My tips go as follows:
1a. Ignore the filters -
As tempting as they might be, the filters are a trend which will likely pass (has already passed?). Things are popular and then fall out of fashion, just like clothes. Instagram filters did that really quickly. The filters which were SO COOL when they first came out are now dated and our eyes gloss over them. They’ve been overdone (for now). Of course they keep updating with new filters and I’m sure there are lots that are sweet and might fit perfectly with your image. Just use your discretion, if everyone uses the same filter all the time, they will get boring.
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| Dear Mayfair. I love you but we can't be together. Signed, Sylvia. |
1b. Oh wait don’t ignore all the filters -
This of course doesn’t apply to the few black and white filters - Those are functional filters that will turn your images black and white.
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| Moon filter |
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| Inkwell filter |
There are many forms of black and white filters, ones that turn red to black, ones that turn blue to black, etc etc.
You can imagine how different those would look.
Especially with people’s faces. Red lips turn black or white depending on the filter. It can be an interesting thing to see.
Just keep that all in mind when you're using B&W filters!
Just keep that all in mind when you're using B&W filters!
1c. Nevermind. Don’t ignore the filters -
There’s an option for choosing how intense the filter is on your image. Just click on the filter and then click on the filter again and a slider will show up. This was such a cool feature. If you have a filter you love but that’s just too intense for your taste you can bring the levels of the filter down so that’s it’s more normal and less intense!
Have fun play around. Remember photography rules are absolutely for breaking! I have to remind myself that all the time.
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| Rise filter at it's full capacity |
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| Rise at a much subtler and more attractive (to my eyes) level! |
2. Play around with exposure
If you read my last post on photo editing the next two points are going to be the exact same. A higher exposure level is going to give you a brighter, clearer, more optimistic looking image (if that’s what you’re looking for). It’s great for just increasing the natural light aspect of photos you’ve shot outdoors or by the window. It’s going to just bring to life your images.
Instagram’s exposure slider is great. Play around with it! Depending on the images you have you might want to have them all cloud-like and very lightly exposed or maybe you want them moody and you can pull the exposure down as well.
Here's Tarot Card trying to eat my keys with no exposure editing at all.
To get to the exposure slider click on the little wrench icon on the right. It will show you all the non-filter editing tools under that icon. Very clearly marked!
Here's Tarot Card trying to eat my keys with no exposure editing at all.
To get to the exposure slider click on the little wrench icon on the right. It will show you all the non-filter editing tools under that icon. Very clearly marked!
Click on the "Brightness" button to get the slider to pop up. Now slide and play around! Here's the image of Tarot Card brightened up to my liking about about +60.
3. Play with the warmth slider.
The warmth slider is a lovely little invention. Because most images are shot looking kind of dull this slider will warm them all up to closer to what-the-eye-can-see levels of colour. Plus they just look so much livelier!
Most shots only need a little bit of warmth added, this shot with Tarot Card did a 360 with the warmth slider all the way up to 100pts! Even if it feels like it's going to be a lot, try it out! Because of the brown of the leather and the ground and the green of the grass it really looks fantastic warmed up this much.
Play around! Get a feel for it!
Here are the unedited version and the finished product for you to see!
Thanks for reading my tutorial on how to use Instagram to edit your photos!
Most shots only need a little bit of warmth added, this shot with Tarot Card did a 360 with the warmth slider all the way up to 100pts! Even if it feels like it's going to be a lot, try it out! Because of the brown of the leather and the ground and the green of the grass it really looks fantastic warmed up this much.
Play around! Get a feel for it!
Here are the unedited version and the finished product for you to see!
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