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Six Ways To Make Instagram Both Beautiful and Bearable

August 28, 2015 by Joy the Baker 44 Comments

Joy the Baker Instagram Tips

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. 

Joy the Baker Instagram Tips

•  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.

Joy the Baker Instagram Tips

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

Joy the Baker Instagram Tips

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!   

Joy the Baker Instagram Tips

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.  

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  1. Brita

    September 28, 2015 at 7:32 am

    My best way to keep Instagram real is in my caption. I’m still in a season of sorrow, and I’m not afraid to write about my grief in a caption for beautiful flowers or an ice cream sundae. I want my Instagram photos to be beautiful, but I never want my life to appear perfect.

    Reply
  2. Anand

    September 6, 2015 at 10:16 am

    I love Instagram and my entire blog (www.magic-marinade.com) is based off pictures I’ve taken through it. All the things I shoot are shot in natural light on my window sill or bed, no fancy equipment at all. It is the democratisation of photography, making beautiful pictures accessible to anyone with a decent phone, without having to invest in a fancy expensive camera.
    Also, such a lovely post, Joy!

    Reply
  3. jaclyn

    August 31, 2015 at 11:36 am

    I think it’s good practice for all of us to scroll through our OWN feeds every once in a while. You can’t have FOMO if you’re looking at photos of things that you experienced.

    For myself, I like having a record of all the GOOD in my life to use in the times when it feels like there is only BAD happening in my life.

    My husband isn’t on social media and he teases me about my instagram habits but I have definitely caught him on more than one occasion, scrolling my feed and reminiscing about fun things we did together or sights we saw.

    Reply
  4. Kim

    August 31, 2015 at 9:07 am

    Phew, thanks for keeping it real! I needed to hear this!

    Reply
  5. jemofthesouth

    August 30, 2015 at 7:29 pm

    My shero. Love how you keep it way real on your posts. And I love VSCO Cam. It’s a lifesaver for me since I use my iPhone for all of my photography right now.

    Reply
  6. carmzl

    August 30, 2015 at 3:28 pm

    Haha I love this! So accurate; an VSCO cam is everything!

    Reply
  7. gourmetgetaway

    August 29, 2015 at 10:58 pm

    What a great post!
    I think I’m a little more casual on my Instagram than I am on my blog with images… although sometimes I do use a blog pic on Instagram… My Instagram is more a direct look at what I’m doing NOW, what was delicious or where I am eating spending the day, so I don’t tend to fuss as much with photo editing.

    I haven’t managed to understand snapchat, perhaps I should try :0
    Julie
    Gourmet Getaways

    Reply
  8. Gerry @ Foodness Gracious

    August 29, 2015 at 10:21 pm

    Love your IG and I’ve been checking out Candid Appetite’s for some time now too…winner!

    Reply
  9. anna@icyvioletskitchen

    August 29, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    aw joy i love your perfect photos! on instagram and everywhere else.

    Reply
  10. Kaitlyn

    August 29, 2015 at 9:21 am

    Love this post. Good tips and perfect ideas!
    – Kaitlyn | http://www.TheCrownFox.com

    Reply
  11. Laura @ Blogging Over Thyme

    August 28, 2015 at 9:33 pm

    I LOVE this post!!! Thank you for keeping it real (as always). Just wondering, do you have any favorite go-to vsco filters?

    Reply
  12. Kristin | Dine X Design

    August 28, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    Awe! Thanks boo – miss your face!

    Reply
  13. Barbara

    August 28, 2015 at 3:28 pm

    Easiest like ever. Honesty, helpful hints and sticky buns!

    Reply
  14. Gina

    August 28, 2015 at 3:13 pm

    snapchat…never!!! my loyalty lies with instagram.

    Reply
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