There aren’t many people when you scroll through my Instagram feed. I put most of my outing pictures with friends and family on my personal Facebook, or save them for Starred this Week posts.
- Screenshots. Unless it relates directly to my Instagram followers (like this very post or this post I wrote a few months ago) then I try to keep screenshots on Facebook or Twitter (or Dribbble, if it’s design related.)
If any of the above is compositionally interesting or beautiful, then sometimes you’ll see that stuff on there. But for the most part, those categories stick to other social media platforms. I also try to limit the number of selfies and food pictures that I post.
The thing is, my life is far from interesting. If I can find beauty in my everyday life, then seriously, anyone can! I try to find moments in places you wouldn’t expect. I’ve taken pictures from the drive-through at Wendy’s.
Captions
It took me a while to realize this, but captions are actually very important. The type of caption that you write can greatly affect the amount of engagement on a post. I try to keep my captions in my voice as much as possible, and try to make them humorous or tell a story, my story.
Editing
Filters
There are so many editing apps out there, and each app holds a million possibilities. While my editing process might be more complicated than some, I’ve limited my options so that it isn’t so overwhelming, and so that my feed feels fairly consistent. I use both VSCO CAM and Afterlight, and I highly recommend them both.
VSCO CAM is beautiful in its simplicity. There are only 8 filters, but they’re all beautiful. Seriously. And the community that uses it on Instagram is pretty awesome. I decided kind of recently to stop using filter hashtags, but it’s really fun to browse the VSCO Cam hashtags.
Afterlight has more variables. There are way more filters and frames, and I almost always crop there because it lets you tilt your image very slightly to make sure that it lines up with the grid (and it’s the final step!)
Just using those two apps can make the filters overwhelming, so I’ve made it pretty easy on myself. I only use one filter from each of these apps (well, two if you count the one I use for black and white.) I like that this keeps my pictures consistent as well, and I use the same filters to edit the photos that I include in Starred this Week posts to keep the photos consistent across my brand. I almost always layer them, and I love how Afterlight lets you apply filters with a percentage.
Sometimes I’ll only use one or the other. For example, I’ve noticed that my VSCO filter really washes out sunsets, so I usually just apply the Afterlight filter at a low percentage for pretty sky shots. I use the VSCO filter kind of as my base, and then the Afterlight filter (Glacier) to kind of warm it up. I typically keep that pretty low, and I always do any adjusting and cropping in Afterlight as well.
Frames and Effects
I limit my options pretty severely in the frame department. I try to either have no frame at all, or use the circle frame on Afterlight. I also use the tilt shift on on Instagram (the little drop tool that makes the edges blurry), which is the only editing that I do within the app itself.
Afterlight has tons of cool effects that make your photos look more vintage. A lot of times I leave those alone, but they’re fun to play with and sometimes I’ll add one, usually in a way that’s pretty subtle.
What about you? Do you have a system when it comes to posting on Instagram? What apps to you use to edit your photos? And of course, leave your handle in the comments- mine is @kate_baird!
I use both VSCO and Afterlight. I don’t really have much of a method, I just choose what looks best. I do limit my filters to a few favorites though, which seems to work out quite well.
I just realized I instagrammed a photo almost identical to your first one, except yours has a ton more petals. We might even be wearing the same shoes (or very similar ones), haha.
I use both VSCO and Afterlight and I agree that they really change and improve our instagram pictures.
The $.99 is def. worth it for Afterglow.
the only time I edit photos before putting them into Instagram is when I need to blur out a detail (like the exact address on a wedding invitation) or when I want to add text. your photos are always gorgeous, but this sounds like so much work – I know, they go hand in hand! – and I just need one platform that I don’t have to think about as much. I almost never Instagram a photo that doesn’t relate to my blog, but since my blog is a lifestyle blog that doesn’t narrow it down much. My writing in my blog can be a bit formal, so I make the excuse the the Instagram feed is a more informal extension! Easier to do when you’re not a brand for sure :)
I totally get that this is way too labor intensive for a lot of people! I’m really just a giant dork, and photo editing makes me really happy! When I first got it I’d spend a ton of time editing each photo, but now that I have a system it goes much faster. But people can certainly have pretty pictures and spend less time editing- you are a great example of that! :)
haha thank you :) I remember when I first realized that people styled their Instagram photos – and I don’t mean putting away the dirty laundry on the bed before taking an outfit shot in the mirror, I mean STYLED. mind BLOWN.
Yeah, that’s intense- I don’t think my rearranging qualifies as that, yet! haha ;)
I use instagram for personal pictures as I had instagram before I had my blog, but I have a link for it on my blog if anyone wants to check it out. I have been thinking about adding more blog-related images.
I am very happy with only using the different settings in the intagram app. When there is something I want more blurry I just add the blur in the app. I love that you can change between a circle focus or a line focus as well as adjusting the size of blur. When it comes to filtering I usually go through all of them and see which one I like the best and brings out the best in the image.
This is cool! I had never thought to edit pics before putting them on instagram. You always have such pretty pictures.
I love Instagram and use it all the time! I have a ton of apps that I use, but the top one would be PicTapGo (by the makers of Totally Rad Actions for Photoshop and Lightroom) – it is well worth the $1.99! You can adjust the opacity on every filter you apply and can stack the filters on top of each other for different effects. You can even save your favorite “Recipes” too. I also use the app “Over” to add text and “Phonto” or “PicFx” if I want to do something fancy with layers. I’m really enjoying reading your blog! :-)
This is amazing! I am just starting to “rebrand” my instagram and have considered all of these! For my filters I use both VSCO and Afterlight, but I just downloaded Camera+ and can’t wait to use that! Thanks for the post!!
wich vsco filters do you use that corresponding on the afterlight? ?
thanks ;)