Image via Complex Original
Instagram made it’s way into our hearts and our phones in the form of double-taps, #throwbackthursdays, and Woman Crush Wednesdays. Years later, we still find ourselves trying to capture life’s little moments with the perfect filter to match. Instagram may be responsible for the selfie revolution, but to be honest, those don’t make for the best Insta-personalities. Let’s face it: You probably have at least three followers that make you second-guess your persona on the photo-sharing app. The secret to an indefinitely better Instagram is that there is no secret at all. The only rule of thumb here is that if you are relying on filters and white frames alone, you’re probably doing it wrong. Think outside the box for just a second and do it for the ‘gram.
Use NFC Technology
These days it’s pretty hard to be technologically illiterate, but if you haven’t heard of NFC technology then shame on you. Near field communication is the ability to send information from two NFC compatible devices over a wave by just being in the same area. Talk about clutch. Team Android is indeed winning with this technology, as a large number of Droids support the feature. Pair it with a camera that supports NFC, like the Sony a7 series. Apple IPhone users don’t get too glum. The Apple Pay feature is done with a NFC chip, so maybe that is a sign that better things are to come.
Be Consistent
If you’re the type of person who posts every 15 weeks, consider yourself unfollowed. The whole reason that the social media game is flourishing is because of the need to feel like it’s happening in real-time. Don’t mistake this with “bleeding the feed,” with too many posts, but find that happy medium.
Always Have a Camera on You
A great Brooklyn rapper once said, “I heard if you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready.” Fabolous may not have had Instagram on his mind at the time, but if you stay strapped with a camera, not only will your photos get better, but you’ll have options when it comes to posting.
Fast Autofocus
You can’t train to have an awesome Instagram and transform yourself into this photo savvy person if your autofocus isn’t correct. Having a camera with slow autofocus will slow you down. It won’t be the end all be all, but why result to a super slow AF when there are better devices out there.
Don’t Rely on Apps
If you want your page to look different, apps alone won’t do the trick. You can scour through the App Store for different filters and collage makers until you’re blue in the face but it won’t be of much help. Lend your hand to gadgets to get the job done. If biking is your thing, then try a Bikepod for hands-free footage. Just into photos? Get a lens dial to transform your photos from basic to expert.
Utilize Time-Lapse
Instagram changed the game with the introduction of its video feature. Sure, it’s more than double the time of a Vine, but when you’re trying to cram a lot of footage into 15 second things can get a little frustrating. Download the free app Hyperlapse to cheat the system.
Find Your Niche
Just like anything else, when you zero in on something that you’re passionate about, it shows. If taking food pictures is your thing, then rock out (no struggle plates, please). Find the moments you actually are good at capturing and be great.
Make HD Images Your Friend
If it’s good enough for your television, it’s good enough for your ‘gram. Not only are all of those really good Instagrams using high-resolution photos, but they’re also not limiting themselves to just the phone. Technically, that should be cheating but all bets are off now. Note: High-resolution photos and those HDR filters are not created equal. The High Dynamic Range feature on the iPhone will definitely make the photos sharper, but let’s not use them on selfies. It's not a good look.
Avoid Selfie-Only Pages
Yeah, your selfie game may be strong but your page is probably weak. At this point your followers know what you look like, so refrain from a selfie overload. In the Insta-world, where angles are everything, if you’re going to be a selfie pro at least get a little creative with it. Honorable Mention: Let go of the constant memes and bitter quotes.
Don’t Take It Too Seriously
At the end of the day, you can learn 100 tricks to make your profile better, but the people who really flourish just have fun. Don’t search everywhere for a photo that will get you endless double-taps. Don’t ruin the moments by making people reenact them. Live life candidly, and document it at your leisure. The likes on the ‘gram won’t count if no one likes you in person.