subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 11 April 2020
Sara Tasker Infl uencer
Sara Tasker is an author and photographer who teaches
Instagram and social media to her 221k-strong Instagram
audience at @me_and_orla. She believes in working
with what you have and shoots on her phone. Sara hosts
a #1 business podcast for creatives called Hashtag
Authentic, and her handbook of the same name became a
bestseller last year. See http://www.meandorla.co.uk.Be consistent
Whether you are a wildlife or a
wedding photographer, it’s
important to be consistent in your
messaging. It’s fi ne to be diverse in
your interests and skills but think
about creating a different account
if it’s wildly off topic. For example,
if you are a sports photographer
but also photograph weddings,
consider separating those brands.Tap into what you’re
passionate about
Passionate storytellers change the
world. Your genuine interest in a
story or subject will attract people
with similar interests and they, in
turn, will attract other like-minded
people. You can create a powerful
community and a collaborative
spirit by tapping into your passions.Show what makes
you unique
We all have different experiences
and traits that make us who we
are. Dig deep, reveal something
only you have access to. Show
your viewers something theymay think they understand, and
then turn it on its head! Surprise
people and make sure that there
is meaning behind your work.Curate your Feed like
it’s an exhibition
Think about how images work
together. You can curate using
clever juxtapositions of colour and
contrast or tell visual stories that
create a deeper meaning. The
visual narrative is like a book or a
fi lm purposefully arranged to take
the viewer on a journey. For
example, I’ll have an opening
image, show a sense of place,
have portraits and detail shots,
have storytelling moments and
then a closing photograph. Get
to the heart of your story by
thinking about the order you
post your images.Captions matter
Your posts will have greater
impact when you explain the
meaning and story behind each
image. Take time to explain the
who, what, where, why and when.Ami Vitale
Photographer and fi lmmaker
Ami Vitale is a widely traveled photographer who now
focuses on wildlife and environmental stories. She’s on
Instagram @amivitale.com. To win a safari to meet the
last two northern white rhinos and a private workshop with
Ami, visit http://www.omaze.com/safaristill key. Instead of a picture of
your camera bag on the table
show it in situ – slung over your
shoulder as you walk along the
beach, for example. Show your
morning coffee, the light that
comes through the trees as you
work. The more evocative the
story and narrative, the more
people you will bring along for
the ride.
Keep it straight
Instagram puts all your images
in a frame. It stacks them in grids,
places them within the white
lines of the app and users view
them within the square
parameters of a tablet or phone.
The downside to all these right
angles is that any off angles or
slanted horizons stick out like a
sore thumb. Aim for perfect
parallels in your shots. The
smallest tilt of your camera can
translate into a strange sense of
seasickness once you’ve
uploaded it to the app.Have fun with editing
Instagram fi rst found popularity
for its now somewhat dated
range of fi lters, with everything
from Polaroid frames to
yellow-tinged vintage effects.
Trends have moved on, but
Instagram remains a place for
creative editing, moody presets
and skilful, artistic post-
production. Find an app that you
love – Lightroom Mobile is
excellent, as is VSCO – and play
around with your post-
production techniques until you
fi nd a style and voice that works
best for you online.© AMI VITALE
© AMI VITALE
THIS IMAGE AND BOTH IMAGES ON PAGE 14 © SARA TASKER
Dig deep and reveal
something only you
have access toSara shares her
unique take on the
world with 221k
followersAmi’s work focuses
on wildlife and
environmental
stories