It’s no secret Instagram is one of my favorite apps to use, but it can seem a bit daunting when it comes to taking your photos and making them look as good as a professional photographer. I’ve had my fair share of being on professional photoshoot sets, especially while getting ready to launch my Monarch Reign swimwear line. I’ve watched the pros and played with taking photos myself so I wanted to share some helpful tips to keep in mind when you are trying to capture the perfect selfie. Whether you are taking a quick glam picture of yourself or using your BFF to get your angles, these tips will help you get the best shot.
Find your ideal light.
All photography is rooted in one essential thing: lighting. Whether you are outside finding the best spot for natural light or onset of a professional photoshoot the lighting can make or break your perfect photo. Most people love using natural light, but that means sometimes dealing with harsh lighting in the mid-day sun. The best times to shoot are right after sunrise and right before sunset. Most people call these times of day “golden hour”. While swimwear shoots can last all day long, you’ll always be able to tell when shots happen during golden hour because they have a soft, delicate glow to them. No filters are necessary.
Compose your shot before you take it.
You should have an idea of how you want to frame your picture before you take it. It’s ok to think about a shot before you start shooting. Think about what you want the focus to be, and what details you might want complimenting your subject, if any, in the background. Symmetry in pictures is appealing to the eye, but that isn’t a hard and fast rule. Follow your gut of what angle and focus make the most impact.
A lot of photographers use the rule of thirds, which means the shot is split into three even vertical and horizontal sections. You put your subject of the shot along that frame. Framing a photo correctly can really elevate it. Not sure how to do that? If you have an iPhone you have a handy helper in the form the of photo grid. You can turn it on by going to your settings>Camera>Grid and turning it on.
Every shot, just like our Monarch Reign swim shots, need to be thought out ahead of time so we maximize our time at each shoot.
My favorite editing apps.
Most professional photographers use Lightroom when editing their photos, but don’t worry that your pictures won’t stack up if you don’t have fancy software. There are amazing apps out there that can enhance your photos to really make them pop. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Snapseed
- VSCO
- A Color Story
- Tezza
If you like playing with filters that give photos a vintage look, I love the Kuni Cam app.
Be yourself.
Don’t worry about how many likes you get or unwanted critical comments, just have fun with it. Take pictures you like, whether you are in them or not. Express yourself and play with your personal photography. Create a unique style that you fall in love with that becomes a recognizable statement that is all you. Focus on finding what gives you the confidence to be unapologetically true to yourself and keep that feeling!