Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
burgess milner OYYE4g I5ZQ unsplash?width=719&height=464&fit=crop&auto=webp
burgess milner OYYE4g I5ZQ unsplash?width=398&height=256&fit=crop&auto=webp
/ Unsplash

How To Up Your Instagram Game

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Fairfield chapter.

For collegiettes, posting good Instagram photos is practically part of our lifestyle. Many of us use our Instagram accounts to showcase our talented photography skills and express our creative personalities. Where else would we be able to post that Sunday brunch photo or that selfie of our new haircut? With a few tips, there is no doubt about it that your Instagrams will be on point.

1. Use black and white

Black and white can make an “eh” photo instantly so much cuter. It instantly corrects red eye, sweat, etc. 

2. Download VSCOcam

This app is definitely one of best to edit photos for Instagram. With a wide range of filters and tools, you can turn an ‘okay’ photo into a work of art with just a few changes. It takes a bit of time to get used to, but you’ll notice how much better your photos will come out once you master the app.

3. Use a straightening tool

If you’re taking a landscape photo, use VSCOcam’s straightening tool to straighten out a horizon. It will make the photo so much more aesthetically pleasing. You don’t realize until later how much of a difference it adds to a photo until you try it out. 

4. Quality > quantity

When you’re posting less often, your pictures (when you do post) will most likely be better. Edit all of your photos in similar ways, and your theme and photos will look more cohesive when you scroll through your account. 

5. Food pictures look best when taken from above

How do bloggers make their lattes and avocado toasts look so good, anyway? They probably stand up on a chair in order to get a bird’s eye view of their meal, as ridiculous as it may sound. If you’re new to this idea, try standing up for a minute to snap a quick photo. You gotta do what you gotta do, ladies. 

6. Use the rule of thirds

In order to make your photos look more appealing to the eye, turn on the grid function.

In your iPhone, go to settings > photos & camera > turn grid on.

Use the grid function to line up your subject with the guidelines and intersection points. 

7. Play with lighting

Contrary to what some people think, flash isn’t always needed when taking photos. If you shoot photos during the ‘golden hours’ of the day, meaning one hour before sunrise, and one hour before sunset, you’re going to have the best lighting.

If you unfortunately aren’t #blessed with the golden hour, tap darker parts of your subject to better enhance the natural lighting that you have. 

There you go! Now go out there and Insta your hearts out, collegiettes.

Disclaimer – It may seem a little silly to care this much about the way that your Instagram photos turn out. But we’ve all got our guilty pleasures, right?

Follow Aileen on Instagram!

 

Aileen is a senior communication major and marketing minor who resides in Westchester, NY. She is a Executive Features Editor at Her Campus Fairfield and loves online shopping, snuggling with her dog, and working out. the Follow her on Instagram @aklindy!
Gabriella is currently a junior at Fairfield University, where she is majoring in Marketing and minoring in Communications. She is Co-Campus Correspondent of Her Campus Fairfield with her roomie/best friend Pamela Grant! Gab can most likely be found with a Venti Starbs in hand, while wearing obnoxiously large sunnies (no shame), reading the most recent issue of Glamour Mag.