Taking Photos and Videos for Instagram: An Artist's Guide for Capturing the Best Visuals

As an artist on Instagram, the photos and videos on your feed hold power — they’re your ideal client’s first impression of you and your work.

Instagram is a visual platform first. Even as the app continues to evolve and update over the years, this is the part that has stayed the same. This visual aspect is one of the reasons Instagram works so well for us as visual artists!

Even with this in mind though, the importance of the quality of our photography and videography is something many artists overlook. It’s not enough to just make good art - you need to be able to showcase that work with visuals that are clear and high-res, because it’s the most crucial element to successfully building a brand and marketing your work.

After years of using Instagram to sell our artwork online, these are a few of our favorite tips that make it easier to take and share our high-quality visuals. Remember: take the time, make the effort — and these tips can help:

1. Use Only Natural Light

Avoid using overhead or any artificial light whenever possible. Position yourself next to a window, or even move your photos outside if necessary. The best days for photography specifically are the bright, but overcast days to get even light and avoid any harsh shadows or glares.

2. Shoot With a Tripod

Professional photographers aren’t the only ones who know how useful a tripod is. Tripods are available at shockingly affordable prices (under $40!) and using one will help your photos look instantly more professional, for both cameras and smart phones.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Free-standing Tripod                    Tabletop Tripod for Phones                       Tripod Adaptor Phones
for DSLR Camera                

BONUS SUGGESTION: For overhead shots and in-progress videos, we love the CANVAS Desk Lamp!

In low-light settings, tripods are especially useful because you can use a slower shutter speed to capture light and details that you wouldn’t be able to secure handheld. Say goodbye to fuzzy gray photos on cloudy days!

A tripod for your phone is great for timelapses, and recording videos for stories, too — free up your hands and create more professional looking content!

3. Batchwork

While your equipment is set-up and you are in the content creation mode (and when the weather is ideal) — take a TON of photos and videos at various angles and perspectives. Build a library of content you can refer back to on days you need to post, but are not in the studio. This works for the visuals in your feed as well as your Stories!

TIP: Don’t be afraid to reuse images and videos! Try not to make your feed look repetitive, but reusing your visuals is a great way to stretch your content between batchworking days!