The Instagram aesthetic hype is real! The moment I see an instagram with a curated feed and a cohesive edit I immediately am intrigued and engaged with the content. It took me a few trail and errors to get down an edit I like. I still bounce back and forth between light and bright edit to a deep and moody one. None the less I always go back to my tried and true edit.
Step 1: I take all of my photos on my iPhone 12 max. I find that the iPhone truly takes as great of photo as a professional camera- plus its way more convenient. I typically shoot with a friend or ask Patrick to take my photos. If all else fails I will bring my tripod and click with me (as seen in photo above).
- A few tips: always wipe the lens, don’t shoot directly at the sun, try different angles and poses to see which suits you best, take 100+ photos if needed (seriously one is bound to be good), and lastly have fun with it! Try to move around and be comfortable (it comes off much more natural in the final shot).
Step 2: I adjust brightness, contrast, and exposure. Each photo is unique and will require different settings. I do play around with said above features until I find the best brightness for my photo.
Step 2: I am not afraid to admit that I will face tune certain images that need it. I don’t go over the top but I will edit out a blemish, erase a piece of trash on the floor, smooth out a skirt I’m in etc. to make sure the photo looks aesthetically pleasing. It is after all part of my job to produce good quality photos.
Step 3: I use VSCO to place a filter on my photos. I jump back and forth between A4 (warmer) and J5 (cooler). I typically bring the strength down to a +4 to +7 depending on the photo.
Step 4: Lastly, to make sure it will flow nicely with my feed, I add my photo to the UNUM app. UNUM is a planning app that allows you to see what a future photo you plan to post will look like on your current feed. This allows me to plan my content out for the week and to make sure my feed flows well. This step is not necessarily part of my photo “editing” but it is important to mention for those who also appreciate a well curated and aesthetic feed!