Instagram 101: an Aesthetics Guide
A-lister profiles are the ones we are continually looking to follow, it is where we get new ideas and find inspiration. Only a few Instagram profiles are privileged enough to be referred to as an A-lister, but if you are a wannabe just like me, let Reinaldo Diaz, a photographer with 6.350 followers, and Francesca Marcos, a blogger with 9.400 followers, guide you.
An Instagram profile provides you with an opportunity to portray yourself as a foodie, a fashion addict, a photographer, a blogger and so on. It doesn't necessarily imply that it is the real you, but if you make it appealing enough, you might be able to gain a substantial following. Diaz says, "For me, the base of every great profile is two things: story and consistency. People want to know who you are and what you do, they want to connect with you, and the best way to do this is with a great story." It's important to stay consistent, as people want to know what to expect when they choose to follow you. For instance, a photographer should stick to photography, while a food blogger should stick to food posts. He also notes, "It helps to have an eye-candy feed."
STEP 1: APPS TO RETOUCH AND APPLY FILTERS
Regular people might not have a photographer to follow them wherever they go, and even though some of us might have a photographic eye, filters can be a helpful tool to enhance images. Snapseed and VSCO are examples of free apps which are easy to use. But be careful, as over-edited photos can end up looking unrealistic and could potentially damage the overall aesthetic. Retouching is acceptable, but don't go overboard either. Diaz argues, "As long as it doesn't distort what it looks like in reality. I think filters are pretty cool, as you can build consistency by sticking to a specific filter you like." Filters could potentially boost an average looking photo by giving it a personal touch.
STEP 2: TO FRAME OR NOT TO FRAME
There are two types of people in the world of Instagram; the ones who frame pictures and the ones who don’t. It's crucial to establish a nuance—it's good to stick to a specific pattern: frame or no frame. If you prefer to frame images, then it's recommended to use the app Instasize. Both Marcos and Diaz don't frame their pictures, but Francesca says, "I do believe it looks good and can create some form of flow to your page."
STEP 3: THE MYTH OF THE GOLDEN HOUR
In an interview with Huffington Post, Matt Smith, the founder of Later, noted that 5 PM on Wednesdays is the best time to post on Instagram. According to Smith, "We think this is because less people are posting at that time and that more engaged users are using Instagram at that time." It seems that when the day is almost over and when people are on their way home, that becomes the "golden hour" of Instagram. It doesn't matter how beautiful or stylish someone might look in a picture or how incredible a landscape is, if an image goes up during the quiet hours, the post might not accumulate as much engagement as it could during the "golden hour."
STEP 4: TIMING BETWEEN PICTURES OR SLIDESHOW POSTS
Posting more than two 'grams at the same time can potentially leave followers with the idea of an intense profile. Diaz argues, "It depends on what kind of profile you are running. Bloggers tend to post more than photographers, and that's okay, as long as it follows your story and your followers are engaging, you can post as much as you want. I usually try to post at least a couple of times a week." It might vary depending on what you use your profile for when it comes to choosing how many images to post. There is also the slideshow option on Instagram, but this can perhaps be saved for special occasions, such as birthdays. Instagram isn't necessarily about posting every pretty picture you have, but about picking the unique photos which fit with the overall feed.
STEP 5: DO NOT FORGET THE LOCATION
Who doesn't want to know where famous people go? The places they visit, the restaurants they enjoy, and the events they attend. That's why it's recommended to share the location of a photo. Adding the location to a photo might potentially inspire people to go where you go and do the things you do. It gives followers an impression that you enjoy discovering new places. Moreover, you can use the location as a way to showcase the areas which you most frequent; it gives your followers an idea of where to go next.
STEP 6: HAVE A COLOR FLOW
Color makes your Instagram profile more appealing, so try to follow a pattern of tones. For instance, try to use the colors of the season. Photographers like Diaz argue that this is a pivotal point to the aesthetic of a profile, "I follow a strict color pattern by lines. One line is all cool tones, the second is warmer tones, while the third line is mostly green pictures, " Diaz says.
STEP 7: THE CAPTION DILEMMA
Less is more. Perhaps shy away from copy and paste cheesy quotes, because the caption is the moment to stand out and be authentic. Use a phrase which catches attention. However, since there are different types of profiles out there with a considerable variety in purpose, Diaz mentions, "As far as captions go, I'm not the best, but it's a learning curve. Captions are as important as the picture; it's the storytelling bit of the picture. If it's a great story, you can generate more engagement."
STEP 8: HAVE A BIO DESCRIPTION
The bio should note things such as current city, intriguing facts and personal information such as Snapchat or e-mail (for business purposes). Bloggers usually have a different type of bio than for instance photographers, models or professional profiles. Marcos says, "It’s maybe the second thing people look at when scrolling through your profile. I like keeping it minimalist." On the other hand, Diaz claims, "This is the first thing people are going to see when they click in on your profile. It's your presentation card, and in a few sentences, it should state who you are. I like mine because, in just a quick sentence, I invite anyone to come adventure with me."
STEP 9: BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FOLLOWERS
Not everyone has an abundance of followers, but if you do, don't take them for granted. The opinion of followers matters and they are there because they like what you share. Therefore, it's important to notice what they prefer and respond to that. Diaz says, "At the end of the day we are all just trying to connect through this awesome platform." Marcos agrees, "It's important to have a good relationship with everyone, especially if they appreciate what you do. Being humble is key in this world."
STEP 10: DON'T TRY TOO HARD
Be you, be authentic. But, remember, don’t post images just for the sake of posting—choose wisely. As Diaz notes, "Look at your favorite accounts and ask yourself, what are they doing which makes them an A-lister profile? Grab some inspiration from them and create your own thing."
