Instagram is a constantly evolving tool, and one that has changed drastically over the past year. Now, more than ever, it's important to follow some simple rules when posting to the social networking platform that can help you engage with not only your fans, but potential clients. Tag Businesses and Locations This might sound obvious, but oftentimes, it's overlooked. Mention your clients or potential clients by tagging their Instagram accounts in images that feature them or their products. On my recent trip to North Carolina, I stopped at … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Creating Brand Engagement Through Instagram
Getting Creative With Instagram’s Multiple Photos Feature
Recently Instagram added the “multiple photos” feature, where an image post can include up to 10 images and/or videos which you can swipe through. Although sharing an album of shots from a trip or shoot is the most obvious choice, I am always on the lookout for new ways to share my work and the stories behind it. Below are some creative ways to use multiple photos in my Instagram posts, as well as a short primer on how to use this new feature. Ideas for Things You Can Do with Multiple Photos Action Sequence (See it on Instagram. Best … [Read more...] about Getting Creative With Instagram’s Multiple Photos Feature
Lightroom Mobile Update: RAW HDR’s for iPhone and Android
Lightroom Mobile is far and away my most used app on my phone and iPad, and Adobe have just suped it up even more. The latest version of the app adds power to the integrated camera by unlocking the ability to shoot RAW HDR from within the app. That means you'll have greater control over the colors and tones of the pictures captured on your mobile device. And yes, this is for both iOS on Apple phones and for Android (affected models are listed below). The thing that blows my mind is that this app continues to be included with your Creative … [Read more...] about Lightroom Mobile Update: RAW HDR’s for iPhone and Android
IFTTT for Photographers – Part 3: Managing Your Social Media
Are you new to IFTTT? Then check out this article For my two photography businesses, I have about 9 billion different social media services, profiles, portfolio sites, and websites. Well, maybe 9 billion is a slight exaggeration. But, just keeping up with your online presence can turn into a full-time job. I would rather be spending time with my family and going out to take a photo or two, than basking in the glow of my computer screen. Whether you are new to IFTTT.com (IF This, Then That), or have been using it for a while, these applets … [Read more...] about IFTTT for Photographers – Part 3: Managing Your Social Media
Use Lightroom to post images to Instagram
The LR/Instagram plug-in is a great addition to your Lightroom Publishing Services.When you post an image from Lightroom to Instagram, the plug-in keeps the images in sync. If you modify the image, change the caption or decide you want to remove it from the catalog, the plug-in will send those changes to Instagram. Pretty cool! Here’s how to install it. Installing the Lightroom to Instagram Plug-in Step 1: Download LRInstagram plugin: http://www.lrinstagram.com/index.html. If you haven’t organized your Lightroom’s plug-in folder, now maybe a … [Read more...] about Use Lightroom to post images to Instagram
Instagram Grids– Hot or Not?
Grids. Banners. Cubes. Whatever you call them. More and more companies and individuals have been jumping onto this trend since the Summer of 2015. The owners of these instagram accounts segment one photo into typically 3, 6, 9, 12+, square blocks and post them in a progressive order, typically by using some apps that make it pretty simple-- like Giant Square or Banner Pic. The result is a pretty interesting Instagram profile that can break down the feed into sections or just displays the photo in a unique way. Instagram has been changing a … [Read more...] about Instagram Grids– Hot or Not?
