14 11 April 2020 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113
I
ncredible as it may
seem, 500 million
people look at
Instagram every day,
with users spending an average
of 28 minutes scrolling, posting
and ‘liking’ pictures, Stories
and videos. It was only ten
years ago that co-founder
Kevin Systrom fi rst posted a
picture of a stray dog near a
taco stand in Mexico. ‘Had I
known it was going to be the
fi rst picture on Instagram I
would have tried a bit harder,’
he joked. A decade on and most
professional photographers
have an Instagram account- they use it to introduce
their work to a global
audience, connect with fellow
photographers, fi nd new clients
and receive feedback on their
projects. The app was designed
to encourage communication
via images, so it seems a
natural fi t for photographers.
However, building a following,
keeping up-to-date with
changes to algorithms and
How to succeed
on Instagram
Instagram off ers a way to connect and communicate like
no other social media platform. Tracy Calder speaks to
four photographers who have really reaped its benefi ts
communicating with fellow
users can be time-consuming,
and it’s easy to lose heart if you
don’t see instant results. It’s
become so huge, too.
Having just opened my own
Instagram account (@tracy_
calder_photo) I decided to
bend the ear of four successful
Instagrammers to fi nd out
what, when and why I should
post. Their tips range from
opening multiple accounts to
ignoring pre-set fi lters and
following your passion.Composition is key
It’s not the camera club. Most
Instagram users are not
professional photographers and
will forgive a lot of technical
imperfections. What matters
most is composition: the story,
the negative space, the way you
place your subject in the frame.
Instagram photos will be seen
on a small screen.Only post your
best pictures
Instagram audiences can be
fi ckle, and the algorithms that
determine content visibility even
more so. Reserve the space on
your grid for your very best and
most compelling work – treat it
like a private online gallery. Use
your Stories to fi ll the blanks
in-between: your day-to-day
stories, your adventures, the
behind-the-scenes shots etc.Capture moments,
not things
Instagram started out as a place
for folk to share their everyday
adventures, and as a social
media platform this humanity isTechnique BE AN INSTAGRAM EXPERT