13/12/2018
Layout:
As you know facebook & Instagram use square blocks when posting. So not to cut out any important information and to have a better idea what your post might look like, it is better to use the square block on the iPhone in order for you to make sure you are not cutting out an important aspect of your image. If you do not have an iPhone there are many apps you can download that will help with this.
Composition:
The Rule of Thirds which is taught at the introductory level in any photography class. In this rule, you can think of taking your camera screen and splitting it up into 3 vertical strips and 3 horizontal strips with lines in between, resulting in a 9 by 9 grid on your screen. When you take a photo, centre your object of attention either on the grid lines OR at the intersection of two grid lines. For outdoor photos, line the horizon up with either the top or bottom horizontal grid lines. The result will be a photo with more interest and movement that easily catches the eye as people are scrolling through their feeds much more than photos that are centred. To turn this function on in your iPhone, go to Settings > Photos & Camera > Grid, and swipe to turn it on. In a Samsung phone, tap the settings cog in the camera app and scroll to the bottom of that menu.
Styling:
Tell the story. Your social media pictures are just as much a story by themselves as the words you use to write your captions. If you post food pics all the time, start including some of the raw ingredients, along with the kitchen tools or utensils you used to make the dish. If you post a picture of an inspiring book you're reading, add in the pen or highlighter you use to make notes in the margins along with your super cool bookmark. If you're posting a picture of your fave tea or bulletproof coffee, include an interesting napkin or tea towel, along with a few of the loose coffee beans or tea leaves.
Editing:
The best part about this is that most smartphones come with editing tools so no need for photoshop. The best advice is to make sure you use the same filter/editing styles for all your images in your news feed to be coherent. Some tips that help are to up the exposure to make my photos look brighter, up the saturation a tad for brighter colours, and adjust the contract slightly. Figure out what you like and try to stick to this formula with all your posts going forward. You will create yourself a very professional looking feed.
Have fun editing!