4 Rules to Capturing the Perfect Instagram Photo
We all know that Instagram reformats our images after we post them. They get edited into a square frame (ugh!). Trust us, we know this can seem frustrating. We can help! We’ve put together a couple of tips in order to help you take the best possible photos for Instagram right from the start.
Before we go over advice for creating the perfect composition, lets quickly talk about taking the photo itself. The automatic camera app on your iPhone, as well as any extra camera app you may download, has the ability to directly take a square photo. If you know that you’re going to be posting this picture on Instagram, this is the way to go. When you take the photo in a square mode originally, it keeps you from having to crop it later. Cropping the photo later may result in a lower-quality photo on top of also having to change the original composition you worked so hard to create.
Now let’s talk about capturing the perfect square photo with a composition guaranteed to catch any viewers eye scrolling by.
1. Place Subject in Center. You may have heard in the past that you shouldn’t place your main subject in the direct center. Normally we might agree with this, unless it’s a headshot, particularly a business headshot, but when it comes to square photos, forget it! With square photos, if the main subject is strong and can tell its own story, then it can draw enough attention to be placed in the center of the photo.
2. Fill Entire Frame. Think about taking up the entire frame. Remember, these photos are probably going to be looked at on a small iPhone screen. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean completely getting rid of blank space. Some blank space is necessary in order to both keep balance and to be aesthetically pleasing.
3. Center Your Grids. We’ve talked before about how iPhones have the ability to show grids across the images you are taking. You can use these grids to either follow the rule of thirds as we’ve discussed before, or you can also use to do create another pleasing look. If you’re doing a larger landscape or a photo with smaller subjects, center those small subjects within the grid squares.
4. Make Your Own Rules. We like to remind people that while photography has plenty of “rules” or guidelines, to follow in order to help create an aesthetically pleasing composition, photography is still art. We like to remind people, make your own rules! Photography is about so much more than simply “taking the perfect photo”. Use your design, your eye, and your vision to take shots nobody else would take.
Need more ideas check out our post 5 ways to take better photos with your cell phone.
Jen Barker Worley Photography
555 Grant Street, Suite 337 Offices at the William Penn Pittsburgh, PA 15219
https://jenworley.com
412-370-4520
Sarah is a civil litigator in Dinsmore and Shohl LLP’s Pittsburgh Office. Her practice focuses on commercial, banking, and consumer finance litigation. Sarah is currently on 6-month secondment with a Pittsburgh-based national bank where she has the unique opportunity to learn the client perspective and gain further experience in banking-related litigation and enforcement.When Sarah is not at work, she enjoys traveling with her husband, playing with their rambunctious Boston Terrier, Leo, and exploring new restaurants and activities in her hometown of Pittsburgh. #pittsburghattorney
Sep 18
Sarah is a civil litigator in Dinsmore and Shohl LLP’s Pittsburgh Office. Her practice focuses on commercial, banking, and consumer finance litigation. Sarah is currently on 6-month secondment with a Pittsburgh-based national bank where she has the unique opportunity to learn the client perspective and gain further experience in banking-related litigation and enforcement. When Sarah is not at work, she enjoys traveling with her husband, playing with their rambunctious Boston Terrier, Leo, and exploring new restaurants and activities in her hometown of Pittsburgh. #pittsburghattorney
Pittsburgh native, Grace Fowler, recently graduated with a Master of Public Administration from the @pittofficial Univiersity of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs, along with a certificate in Gender Studies. As a student, she served as the Volunteerism & Corporate Giving Intern at Duquesne Light Company for nearly two years where she managed employee volunteerism and charitable grant programs. She has over six years of experience in corporate and foundation grantmaking.Grace began her career path in the Youth Philanthropy Internship Program at the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County and has worked at the United Way, Dress for Success Pittsburgh, and Catholic Charities. She is currently an Assistant Manager/Store Lead at @athleta - a certified B Corp that prioritizes people and planet. Grace is excited about opportunities to use her experience and help nonprofits thrive in the city she loves.
