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How to create strong and clear photos for Instagram.

February 9, 2015

business

Posted 09/12

A Step by Step Guide to Editing your Instagram photos
{Photo by Kathryn McCrary}

One of my goals this year is to share more helpful content to you all. I usually give a small walk through on creating strong instagram content and photos during The Brand Market workshops, because it is one of the most common questions I receive!

Processed with VSCOcam with f1 preset {Before and Afters using VSCO Cam}

I finally worked through an easy step by step guide for how to create strong and clear photos for instagram. I just use my iphone 5c and almost always edit through the VSCO app. There are several apps you can use to edit your photos, but this is the one I feel like has the best options since it was created by photographers themselves! It can be a little daunting if you haven’t used it before, but I think it has the best range of editing tools and filters. You can create drastically better instagram photos just through the tool editing bar. However, if you like the effects of filters, I downloaded the all in one pack for $5 in the VSCO store (within the app), and I mainly use those!

Establishing your own style and themes of content are always helpful in how you gage photo editing. I also ALWAYS use natural light. It drastically improves the quality of a photo!

The step by step guide is a little lengthy, so I attached all images and text after you click through at the bottom of the post. Feel free to leave any questions you have in the comment section!

I’d be happy to continue more topics in this series if you would like!I hope this is helpful to you all!
x, Anna

Step by Step Guide to Improving your Instagram photos after the jump! 

Photo editing step by stepStep 3 and 4Steps 4 and 5Steps 6 and 7

Processed with VSCOcam with c2 preset

I also love using VSCO for portraits, because the filters works so beautifully with faces!

blood oranges

I tend to several table styling shots, (because I kind of have a thing for food;)) and VSCO offers just the right boosts to make the scene come alive.

Let me know if you have any questions about these!
What are your favorite editing apps?

P.S. 8 Free Apps that will improve your life! 😉

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  1. Christina says:

    I LOVE VSCO. 🙂 Another way I have clear photos on my Instagram is taking photos with my Canon G16 and putting them on my phone. The Canon G16 uses WiFi for your camera to talk to your phone, so it really improves the quality of photos. It’s nice to see your photos transform. Great tutorial!

    Christina
    http://www.cityloveee.blogspot.com

  2. Jenmarie says:

    Great tips, Ana! I now have the Samsung Galaxy S4 and definitely need to play around more and maybe download another app or two to see which ones are the best out there.

  3. Brittany says:

    Love VSCO! Your photos are always gorgeous 🙂 It’s fun to see the before & afters though – simple changes can make a big impact.

  4. Natasha says:

    it’s so easy to get carried away with vsco sometimes because there’s just SO much to play with! thanks for narrowing it down, super helpful 🙂

  5. Love this walk-through! It’s always fun to see the transformation. I switch off using Afterlight and VSCO and I love them both – it’s hard to choose between the two!

  6. this is incredibly helpful — thank you!

  7. Anna says:

    I definetly need to take better pictures and learn how to edit them for Instagram! Love all the tips

    thank you

    happymedley.blogspot.com

  8. Mandy says:

    This was so helpful! Your photos turn out beautifully!

    Mandy
    mandydacandy

  9. Anna, I love your Insta feed! Thank you for sharing these tips. Of course, I think having such a gorgeous family helps too! 😉 xo

  10. Kelly Brito says:

    Since I discovered Vsco, it became my favorite image editor for phones. It’s just really great! Post-editing a photo makes ALL the difference in the world. 🙂
    Of course, your photos are always great. And this was such a great (and so useful!) post.

  11. Deepinpeace says:

    I love applying vsco on my photos as a casual instagram user. It is simple but very effective. Now on I will be more handy with this app. Thanks for the post.

    http://www.deeepinpeace.com

  12. Madison says:

    VSCO is amazing! I love your insta-feed too. It’s really inspiring!
    I’ve been trying to take more and better photos of things around me recently, and the VSCO app is pretty much my best friend now. (:

  13. this is so great, anna! thanks for putting together 🙂 vscocam is my favorite too!

  14. VSCO is great, and it was so helpful to have you walk us through the steps. The app can be a little overwhelming with all of the options! I also like Afterlight for photo editing (contrast, exposure, etc.), Pixlr or Diptic for collaging, and Studio Design for adding (really nice) text.

  15. tasha says:

    I have the app & totally forget to edit in the app then send to Instagram. Do you believe it has better filter options. One thing I learned is angles matter too. Sometimes straight forward photos are great and other times I need to try different perspective of how I take the shot.

  16. […] This week has been all about social media, from putting together a list of must-have apps for bloggers to working on how to improve Instagram photos. […]

  17. […] my effort to take better photos, VSCO Cam is my new bestest buddy. I’m so glad they have an app for Androids […]

  18. […] How to Create Strong & Clear Photographs for Instagram: this tutorial is lengthy, but it is a must read! […]

  19. Thank you for sharing! I use this app too -just wasn’t using it to it’s fullest potential! Thanks for “opening my eyes”. Your creativity is so inspiring! You make the whole blogging thing look easy -but I know (just from the short time I blogg (cancer got in the way three times and I just haven’t had the motivation to start back-it’s LOTS of time & work! I really appreciate your honesty, generosity (like sharing photo tips) and kindness (always staying positive)! Much success Anna!

  20. Matthew Pike says:

    This was thorough! Some very handy tips here.

    Buckets & Spades

  21. […] is key.  Want to boost your Instagram following & up your feed’s game?  Try these Instagram tips.  Or get crafty with this DIY marble […]

  22. Cierra says:

    In this circumstance, some protecting cups that will prohibit pollution in-the-air are essential.
    Or some people could have numerous frames in numerous styles
    and designs for unique functions.

  23. Samantha says:

    Hey hun! Awesome blog! I’ve been desperately trying to read up on ways to edit instagram photos on pinterest & your blog popped up 😉 how did you edit the photo of you sitting infront of the hut? what filter did you use? is it the same way you edited the other photos? Thanks!

  24. Hajar says:

    Thanks for the lovely tips 🙂 u’re really inspiring ..

  25. Menierva

    says:

    Hello! I love all your pictures! It really looks so aesthetic. I am using Samsung Galaxy S7 and VSCOCam, also using the pictures taken from my DSLR yet whenever I post the edited pictures in Instagram, the quality changes. I don’t know what to do? My instagram is @ervalynn.

  26. JAne

    says:

    Thank you!! I am curious about how you stage your photos? I constantly find myself witnessing beauteous moments but I can’t seem to get them on a camera… particularly with food! What angle? What to include?

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