Oh Instagram. Since its launch in 2010, Instagram has risen to be one of the most popular social media networks to date. And carrying with it, the dreams of those chasing a professional career in modelling or photography or pretty much anything. Heard of Kayla Itsines? Bet you have. With a cool 11.2 million followers, she’s a fitness instructor turned entrepreneur. She has an app, her own products and the largest female fitness community to back her. And how did she get started? Why, on Instagram, of course.
Yes, can you believe it? Instagram can be a full-time job. Ever heard of an Instagram influencer? People, some lucky, lucky people can travel for free because of Instagram and be paid to promote products! Because they can persuade others to do so. That’s the dream, right?
So, since we’re in the business of helping friends, we thought we’d write a blog on how to get the perfect shot. It’s an art! And no. Not everyone can do it…well. Want to start taking bangin’ pics of your friends? Be a hero? Here’s our top tips on how to get that eleven out of ten Instagram shot. Oh and we know we’re calling it an Insta husband, but girls you can definitely slay that Insta husband game.
You need to bring the camera AND the confidence
Pump your model up! “Yes girl love it!” “Keep doing that!” And if something looks less than perfect, direct them to a position that does (look perfect). But be kind. Modelling is a tough gig. And knowing what to do with all your body parts is hard too. It takes practice, lots of it.
Planning is everything
Ok so if you’re going to do this, let’s make sure you do it properly. Here’s what you need to organise to get the perfect shot before you even think about clicking that shutter.
What’s the mood?
What kind of mood do you want to go for? What emotions do you want to capture? A girl living her best island life on Gili Trawangan? She’d be at the beach, in full sun, with palms in the background. But say you’re trying to capture romance, you’d go for that shimmering Gili sunset lighting instead. Or candles, anyone? Figure out what emotion you want your image to entice. Pinterest is a great place to start for ideas. Put a mood board together and get those inspirational juices flowing! We’ve even gone ahead and started our own Pinterest board for you. We know, we know. We’re the best.
Outfits please
Skin tight? Flowing? One colour? Patterned? One piece or many? There’s a lot to consider. Do you want the wind to pick it up? Do you want to match your background? Or do you want to create a stark contrast for effect? By pre-planning you’re way more likely to get the perfect shot.
Location location location
There are a few ways you can find the ideal location for your shoot:
- Stalk other people’s Instagram’s and suss that geotag. Usually, people will add in the location of where they took their own epic picture.
- Ask locals (our staff are super helpful)! They know the best spots, off the beaten track.
- Read all the blogs! The best Instagram locations are a popular blog topic, take advantage of it!
- Go for a walk, or if you’re here on Gili T, a bike ride, you’ll find that gorgeous destination that much quicker!
Time of day
Sunrise. We know, we know. It can be hard to get up early, especially on an island renowned for partying. But you won’t have anyone stepping into your picture at 6:30 in the morning!
Looking to snap a bright picture? Get out and about at midday. While it is the sweatiest time of day, if you’re getting your ‘gram game on at the beach, the heat won’t matter that much. Just jump in for a swim as soon as you’re done.
And sunset, oh sunset. We love golden hour. Yeah, you might have to line up to use one of the swings, but it is worth it. Nothing screams I’m living my best island life like a sunset swing picture.
What you packin’?
A great Insta husband will have a bag packed and ready with everything you might just need. And backup. So what should you bring? We wrote a little list of the essentials.
- Water: Stay hydrated! Gili Trawangan will have you sweating and you’re going to want to rehydrate.
- Snacks: Avoid looking hangry in pictures and pack snacks for the road!
- Phone: Obviously. But make sure it’s fully charged! Nothing like your phone dying halfway through a shoot. We don’t have time for that.
- Any other type of camera: Maybe that’s a disposable camera, DSLR, GoPro. Bring it all!
- Sunscreen: Important if you’re going out in the heat of the day. But sunburn can happen quicker than you think! And also, let’s treat our skin kindly. It holds us together.
- Wet wipes: You’re sweating. Really sweating. What do you need? Wet wipes. Trust us. Put them in your bag.
All about the edits yo’
Probably the most important step in the process of creating the Instagram shot of your dreams – how you edit your picture. Make sure those horizon lines are straight. Don’t over saturate. And use a FREE editing tool (there’s a lot of good ones out there) for a killer filter finish (we personally love VSCO and Lightroom CC).
Environmental awareness is important
Preach! Gili Trawangan is home to an abundance of wildlife. It’d be hard to visit and NOT see a turtle (seriously cool). We also have those white sandy beaches and tall tall palms. Perfect for Instagram. But wherever you go on this little island paradise, remember to take only pictures, and leave only footsteps.
Just have fun with it
Have fun. Laugh. Take a million pictures. Come past our hostel and take a million more (find out how to get to Broken Compass). Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @brokencompassindo. We’d love to see how you slayed that Insta husband game.