Aug 16
Pittsburgh native, Grace Fowler, recently graduated with a Master of Public Administration from the @pittofficial Univiersity of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs, along with a certificate in Gender Studies. As a student, she served as the Volunteerism & Corporate Giving Intern at Duquesne Light Company for nearly two years where she managed employee volunteerism and charitable grant programs. She has over six years of experience in corporate and foundation grantmaking. Grace began her career path in the Youth Philanthropy Internship Program at the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County and has worked at the United Way, Dress for Success Pittsburgh, and Catholic Charities. She is currently an Assistant Manager/Store Lead at @athleta - a certified B Corp that prioritizes people and planet. Grace is excited about opportunities to use her experience and help nonprofits thrive in the city she loves.
We all have certain friends we’d do anything for. Unasked. Even if it’s a “job” that normally no one could pay us enough to do.I‘ve told everyone for years how I hate weddings (nothing against marriage), and that’s why that’s not my branch of photography.But I loved every minute of it on Saturday, despite 100+ degree heat in Daytona. doing my best to capture their day, and being a close part of it as the friend-photographer.Thanks guys (even though neither of you are on the socials) for having fun with me.But to everyone else…. It’s still a no. 😂Music is “Caliente Flow” by White_Records. pixabay.com
Aug 14
We all have certain friends we’d do anything for. Unasked. Even if it’s a “job” that normally no one could pay us enough to do. I‘ve told everyone for years how I hate weddings (nothing against marriage), and that’s why that’s not my branch of photography. But I loved every minute of it on Saturday, despite 100+ degree heat in Daytona. doing my best to capture their day, and being a close part of it as the friend-photographer. Thanks guys (even though neither of you are on the socials) for having fun with me. But to everyone else…. It’s still a no. 😂 Music is “Caliente Flow” by White_Records. pixabay.com
As the Talent Acquisition Manager for Sisterson & Co. LLP, Courtney Baum, MA enjoys building meaningful relationships, while recruiting quality professionals to join the talented team at Sisterson.In addition to her current role, Courtney held previous leadership positions at Baker Tilly, Saint Vincent College, and Carnegie Mellon University. For over 20 years, Courtney has enjoyed encouraging others to share their story and find their passion. She has served in additional roles as an adjunct faculty and as a dedicated member of her community through several executive boards focused on wellness, education, and career and professional development. Courtney holds a MA from Indiana University of PA and a BS from the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. #pittsburghaccounting #recruiting
Aug 9
As the Talent Acquisition Manager for Sisterson & Co. LLP, Courtney Baum, MA enjoys building meaningful relationships, while recruiting quality professionals to join the talented team at Sisterson. In addition to her current role, Courtney held previous leadership positions at Baker Tilly, Saint Vincent College, and Carnegie Mellon University. For over 20 years, Courtney has enjoyed encouraging others to share their story and find their passion. She has served in additional roles as an adjunct faculty and as a dedicated member of her community through several executive boards focused on wellness, education, and career and professional development. Courtney holds a MA from Indiana University of PA and a BS from the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. #pittsburghaccounting #recruiting
My friend Jay Glunt is running a personal project on social media, which he calls "Meeting a Stranger." Follow him @jay_glunt_365. The stories he collects from complete strangers are inspiring, and his approach is creative. Definitely check it out.
Aug 2
My friend Jay Glunt is running a personal project on social media, which he calls "Meeting a Stranger." Follow him @jay_glunt_365. The stories he collects from complete strangers are inspiring, and his approach is creative. Definitely check it out.
