Instagram Aesthetics: How to Make Your Travel Photos Stand Out

Shots of sunsets overlooking the New York skyline, the serene beauty of the Swiss Alps and perfectly picturesque landscapes of the Bora Bora beaches, are just some of the gems that glorified #wanderlust on Instagram. Many influencers ranging from travel enthusiasts to wildlife photographers have their Insta feeds filled with such mesmerizing pictures of locations all around the world. But for us laypeople (that is, not photographic professionals), it’s easy to get jealous of the glossy perfection that adorns the work of great travel influencers on Instagram.

So, if you want to click #wanderlust worthy photos on your next trip, here are some Pro Tips for Instagram perfect photos:

1. Know Your Device –

Basics first, you should know your device and what it is capable of. Both the iPhone and android devices like OnePlus are very capable and versatile cameras. But to maximize their potential, you need to familiarize yourself with the devices. The native iOS Camera is very quick to access and opens in an instant. It lets you capture short-lived moments in a jiffy. Panorama lets you capture wide vast scenery and landscape. Burst mode allows for photographing action continuously and quickly. Use the HDR mode when capturing a scene where there are both extremely bright and dark areas.

2. The Rule of Thirds is supreme

Credits- Alif Amsyar

The Rule of Thirds is a thumb rule in photography where you divide the frame into a grid of 3×3 and place essential components of the photograph in any of the tiles. This creates for a symmetrically perfect and visually pleasing pattern in photos. When shooting landscapes, try to show depth by including something in the shot that helps to show scale and give a more accurate perspective.

3. Start using third-party apps

Credits- Brian Thio

If you want to take awesome photos consistently, start learning how to edit and post-process your photos. The secret that professional photographers use to make good     photos great, are applications like PS Express and Snapseed. The best part is- they are FREE. Editing apps like these might take some getting used to, but they can add a whole new aura to your photos.

4. Lighting and Symmetry are essential

Credits- Matthew Thiessen

Choosing the perfect time of day to take a shot will help you go a long way in getting the perfect lighting for your photos. Dusk and dawn can provide a great opportunity for creating silhouettes to those who prefer softer lights. In addition to that, you can use Softwares like Lightroom to customize the lighting of your photos according to your taste.

Aligning objects symmetrically or along a diagonal in your frame also makes your photos attractive and catchy to the eye.

5. Play with the elements of nature

The elements of nature can be very helpful in creating Insta perfect photos on your travels. From a sunny summer morning in the Bahamas to a cloudy autumn evening in London to a cold winter night in Moscow, each setting has its own charm when it comes to creating a picturesque shot. Even the reflection of puddles after a rain or storm can add magic to those portraits.

6. Timing is everything

Credits- Kevin Lu

Much like using most cameras, successfully photographing with a smartphone is all about quality of light. Practicing with the shutter speed can be helpful as it is an essential skill in wildlife photography to be able to click the perfect shot in a timeframe of seconds. For the most dramatic scenery and landscape photos, try snapping when the sun is low on the horizon – like early morning or late afternoon. Overcast or cloudy days can make great photos as well.

7. Choose your locations wisely

Whether you are travelling to the lush green prairies, or the snow-covered mountains, or sandy beaches, choosing the perfect location and background for your photos can create magic. On a beach, you can go for a handheld shot with the waves behind you, whereas mountains are perfect for wide angle shots. The green fields in valleys are the background for beautiful close ups. Use the focus and aperture of your camera wisely to play with the depth and sharpness of different clicks.

8. Keep your camera/smartphone lens polished

People often do not realize that our phones are always on top of a table or in a pocket, gathering dust and dirt. Regularly cleaning the lens ensures that your photos are clear and sharp.

Last but not the least…

9. Don’t overdo it!

Using too much visual effects or lighting edits on photos can ruin the raw natural beauty of the original composition. These days, Instagram provides you with many filters that you can instantly apply to your photos to create a variety of moods. However, using too many filters on an image can also backfire. So, use the tools wisely. Just a bit of brightness and saturation go a long way.