Look at this Instagram [Humor]
![Look at this Instagram [Humor]](https://i1.wp.com/photofocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/instagramhumor.jpg?resize=384%2C216&ssl=1)
While many of you have figured out how to use Instagram effectively, not everyone is quite as sharp. Enjoy a little humor in the middle of your day. The pictures you want to remember. A song you want to forget. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn-dD-QKYN4 … [Read more...] about Look at this Instagram [Humor]
What’s New with Instagram
With over 400 million users, Instagram is one of the top social networks for images and short-form videos. Since it’s beginning, Instagram has always shown new posts chronologically. But Instagram is looking to change that and they’re currently testing a new algorithm that will filter your news feed to see only the best images when you launch the app. The content creators, brand, and celebrities using Instagram are verbally opposed to this change that would let Instagram choose what posts its users see and don’t see. Really though, this isn’t … [Read more...] about What’s New with Instagram
Instagram Launches Multiple Account Management
Anyone who uses Instagram as a social media outlet for sharing personal images, as well as maintaining and building an audience for their business, knows that switching accounts can be a royal pain. The idea of swapping all the time was annoying enough for me to never create a second account and for a while, I used my personal account for everything. I don't mind my followers having a peek into my private life, but after a while I felt my personal life was overwhelming the select images I chose to share from my business. I was so close to … [Read more...] about Instagram Launches Multiple Account Management
15 Seconds of Fame: Preview Videos for Instagram
Videos slideshows are a powerful way to show pictures, and I think Instagram offers a unique opportunity. The thing is, my clients love to watch a slideshow of themselves, but few other people are willing to watch a long slideshow these days. Instagram has a 15 seconds limit on slideshows, though, and that's just about perfect--I don't know about you, but I watch almost every video that comes through my feed 'cause it's only 15 seconds. https://vimeo.com/128199972 So, let's use Instagram to make a short impactful slideshow that acts as a … [Read more...] about 15 Seconds of Fame: Preview Videos for Instagram
Coming up with a Great Idea for a Photo
Coming up with a great idea is challenging for me. I only know one person who can come up with a great idea on the spot, and that's Photofocus editor Rich Harrington. Recently, our studio was selected to design a Dream Shoot for LensRentals.com. We could do anything we wanted, a wide-open project, and LensRentals.com would provide all the gear we needed. One of the hardest things for me to do is come up with a good idea. I have ok ideas all the time, but most never amass to anything. Here are a few ways that I come up with a good idea. … [Read more...] about Coming up with a Great Idea for a Photo
How to Post Instagram Photos Directly to Twitter
Back in the day, Instagram photos used to show up in our Twitter feed. That changed several months after Instagram was bought by Facebook in April of 2012, and . Instead, if a photo is shared through Twitter, it is linked to the photo on Instagram instead of being embedded into your tweet. Instagram is the number one way that I (and millions of other people) share mobile photos. For those of us with linked Twitter accounts, the bottom line is that more people are less likely to see the photo if they have to click a link to view it. But alas! … [Read more...] about How to Post Instagram Photos Directly to Twitter
Lr Mobile: Perfect Instagram Solution
Instagram is all about pictures, so it's kinda funny that I've only just started using it. Nonetheless, I've fallen in love with it. I love that I can post to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter all at once, and if i've tagged someone it automatically seeks out their Twitter handle, too. I hate that I can't post images using my computer. The Perfect Solution I prefer to share finished images, photographs that've been through Lightroom for a little polish, and I rarely like what my iPhone shoots because I prefer to use telephoto lenses. My GH4 … [Read more...] about Lr Mobile: Perfect Instagram Solution
What’s Changed in the Instagram App
Instagram just dropped a new update to their mobile app. Instagram for iOS version 6.2 is available in Apples App Store, and Instagram for Android version 6.1 is available on Google Play. New Features The goal of the new release is to give the user more control over posts and make it easier to find content. Caption-editing After posting an image you can now go back and change it. This means you can fix any typos or add that witty caption after the fact. You'll find a new "Edit" option in the menu beneath each of your images. Tap it to modify a … [Read more...] about What’s Changed in the Instagram App
Posting to Instagram: “Mobile Only”? Or “Anything Goes”?
If you're like me (and 200-million other people on this planet) you probably have an Instagram account. Instagram has redefined instant photo-sharing, making our mobile phones vessels to show the world what we eat, where we travel, and what our pets are doing. For me, I use it to share my life. Outings with friends, which are typically photography-related, end up as "behind the scenes" shares on my Instagram account, and meals at restaurants turn into mini-photo-shoots, assuming that the light near our table is decent enough for a … [Read more...] about Posting to Instagram: “Mobile Only”? Or “Anything Goes”?
Mike Corrado & Gerard Murphy | Photofocus Podcast 4/15/14
This week's podcast takes a look at two very different topics in the photo industry. Our first guest Mike Corrado discusses his concert photography and passion projects. Then we catch up with Photofocus contributor and industry expert Gerard Murphy about photo sharing services like SnapChat and the new Lightroom Mobile. Get the show here or get it on iTunes Don't forget to post a review on iTunes. Mike Corrado Mike Corrado is a photographer and visual artist with over 35 years experience. He also works with Nikon as the Manager of Nikon … [Read more...] about Mike Corrado & Gerard Murphy | Photofocus Podcast 4/15/14
Why Instagram Is About More Than Photo Sharing
Guest Post by Tamara Lackey - Follow Tamara on Twitter I have been using Instagram for about nine months now, so I feel like I can finally deliver an opinion on this wildly popular app. Initially, I thought the concept was to take a photograph every day with your iPhone, run a simple little filter over it, and post it while checking out others' images. Over time, though, I started realizing that it could be about much more than that. It could be about showing a slice of your life and getting a very visual feel for how others are living, too. … [Read more...] about Why Instagram Is About More Than Photo Sharing
