The third and final part of Crafty Crafty's guide to how to squeeze the most out of Instagram and enhance your crafty photo kung fu. If you missed them read Part 1 and Part 2.
For the last part of this guide I turned to the folks over at Instagram to ask them which tips and hints they wish they'd known when they took their first Instasteps. And, unsurprisingly, they were quick to share the Instalove.
Here are their words of Instawisdom.
I
find I take very different kinds of photos to my Flickr, Twit pics or Facebook photos. Something about a little window to
everyday life. The beauty in every day things etc.
My colleague and I
were out in London for a meeting together and noticed a change in
each other's behaviour since we were both on instagram - we were both
looking more - looking up, in shop windows etc. rather than rushing past
to get to our meeting. Not a tip as such, just a nice side effect of
being an addict!
I
always take photos using my normal camera rather than the in built
camera so I can choose how to crop based on how they come out.
Above: @carlsonator's birds take flight
Get involved with weekly challenges, or start your own! I like the @hipstaroll
one, where they suggest a different Hipstamatic film/lens combo every
week. It's a fun way to experiment and get out of your comfort zone, and
is great to do at the same time as lots of others so you can see what
else is possible, which can be inspiring.
I feel as if I am just leaving the time of Noobie. For me - the biggest "ah ha" moments would be - tagging my photos with single word descriptors and then click on my new hashtag and explore other pics with the same tag. I pay attention to their posts - if it is similar to mine- I look to see what tags they use. This builds my hash tag vocabulary.
If a posting "speaks"
to me, I explore the artist. If I like a picture, I also leave a
comment about their craft or capture - sharing why I clicked "like". This
begins a beautiful, mutually supportive connection that helps me refine
my craft - both online and off line.
I now look up with a new focus - and
I see my world through an artistic lens- and I get excited about
other's posts and about sharing what I have captured.
Above: @swoozie17 makes magical things.
I agree with everyone, I would also suggest following @joshjohnson who is incredibly generous with his tips, suggestions, and all the forums and challenges he sets up. I would also tell anyone new to IG to completely forget about the 'popular page' (or The Boobs and Butts page as we call it).
If
you take pics of certain subjects regularly set up your tags in the Notes app, then copy and paste.
Also if you like to take snapshots then
make sure you have as much memory as possible.
You can also use your hands
free plus button as a remote.
Above: @camdensteve's faithful hound appears in many of his pics and always brings 'teh cute'.
My top tips would be:
1) It's not a popularity contest but just like real life, a good way to 'make friends' is to like and actively comment on people's photos. Search tags of subjects that interest you and you'll quickly find kindred spirits.
2) Post what interests & inspires you, not what you think people
want to see. Your stream reflects who you are & your interests.
3) Don't be afraid to experiment with different styles & edits but
mainly have fun
4) Take part in some of the challenges like @hipstaroll or @joshjohnson's challenges - they're a great way to push yourself to try new things, as well as be part of some of the mini communities in IG
Oh and most of all - have fun.
Above: @knitterbird's love of London makes her city pics magic.
Use the #nofilter hashtag, especially if you want to show how beautiful your craft is without requiring an edit.
Use different apps to help edit your pictures. Diptic is great for
splitscreen and editing multiple images into one. I use it more than
anything else!
Left: A glimpse into the life of @craftyfoxes
Find a style that you love and make it your own. If you want
people to stop and notice your photos, include variety. Take pictures
of things that don't necessarily appeal to you and make them your own.
Don't be afraid to experiment with shots that seem like duds. I've
gotten some great results by cropping in on a small detail or including
lots of sky.
The more clearly you can express a unique style of photography is one of the most important concepts. Step outside of your comfort zone.
Fun and kindness goes a long way! And yes if you get the chance to meet people for real it's the best reward!!!
Above: @iphonehipsta explores Amsterdam with Instagram
So there you have it. My three part guide to getting you into Instagram. I apologise in advance for all the time it is now going to take up in your life.
I also apologise for putting 'Insta' in front of almost every word in this article. It's just so usable!
See you in the Instaworld, folks. @deadlyknitshade (confirmed Instaddict).
