By the end of 2019, Instagram had about 1 billion active users. With such a steady stream of use, Instagram is a great platform for advertising and building your personal brand.

The drawback is that these 1 billion users aren't just looking at content. They're also creating their own, which means the competition is steep. The key to standing out on Instagram is capturing perfect, on-brand photos every single time. Read on for our top 11 Instagram photography tips to elevate your online image.

1. Don't Use the In-App Camera

Although you can take photos through the Instagram app, you're better off using your smart phone's high definition camera or a professional-grade camera. The Instagram camera limits your ability to focus, zoom, and capture fine details.

It also leaves you with no other choice but to take square photos. If you use a camera other than the one built into the app, you have the option of uploading them as landscape or portrait shots if they look better this way.

2. Keep Lighting Natural

Harsh yellow or orange lighting can ruin a perfectly good picture! In an ideal world, you'll want to capture most of your shots with soft, natural light. When natural light is sparse, turn to professional photo lighting that mimics natural lighting better than the fluorescent bulb in your overhead light.

3. Use the Rule of Thirds

This classic photography trick is still useful in the 21st century! The idea is to divide your frame into a three by three grid and use one-third of your shot to focus on your subject.

In other words, you can center your subject, or you can create visually pleasing asymmetry by capturing your subject on the right or left third of your photo.

4. Consider Color

Whether you're branding your business or yourself, you'll need to create a signature look. Color is a great way to signify to your viewer that they're looking at your work before even checking for your handle.

Think about the psychology of color and the way it interacts with your brand. For example, springy pastels may not be great for, say, a law firm, but they're perfect for a makeup company.

5. Learn to Love Blank Space

Rarely do you want to post an overcrowded photo on Instagram? It doesn't look as professional, and it creates too much visual noise.

Instead, take advantage of the "blank" spaces. This might be the sky, a grassy field, or even a matte backdrop. Think of your blank space as a frame for your subject.

6. Stay Consistent

Think beyond each individual post and imagine the bigger picture. In this case, the bigger picture is actually the grid of all of your pictures followers will see when they visit your account.

These posts should pair nicely together. That means you should try to stay consistent with a chosen color scheme, style of photography, and process of editing. Your subject may change, but the feeling your Instagram photos elicit should not.

7. Beware of Filter Overload

Filters may seem like a fun editing solution if you're in a hurry to publish new content, but you may want to use them sparingly, if at all. Most Instagram filters add a strong blue or yellow tone to your photos while dulling the quality of the image. They can ruin what was once a great photo, and your followers will recognize that lazy editing.

If photos need to be touched up, stick to your phone's editing tools and keep the edits that alter color and tone to a minimum. Instead, adjust things like lighting and contrast to sharpen your image without making it look unnatural.

8. Don't Follow Trends - Create Them

Instagram is a place where trends are created but also where they're done to death. Perhaps you notice a few different photographers on Instagram finding a lot of success with a similar style of photography. That's nice for them, but it doesn't mean that you should mimic their style.

Instead, try to pull from these trends without recreating them shot for shot. Think about what makes work and find ways to put your own twist on them. If you're lucky, you'll be the trendsetter in no time.

9. Caption Thoughtfully

Remember that on Instagram, a phenomenal photo draws in your viewers, but a caption wins them over! Use captions to give a bit of background about your image. Provide details about the subject of the photo as well as details that humanize you!

The more you insert yourself into your Instagram, the more opportunities you create for your followers to connect. Add questions or thought-provoking prompts that encourage your followers to comment and interact with you.

10. Look for Industry Hashtags

Hashtags are your gateway to a wider audience. Tons of users follow hashtags to uncover new accounts that fit their personal needs or interests.

If you want to skip the trial-and-error process of making up hashtags to see which ones stick, look to accounts with a high follower count and have created a brand similar to your own. They've already done the trial-and-error work for you, and you can use a lot of those same hashtags on your own account - just avoid the ones that are catered to their specific page!

11. Don't Forget Your Fans

We mentioned interaction already, and we can't emphasise the importance of responsiveness enough. Make sure you know how to DM on Instagram on any device so that you don't leave any of your followers hanging.

Boost Your Base with Instagram Photography Tips

We hope that these Instagram photography tips get you closer to the follower count you're reaching for.

To make your photo editing process easier, streamlined, and consistently professional, take a look at our Mobile Lightroom Presets for Bloggers. We're here to help you make every photo Instagram-ready!

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