I have a serious addiction.
I'm almost ashamed that I wrote this post.
When I'm not planning my next post (from what filter I'll use to the caption), I'm scrolling through other people's accounts, stressing over if my feed looks good enough, sweating as my post count creeps closer to 300, and liking away at various hashtags.
I'm honestly lucky that my school blocked Instagram from its wifi because my GPA would be dead otherwise.
Hello friends! Today i want to discuss one of my favourite things ever: Instagram. Now, I need to clarify that I am no Insta-famous person nor do I have billions of followers/likes, but I have come a far way. As dumb as it sounds, Instagram has become such a huge--and happy--part of my life. I love love love photography so curating my art account (@preppermint.tea) gives me so much joy, but most of my thoughts go into my personal account (@thatpaleginger). Preppermint Tea is where I dump all of my photography, my art projects, and things from class I want to share with the world and get feedback on. It doesn't take too much thought. My personal account, on the other hand, is fashion, my life, my friends, my cats, my travels, books I'm reading, coffee I'm drinking, etc. It's so much.
When I first made my Instagram back in the eighth grade, I simply used it as a place to post pictures of my cats, my Starbucks and my travels.
Wait, what?
Honestly, I posted ~mostly~ the same content three years ago as I do now. But my style and personal aesthetic has changed TONS. My personal aesthetic when I was thirteen was nonexistant--I'm not even sure I knew what personal aesthetic meant. Over the last three years I've watched my account grow so much--maybe not so much in followers, but in style.
Here are my tips from personal experience to gain style, personal aesthetic, and well-edited photos!
I'm almost ashamed that I wrote this post.
When I'm not planning my next post (from what filter I'll use to the caption), I'm scrolling through other people's accounts, stressing over if my feed looks good enough, sweating as my post count creeps closer to 300, and liking away at various hashtags.
I'm honestly lucky that my school blocked Instagram from its wifi because my GPA would be dead otherwise.
Hello friends! Today i want to discuss one of my favourite things ever: Instagram. Now, I need to clarify that I am no Insta-famous person nor do I have billions of followers/likes, but I have come a far way. As dumb as it sounds, Instagram has become such a huge--and happy--part of my life. I love love love photography so curating my art account (@preppermint.tea) gives me so much joy, but most of my thoughts go into my personal account (@thatpaleginger). Preppermint Tea is where I dump all of my photography, my art projects, and things from class I want to share with the world and get feedback on. It doesn't take too much thought. My personal account, on the other hand, is fashion, my life, my friends, my cats, my travels, books I'm reading, coffee I'm drinking, etc. It's so much.
When I first made my Instagram back in the eighth grade, I simply used it as a place to post pictures of my cats, my Starbucks and my travels.
Wait, what?
Honestly, I posted ~mostly~ the same content three years ago as I do now. But my style and personal aesthetic has changed TONS. My personal aesthetic when I was thirteen was nonexistant--I'm not even sure I knew what personal aesthetic meant. Over the last three years I've watched my account grow so much--maybe not so much in followers, but in style.
Here are my tips from personal experience to gain style, personal aesthetic, and well-edited photos!
1. Developing "personal aesthetic"
What even is a personal aesthetic? It's what you like! What colors, types of photos, and tones you like in your feed is what makes up your very own aesthetic. But how do you find that? That was my huge problem, within fine arts photography and everyday Instagram! I struggled finding what it was that I really liked. I couldn't find the line between what I liked to look at and what I wanted on my Instagram page. I was torn between a white, clean, minimalistic style and a bright, preppy style--and I still am! That what makes my Instagram MY Instagram!
Finding your own style isn't hard at all. Start with creating an album on your phone or a Pinterest board dedicated to photos you could see on your Instagram and photos that appeal to you. Then, scroll through Instagram or Pinterest and save photos that appeal to you. Don't think about colors or composition--simply save away! After you have a good amount of photos, look through each one you saved and take note of colors, tones, compositions, subjects, and angles. Are you into flat lays featuring products you live? Or are you more into scenery and places? Do darker, deeper tones appeal to you, or are you more attracted to bright colors? Keep all of these in mind while creating your own photos and voila--you have your very own aesthetic! REMEMBER: two things. One, I do NOT advise you to copy other Instagrammers photos! I simply recommend using this method to pinpoint what makes your heart go pitter-patter. And two: don't feel like you have to stick to a strict "theme"! It's totally okay to like darker toned photos one day and bright, preppy photos the next. This step is all about developing a style you like, no matter what that is. You set the rules! In fact, I think having a feed that is 100% what you like is best, and what makes your page so very you!