Teagan Osborne, CPA was just promoted to Manager at Schneider Downs, after joining the company in June 2023. Graduated from Geneva College in 2019 with a B.S. in Business Administration and a Minor in Finance; graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Aug 1
Teagan Osborne, CPA was just promoted to Manager at Schneider Downs, after joining the company in June 2023. Graduated from Geneva College in 2019 with a B.S. in Business Administration and a Minor in Finance; graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Alexis Pollins was a Pittsburgh native of the South Hills (South Fayette Alumni). She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and an Event Planning Minor in 2018, where she fell in love with the hospitality industry. There she planned events for the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce.Alexis also assisted in the opening of Topgolf Pittsburgh with their Event Sales Department and is currently the Executive Meetings Manager at VisitPITTSBURGH on the Business Events Team. In her free time, she is an avid runner (she ran her first full marathon in Pittsburgh in May 2023). She has also been a dance teacher at Center Stage since 2018 and loves spending time with her family the most, especially her twin sister, Taylor.
Jul 26
Alexis Pollins was a Pittsburgh native of the South Hills (South Fayette Alumni). She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and an Event Planning Minor in 2018, where she fell in love with the hospitality industry. There she planned events for the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce. Alexis also assisted in the opening of Topgolf Pittsburgh with their Event Sales Department and is currently the Executive Meetings Manager at VisitPITTSBURGH on the Business Events Team. In her free time, she is an avid runner (she ran her first full marathon in Pittsburgh in May 2023). She has also been a dance teacher at Center Stage since 2018 and loves spending time with her family the most, especially her twin sister, Taylor.
Casey Kennedy is an attorney and a Section Specialist in Buchanan’s Financial Institutions, Bankruptcy, and Real Estate section. Prior to joining [Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney] last year, Casey represented clients in South Carolina and West Virginia in an array of real estate and oil and gas transactions and operated a title abstracting and land services company. Casey received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Nutritional Science from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia in 2010. She received her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 2017, where she graduated cum laude with a concentration in Energy and Environmental Law. Before law school, Casey spent four years in the energy industry performing title research and analysis and assisting with mergers and acquisitions, leasing, and title curative matters for E&P and Midstream companies throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.#pittsburghattorney
Jul 13
Casey Kennedy is an attorney and a Section Specialist in Buchanan’s Financial Institutions, Bankruptcy, and Real Estate section. Prior to joining [Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney] last year, Casey represented clients in South Carolina and West Virginia in an array of real estate and oil and gas transactions and operated a title abstracting and land services company. Casey received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Nutritional Science from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia in 2010. She received her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 2017, where she graduated cum laude with a concentration in Energy and Environmental Law. Before law school, Casey spent four years in the energy industry performing title research and analysis and assisting with mergers and acquisitions, leasing, and title curative matters for E&P and Midstream companies throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.#pittsburghattorney
Shawn Graham recently founded Rise Structural Group, a structural engineering firm offering innovative and cost-effective structural engineering solutions for buildings of any size. He is a Penn State Architectural Engineering Alum and has over 20 years of expertise in structural engineering and project management. Discover more at www.RiseStructuralGroup.com. #pittsburghengineers
Jul 10
Shawn Graham recently founded Rise Structural Group, a structural engineering firm offering innovative and cost-effective structural engineering solutions for buildings of any size. He is a Penn State Architectural Engineering Alum and has over 20 years of expertise in structural engineering and project management. Discover more at www.RiseStructuralGroup.com. #pittsburghengineers
Alexis Satterfield has been promoted to tax manager at Sisterson & Co. LLP. She has been with the company since graduating from Saint Vincent College in 2016. She provides tax services to various industries, specifically specializing in high net worth individuals and trusts. #pittsburghtaxprofessional
Jul 10
Alexis Satterfield has been promoted to tax manager at Sisterson & Co. LLP. She has been with the company since graduating from Saint Vincent College in 2016. She provides tax services to various industries, specifically specializing in high net worth individuals and trusts. #pittsburghtaxprofessional
Family photo! Of course I brought a strobe and modifier on vacation. When your VRBO has a view like that, you need to use it. But I’m not a “make everyone where the same clothes” for it. Just real.Oh, and I caught my brother up on the new AI Generative Fill in Photoshop… he and my nephew had fun with it in the second photo. (We are not a cat family. 😆)And then just fun at Biltmore.
