LIFE

Find your light

Bight daylight can create harsh shadows. Aim to shoot closer to dawn or dusk (photogs call that the golden hour), or when it’s overcast. And forget using your lamp to light up your shot—natural is best.

Bring it with a background

Backgrounds that are a soft color or white allow a subject to become the focal point of the image. In order for things to stand out, you need contrast so avoid busy backgrounds. As in most things in life, just keep it simple

Literally lay it out

A successful layout is eye-catching and organized in a clever way. Move your objects around and try different combinations. Photograph each layout and choose the best one when you get to the editing stage. It’s about trying to find the best balance between the colors and shapes of your pieces.

A fearless filter

Take a step back and see if you even need a filter. You’d be amazed at how far small changes in contrast, temperature and saturation can go. When you do need one to spice up your photos, customize your own personal filters. Top instagrammers use outside photo editing apps for a greater range of effects. These tools will keep your photos looking unique and refreshed.

Make you caption count

Narration can be just as important as creating a beautiful photo. Remember: everyone loves a good pun or a clever play on words.

And don’t forget to have fun! Insta is all about sharing awesome memories and the things you think are pretty/crazy/totally fun, so don’t freak if some of your pics aren’t perfect.