Finding your own style isn't hard at all. Start with creating an album on your phone or a Pinterest board dedicated to photos you could see on your Instagram and photos that appeal to you. Then, scroll through Instagram or Pinterest and save photos that appeal to you. Don't think about colors or composition--simply save away! After you have a good amount of photos, look through each one you saved and take note of colors, tones, compositions, subjects, and angles. Are you into flat lays featuring products you live? Or are you more into scenery and places? Do darker, deeper tones appeal to you, or are you more attracted to bright colors? Keep all of these in mind while creating your own photos and voila--you have your very own aesthetic! REMEMBER: two things. One, I do NOT advise you to copy other Instagrammers photos! I simply recommend using this method to pinpoint what makes your heart go pitter-patter. And two: don't feel like you have to stick to a strict "theme"! It's totally okay to like darker toned photos one day and bright, preppy photos the next. This step is all about developing a style you like, no matter what that is. You set the rules! In fact, I think having a feed that is 100% what you like is best, and what makes your page so very you!
2. Obtaining Your "Aesthetic"
So, you've heard of VSCOCam. I'm sure. In case you're unaware, VSCO is a beautiful little app that lets you edit your photos (duh) in the best way. They have the cutest filters (some are free, some you have to buy. I personally just use the free ones and they work just fine.) and so many options to edit your photos. Brightness, hue, shadow/highlight tint (hello 1960s feel!), contrast....they all contribute to how you want your photos to turn out! VSCO has all of this in a very easy layout that is perfect for any Instagram enthusiast.!
Rookie Cam is another one of my favourites. They offer four sets of free filters but they work for most anything! They also offer the same brightness/hue/etc settings like VSCO including a flip tool which is useful for uploading photos from Snapchat!
3. What To Post
I am 100% guilty of this, we all are; but nobody really cares about your 100th Starbucks of the week or every single meal of the day. First, try to keep a post limit. Don't post more than once a day unless it's a special occasion (I post ALLLL the time when I travel) because you don't want your followers to have a ton of photos dumped in their face at once (no matter how beautiful they are). Post useful things that give followers a peek into your life and who you are. So if you're going to post a Starbucks, maybe try a flat-lay with the latest book you're reading, or post that REALLY yummy dinner from that one restaurant you love. Try to show your followers who you are.
4. Gaining Followers
I know, I am REALLY not any Instagram guru who has 7 billion followers, I don't even have 500 (but I'm close)!!! But I've learned a few things that have helped me gain a few followers here and there. First, going through hashtags you love and liking photos you truly like, will help you get a few likes (some people are hardcore on the whole "like for like" thing). Plus, someone might see you liked their picture and check out your page and really love your stuff! Giving feedback is huge too. Don't be afraid to start conversations and make connections with people! Ask someone how they liked the book in their photo. Ask what lipstick they used. Fangirl about your favourite Starbucks orders. For you artsy people, try to give genuine, constructive feedback on other artists work. Don't just say, "I love this photo!" but rather say, "This composition is really cool! I love what you did with the colors!". Giving somebody real feedback that will help them as an artist is what is best and maybe you'll even make a few photo friends in the process! Another tip is......
5. Hashtags
Like mascara; a little to help, but not too much or it'll look tacky. Please please please don't be one of those people with a wall of hashtags (especially "#likeforlike" or similar ones. You want real likes, not someone liking to get a "like-back"!). Sometimes, like for photography, it is okay because hashtags are an excellent way to get your work out there (I'll do another post on art Instagrams), but for a personal account it looks like you're trying too hard. Try to stick to a few hashtags that similar people will post in! Darling magazine has tons that I love for personal/blogging accounts.
6. Have Fun With It!
Lastly, don't take it too seriously and have fun with it (I'm laughing as I post this because I know I take my Instagram too seriously!) It's just another overused social media website. Don't get too wrapped up in other people's pages and focus on posting what you love, because social media should be so very you!