Hey friends! Can we talk about Instagram? Does it feel like it’s gotten out of our hands? Like everyone is everywhere doing everything (with cocktails) and we’re… distinctly not? Instagram has become a beautiful and nearly unbearable place. Here are my tips to contributing and carrying on.
• First, we all owe one another an apology. I’ll go first. I’m sorry I make everything look perfect on Instagram. In fact, nothing is perfect. Everyone is, in fact, doing the same thing.. hiding their pain and disguising their anxieties behind various overhead shots of coffee and doughnuts. I’m sorry. I’m guilty of the same. Let’s forgive people in advance for their perceived perfection, see past it and love each other anyway.
• Let’s be generous with our likes. I mean, why not? We follow each other for a reason and that reason is probably that we like each other, or you have cute kids, or a sweet looking cat, or go on excellent food adventures, or have a great sense of humor. Double tap. Like. Or unfollow in which case… peace out, nothing personal.
• There must be an element of beauty to Instagram. We’re scrolling (with increasing speed) through visual images so our goal is to share our unique perception of beauty. It’s about what you see, what speaks to you, and what you want to share…. and a proper amount of apps to edit and filter the beauty we see. I love VSCO CAM for overall filters and white balance, sharpening, and general loveliness. There’s a down and dirty VSCO food editing tutorial here for a few quick tips!
• Let’s talk about the nitty gritty of our food photography composition. Here are a few tips I like to work within when photographing the food I make and eat.
Tighten and clutter up the frame. This is a ‘more is more’ approach. Add layers of texture and ingredients to the frame and inch them atop and very close to each other. We’re creating delicious chaos. Don’t be scared.
See: Fresh Raspberry and Gin Slushies
Opposite of the ‘more is more’ technique: allow for some breathing room in your photograph. Leaving empty space in a photograph is a nice rest for the eye. Simplicity is best!
Remember the rule of thirds? Same applies for (ooey gooey) food photography on Instagram. It’s about placing a subject in the lower third, center, or upper third of a photograph frame creating concentration and tension in a picture. Also, all sticky buns look delicious so… this was too easy.
• Here are some of my favorite food folks on Instagram.
• Probably This • Minimalist Baker • Nicole Franzen • Tracy Shutterbean • The Candid Appetite (picture above) • DinexDesign • BelleAnnee • Kitchy Kitchen • LocalHaven
• Last, it’s (just) Instagram. More specifically it’s your Instagram. Do what feels good to you. Stand on a chair in a restaurant, style your friends hands just right. Forget the photograph and just dig into those cheese fries. Do what feels good to you. Perfection has it’s charm, but so does a real real life. Ain’t no shame in the game.
Oh also… all the cool kids are using Snapchat now so… what are we even doing?
Instagram: joythebaker. Holla at your girl.
DessertForTwo
Here’s the thing I love about instagram. I shared a photo of my tired new mama face, holding my baby when she was around 2 weeks old. It was an annoying bathroom selfie. The bathroom was a mess. My hair wasn’t combed, no make-up in sight. And best of all: my huge post-pregnancy belly was on display for all to see that I hadn’t lost my baby weight. And you know what? MOST LIKES EVER. Whenever I keep it real on instagram, people love it. They comment. We share. We connect. It’s truly the social media platform in which I am the most open and honest about my life. I can’t say the same for my blog. Is that weird? I think I should share more on my blog instead of being so sterile.
Love ya,
alison
Instagram has always been the club that won’t have me. If I’m not mistaken (I stopped checking a while ago), you have to have a device capable of having apps in order to have an account. That’s…not everyone.
Erin | Well Plated
Yay for spreading the like love! Can we all just please eat cinnamon rolls (with cocktails)?
popandbanter
THANK YOU for saying all of these things. I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve too been having a challenging time trying to keep up with all the beauty of the various social media platforms. Sometimes you just got to give yourself a break!
Becca | Spices and Spatulas
I think it’s so rad that you post stuff like this in addition to your recipes. Like most bloggers, your insta-life looks too good to be true. I know I try to do the same with my own instagrams (yet, I post unedited/grainy shots on twitter with no apologies..wonder why that is.) I do think it’s great that with simple editing tricks, everyone’s cute dog/to-go coffee/new shoes picture can look stunning: we’re building our self confidence and learning how to express admiration for others, even if we don’t realize it. Definitely a good thing. You put it so well: “Let’s forgive people in advance for their perceived perfection, see past it and love each other anyway.” You’re just the best, Joy!
Pedantic Foodie
I love your words, Joy. Thank you for bringing so much honesty to the Internet.
Hannah @ Sprints & Scones
I love this! Thanks for sharing :)
My husband and I unplugged from our phones and turned them completely off the week after our wedding and it was amazing!
Barley Babes
great post!
Zakaz
I heard that some people provide a special courses about “How to take a photo of a dish”
Mike
“I’m sorry I make everything look perfect on Instagram.” with this sentence you made my day.
Thank you! :D
Cristina
Thanks for the tips! I think the best to nail it in IG is to practise and find your own style.
http://memoriesofthepacific.blogspot.com.es/
jaymymy
These are wonderful tips! I find Instagram to be both a blessing and a curse: When I’m doing something exciting or new or beautiful, or I feel beautiful or refreshed, I instantly need to Instagram it! But at the same time, flipping through my friends’ pictures on a slower day makes me feel like I’m missing out.
This quotation I’ve heard recently is something I try to remember: “Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes with someone else’s highlights reel.”
And yes, be generous with the likes! That cannot be said enough. Like unto others as you would have them like unto you. ;)
Jessica // http://www.jessicarmyers.com
steworastory
I’ve been going through a bit of a hard time recently, so I decided to take a break from social media. It was just too much scrolling through other people’s seemingly perfect lives, which when contrasted with my own, made me feel bummed. I so appreciate your wisdom in this post, and I totally agree about being generous with our likes! (when I do eventually return to instagram!)
The Desserted Girl
I just got on to Instagram and this really helps! Thanks, Joy :)
Shannon Wingard
Great post! I’m going to try VSCO Cam