The Instagram Revamp

How to polish your content.

by CAROLINE DELISLE ★ JULY 23, 2020

You don’t need to have an ‘m’ in your follower count to have a sick Instagram feed.

Too often nowadays we find ourselves putting unnecessary restrictions on our own content from feelings of, what I like to call, ‘influencer inadequacy’: the sense that if you don’t have a certain number of followers, you can’t put the care and effort into your content that the Jaci Maries of the world do. While a select few are lucky enough to derive a career out of posting aesthetically-pleasing social media content, that doesn’t bar the rest of us from dabbling in the art of content creation! Social media can be a great way to put yourself out there and be creative! Photography is an accessible medium which, when subjected to your unique style and artistry, can be a way to express yourself and have fun doing it!

But where to begin?

What’s important is making sure your content comes from a place of authenticity. Yes, Jaci Marie is a queen and we all secretly want to be her a little bit deep down maybe. BUT your Instagram is your Instagram. Like the famous saying goes, “You will never influence the world by trying to be like it.” Seek inspiration from your favorite creators when needed, but go with your own gut and what you personally like when it comes to posting, because that’s how you’ll develop a “brand” and articulate your own unique flare. Remember, ultimately your account is for yourself. Yes, others may see what you post and hype you up along the way, but your content should be something you enjoy creating and viewing. Because if it isn’t, what’s the fun in that??

Here are a couple tips for revamping your Instagram style and forging your aesthetic.

Vibe check: Assess what you’re going for with your Instagram. Is it chic, urban, Kardashian-style content filled with power fits and even more powerful poses? Are you an outdoors enthusiast with a love of all things green or granola? Do you identify with the skater crowd who popularized the aloof eyes-half-open facial expression displaying how little they care about others’ opinions? Do you resonate with the “heyyy” girls and their doe-eyed sweetness? Or maybe you are another entity entirely? Try to channel your personality and style into the content you post online. But keep in mind, you don’t have to stick to that persona. Don’t let the idea of “branding” yourself make you think that you have to pick one person to be and stick with it forever. Whoever you are today, put that person into your posts. It’s this unique combination of traits that are You™.

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Content cultivation: Perhaps the best part about this project is that it can be a great socially-distant activity for you to do with your friends! Go drive out to your local park, favorite diner (if it’s open of course), or an idyllic street corner and have a photoshoot! Work those angles, play around with portrait mode, and don’t forget to get those candids (that maybe secretly aren’t truly candid but we can keep that on the DL). Prime lighting in which you can get the most flattering shots is on overcast days! Sunlight that is too intense can leave you looking washed out if you’re trying to secure those selfies. Pick a day when the clouds offer just enough coverage to soften the light. Or, get some shots of your surroundings instead! Looking flawless all the time is a lot of work, afterall. The flower stand on the corner or your sexy-looking latte could also make for some top-notch content!

Editing and filters: So you’ve secured some photo possibilities and hopefully had fun doing it. The next step is editing. Filters and effects can be a great way to cultivate your aesthetic! Maybe you want retro pink undertones in the highlights of your photos? Maybe you like the look of a little added saturation for the ultimate summer VSCO energy? Maybe you up the grain to give the image a vintage feel? Playing around with different combinations of filters and edits is crucial in giving your pics a ~look~ that ties them all together and gives your feed cohesivity. Pro tip: on VSCO, there is a way to save your specific edit style so you can achieve the same look for every picture! With a cohesive filter on all of your photos, your feed will look tied together and professional.

Backgrounds and prints: Another way to spruce up your pics is by adding in graphics and prints. There are a lot of apps out there that allow you to cut out areas of your picture and replace it with other images. We’d recommend the app called Eraser, because it allows you to eliminate and replace any part of your photo with a new background. All you have to do is literally just type “cool prints” into Pinterest to find a graphic that fits your photo and enhances your content!

When your photo is edited to the gods with your own elements of creativity and individuality, it’s now time to post. Putting time and care into your Instagram feed can be a fun hobby and a great creative outlet. Just remember that at the end of the day, it’s just a picture. How you interact with and treat people will always have more of an impact on them than a picture they see when scrolling through social media. This being said, Insta can be a way to showcase your personality to the world through your posts. Have fun with what you put on the internet, and don’t take it too seriously to the point where it becomes stressful. Everyone’s content needs a little TLC every now and again, and summer is the perfect time to up your game and put out content that makes you happy and showcases your individuality. Happy posting!

Cover photo credit: Pinterest

UGirlJuly 23, 2020