Jul 6
Family photo! Of course I brought a strobe and modifier on vacation. When your VRBO has a view like that, you need to use it. But I’m not a “make everyone where the same clothes” for it. Just real. Oh, and I caught my brother up on the new AI Generative Fill in Photoshop… he and my nephew had fun with it in the second photo. (We are not a cat family. 😆) And then just fun at Biltmore.
Stephanie Zur has been promoted to tax manager at Sisterson & Co. LLP. She has been with the company since she graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 2013. She provides tax preparation and consulting services to a variety of industries including start-ups and technology companies. Her areas of expertise include closely-held, multi-state businesses, U.S. based multinationals and individuals. #pittsburghtaxes
Jun 21
Stephanie Zur has been promoted to tax manager at Sisterson & Co. LLP. She has been with the company since she graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 2013. She provides tax preparation and consulting services to a variety of industries including start-ups and technology companies. Her areas of expertise include closely-held, multi-state businesses, U.S. based multinationals and individuals. #pittsburghtaxes
I love doing team shots on locations. Especially in unique locations.I wanted to capture the uniqueness of their office location, on the Monongahela. But the best location was on the barge mooring across a narrow grated catwalk. We had to keep it simple with our lighting, doing our best to over-power the bright sun as much as possible, using just one light source because it was windy! (No equipment was damaged, which is much better than the last time I shot on the river.)Assistant: @dan_jenworleyphotography#pittsburgh team photos
Jun 8
I love doing team shots on locations. Especially in unique locations. I wanted to capture the uniqueness of their office location, on the Monongahela. But the best location was on the barge mooring across a narrow grated catwalk. We had to keep it simple with our lighting, doing our best to over-power the bright sun as much as possible, using just one light source because it was windy! (No equipment was damaged, which is much better than the last time I shot on the river.) Assistant: @dan_jenworleyphotography #pittsburgh team photos
Nandita Mahesh is a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh with a major in Marketing, a minor in Theatre Arts and is now working at Colliers as a Marketing Coordinator. In her free time, she employs herself as a freelance musician, actress, and script supervisor, producing music both recreationally and professionally and playing in gigs, performing in professional theatre productions, and working on films.
Jun 7
Nandita Mahesh is a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh with a major in Marketing, a minor in Theatre Arts and is now working at Colliers as a Marketing Coordinator. In her free time, she employs herself as a freelance musician, actress, and script supervisor, producing music both recreationally and professionally and playing in gigs, performing in professional theatre productions, and working on films.
