Are you a bit of a photographer? If so, you’ve probably got quite the prominent Instagram presence. It’s nice to be able to share your photos with a captive audience, whether you’re doing so for business or personal reasons, and everyone deserves to have their profile pop every once in a while!
This is especially true when you’ve spent a lot of time (and money) planning an adventure. You’ve booked flights and a hotel, you’re ready to spend 5 days deep in the jungle, and you want to capture as much of the adventure as possible while you’re out there.
We don’t blame you for wanting to capture some perfect memories and share them with friends and family! That’s why we’ve made a list of the best methods for making your Instagram feed stand out when you’re on vacation. Check them out below and get snapping.
Take Your Phone Everywhere
You might think you need a camera for an expedition like this. We’re here to tell you otherwise. After all, modern phones are capable of pretty much anything, and there’s more customization on camera lenses than ever before.
You don’t need to invest in an expensive, top of the range camera when you’ve got a well looked after phone in your pocket, which will save you both money and space in your luggage. It also means your desire to snap some great Insta shots won’t be in trouble if the suitcase goes missing!
Plus, no matter what you’re planning or you end up getting up to, you’ll still be able to take your phone with you. If you’re going on a scuba diving experience, invest in Dive Housing for iPhone before you go, and you’ll be able to keep snapping shots and recording videos while you’re underwater. How cool and noteworthy of an upload will that be?!
Take a Million Photos
Well, not a million exactly, but try to take upwards of 50 per day – even if it’s just one thing. The best to aim for is around 100 photos to ensure you capture your view and/or subject of choice from the perfect angle for your Instagram profile. You never know; that one last photo you were going to capture but never did could have been the one!
Of course, it’s going to be hard to store that many photos at a time. That’s why you should go through them at the end of the day or the beginning of the next one; this way you can choose the right photos in the moment without losing out on storage for too long. It’s a win-win combination!
Pack a Portable Battery
If you’re going to take at least a hundred photos every single day, your phone battery is going to run down by the time you’re finished reading this sentence! That’s why you should pack a portable battery in your carry-on, as well as a charger you can use in any hotel or hostel you’ve checked into.
You can then keep the phone plugged in all day, whether it’s in use or not, allowing for more time taking amazing pictures.
Remember those storage issues we mentioned a bit earlier? If they really bother you, you might want to take along an external drive as well. You can find plenty on Amazon that can be plugged into a phone, allowing for extra storage without any trouble. If you’re using an iPhone, this means you won’t need to purchase more pricey server space from the iCloud.
Find Something to Pull Focus
When you’re framing your image, try to use something within the frame of the shot to pull focus. For example, if you’re in Paris underneath the Eiffel Tower, you could shoot upward from the ground, capturing a pretty blossom in the foreground with this clearly dominating structure in the background.
To pull this off properly, make sure the blossom or flower in question is in sharp focus and can be seen very clearly, with the suggestion of the tower behind it that cannot be missed. Et Voila! You’ve got something pulling focus without taking anything away from the image. That makes for a very interesting combination, and will impress everyone who wants to look at your Instagram profile.
Always Write a Caption
A caption helps people pay attention – and it helps the algorithm to identify your content as good stuff to promote. After all, the more time someone spends reading through your caption, and looking at your images, the more time they end up spending on the app – it works on both sides!
Captions can be hard to write. It can even feel embarrassing to try and find the right thing to say, without coming across tone deaf or ‘cringey’. But when you write something heartfelt, or include something informational or historical about the subject you’ve captured. Go for a couple of paragraphs and be in depth with what you say.
Be Candid From Time to Time
A candid photo looks great, no matter who is in the image. After all, you’re not just capturing images of people walking by or milling around in the background – you still have a purposeful subject, they just don’t quite know when and where you’re taking the photo.
This is also good for filling out a photo album, if you’re in a relationship or you’d like to bring home photos of the kids for their grandparents to see. Being candid makes an image feel more relaxed, and like you’re capturing someone in a true moment of joy and relaxation. People always look good when they feel this way, even if they don’t describe themself as photogenic!
If you want your Instagram feed to pop for your upcoming vacation, you can do a lot with the tips above to make your photos worth looking at. Capture them from the right angle, pull focus in each and every shot, and take plenty to ensure you get the best coordination no matter what.
