HOW TO SPICE UP YOUR INSTAGRAM

by Raima Forbes August, 23rd 2019

Have you ever seen an Instagram profile that instantly inspired you to step your social media game up? I have! Thanks to modern technology and the information age that we are living in, taking and sharing photos have been made to fit perfectly into  popular culture. The current social climate now thrives off of the participation of you & I to utilize social apps targeted toward posting and sharing content for social and business opportunities. Instagram is a popular platform where we can post our lives and highlight our favorite looks, experiences and our most special moments with others. You may be wondering how to capture, possibly edit and post the best of the best photos or videos for your profile. I have been using Instagram for years and have found some things that helped me to grow and create an online presence. Let’s talk about my top three tips for making your IG profile pop!

1. PLEASE BE AUTHENTIC

“No one is you and that is your superpower.” Authenticity draws attraction and inauthenticity can be seen from a mile away! The internet is a gigantic place where you will find lots people reproducing what they have already seen or religiously following each trend because they have either lost or not yet realized their own influential identity. Especially amongst our fellow millennials, feeling the urge to be just like someone else is a widespread approach to social media use and in everyday life in general. I want to empower you to be exactly who you are and be confident in that. You have your own vision, design and ideas that are God-given and solely your own and that is beautiful, girl! It is a fact that people are inspired by bold and unapologetic individuality because no one can be you or do what you do the way you do it. Remember, everyone else is already taken so there is no need to create Instagram content based on what others are posting. You are one of a kind so act like yourself, love your self-image and express your truest passions openly. Depending on what you use your social platform for, you can tweak your posting etiquette. For example, I like my profile to be more polished, as it is a first impression to others who do not know me personally. An elegant-looking account is more prone to attracting brands and businesses to you and possibly extending some cool opportunities! If your Instagram is strictly a personal account, have all the fun you want, but just be real. For aesthetics, I will attach a link for you on how to create a themed profile that creative and engaging!

2. picture perfect!

When posting pictures to Instagram, you should always remember that you are presenting who you are to your friends, family, followers and strangers! Let’s talk a bit about the quality of your posts and how much it contributes to your overall presence online. A great selfie can be ruined by a messy, dirty or chaotic background! Always be mindful of what is going on behind you in your photos, it matters bigtime. Bare, clean and scenic or nature backgrounds are ultimately the way to go. Lighting is another essential factor to having an appealing profile because without lighting a picture could not be visible! My personal favorite lighting for photos and selfies is natural lighting or light from the sun. Natural light has never let me down when taking photos and its beauty is unmatched by artificial lighting. Get in front of your window or even go around your city to get some great outdoor shots! Using the portrait mode on your iPhone is an effective way to add dimension and layers to your pictures, making them pop off of the screen. Editing apps that I like to use include Airbrush and Facetune. These two apps are excellent for perfecting images and bringing out their potential. There are tons of features to use such as sharpening, color adjusting, filtering and adding different textures to your pictures that make them more interesting and appealing. I will link a video here I have learned from below on ways to enhance your photos with editing!

3. SHARE YOUR PASSIONS.

Do you know how many monthly active users Instagram has? One billion people worldwide are using Instagram on a monthly basis! There is an infinite supply of people to reach, touch and connect with. What would Instagram be like without each other viewing, following and learning from one another? Not much! One of the most influential ways to utilize Instagram is to add value to others through the expression of your gifts and passions. This goes back to being authentic in what you are posting! When you share what you love, that passion reaches and attracts others to what you are showing because passion is attractive and it is real. When you are copying someone else’s content, solely posting to gain likes and follows or not being yourself, Instagram can become a chore or a means for attention or envy and insecurity. Pour out of your heart what you love whether it is fashion, food, your business, your faith, missions, beauty, traveling, or your favorite hobby and your Instagram will light up! Try these tips and I promise that you will be inspired by your own profile and you will motivate others to share their true selves, too!

Follow me on Instagram! @Raima_