Portrait to half-length to headshot. Great outfit Sabrina, and love those shoes!!! #pittsburghphotographer
May 26
Portrait to half-length to headshot. Great outfit Sabrina, and love those shoes!!! #pittsburghphotographer
Rochelle Qin joined Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP's Pittsburgh office as a summer associate in 2023. Juris Doctor Candidate at William & Mary Law School. She is interested in corporate and transactional law. #pittsburghattorney #pittsburghphotographer @rochelle.qin
May 23
Rochelle Qin joined Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP's Pittsburgh office as a summer associate in 2023. Juris Doctor Candidate at William & Mary Law School. She is interested in corporate and transactional law. #pittsburghattorney #pittsburghphotographer @rochelle.qin
Tara Hopper Rice joined the business litigation group Frost Brown Todd after being a shareholder at a regional law firm. She specializes in energy and real estate litigation and transactions, as well as bankruptcy workouts and family law disputes. Licensed in PA, WV and WY. #pittsburghattorney #pittsburghphotographer
May 19
Tara Hopper Rice joined the business litigation group Frost Brown Todd after being a shareholder at a regional law firm. She specializes in energy and real estate litigation and transactions, as well as bankruptcy workouts and family law disputes. Licensed in PA, WV and WY. #pittsburghattorney #pittsburghphotographer
Ever use a confetti canon before? Well, we quickly discovered they are a little risky to shoot off in a small studio, when you have sprinkler heads above you. And yikes, are they loud!So we changed the idea- let’s shoot everyone individually. And instead of everyone shooting the canon, have people throw the confetti (which came out of our first canon) instead. Or pretend someone’s shooting it, and another person throws it off camera toward them.So here’s the composited photo, with the individual shots. #pittsburghphotographer
May 19
Ever use a confetti canon before? Well, we quickly discovered they are a little risky to shoot off in a small studio, when you have sprinkler heads above you. And yikes, are they loud! So we changed the idea- let’s shoot everyone individually. And instead of everyone shooting the canon, have people throw the confetti (which came out of our first canon) instead. Or pretend someone’s shooting it, and another person throws it off camera toward them. So here’s the composited photo, with the individual shots. #pittsburghphotographer
Hard at work for their clients, but loving what they do! #pittsburghteamphotos
May 16
Hard at work for their clients, but loving what they do! #pittsburghteamphotos
I think it’s awesome when teams come to me with ideas of what they’d like to do for their marketing/customer appreciation. I love collaborating and bringing actuality to their creativity.So yeah - Brady Bunch style on this one. More to come.#pittsburghphotographer #pittsburghteamphotography
May 11
I think it’s awesome when teams come to me with ideas of what they’d like to do for their marketing/customer appreciation. I love collaborating and bringing actuality to their creativity. So yeah - Brady Bunch style on this one. More to come. #pittsburghphotographer #pittsburghteamphotography
Zack Bombatch is an employment attorney guiding employers to strategically align their human resources practices with the organizations’ goals. He helps employers navigate the ocean of employment laws for issues such as compensation, anti-discrimination efforts, employment contracts, and medical marijuana use, as well as any disputes that arise from such issues. #pittsburghlawyer #pittsburghphotographer
May 3
Zack Bombatch is an employment attorney guiding employers to strategically align their human resources practices with the organizations’ goals. He helps employers navigate the ocean of employment laws for issues such as compensation, anti-discrimination efforts, employment contracts, and medical marijuana use, as well as any disputes that arise from such issues. #pittsburghlawyer #pittsburghphotographer
Great working with the Giant Eagle team to capture interim CEO Bill Artman’s profile photos, featured today on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.We couldn’t shut down the produce section for the shoot, so some people had to be removed in the background for the final photos.Change of angle: the final 3 photos with the oranges in the front, demonstrate how changing your camera angle can showcase the background differently, and give a different feel to the subject. #pittsburghphotographer
May 2
Great working with the Giant Eagle team to capture interim CEO Bill Artman’s profile photos, featured today on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. We couldn’t shut down the produce section for the shoot, so some people had to be removed in the background for the final photos. Change of angle: the final 3 photos with the oranges in the front, demonstrate how changing your camera angle can showcase the background differently, and give a different feel to the subject. #pittsburghphotographer
Megan Pino is a marketing leader who’s spent the past 16 years focused on healthcare marketing. She’s held various roles in Fortune 500 companies to tech startups, supporting an array of products like robotics, medical devices, and AI software.MUA: @_jodielynnmakeup_
Apr 20
Megan Pino is a marketing leader who’s spent the past 16 years focused on healthcare marketing. She’s held various roles in Fortune 500 companies to tech startups, supporting an array of products like robotics, medical devices, and AI software. MUA: @_jodielynnmakeup_
Katie Jenkins is a highly skilled IT professional helping Aurora pave the path to the future of self-driving vehicles.#pittsburghheadshotphotographer
Apr 13
Katie Jenkins is a highly skilled IT professional helping Aurora pave the path to the future of self-driving vehicles. #pittsburghheadshotphotographer