Social Media
The 10 Commandments For Becoming An Insta-Star on Instagram
We live in the age of social media, and the world is a smaller place because of it. We are competing with the entire planet and Instagram is one of the best and most popular platforms to do just that. You could be living in total shabbiness, with a sink overflowing with dishes but with less than just one square meter of clean workspace to put your perfectly made dal and roti on, you can present a dreamy, lavish life to the entire world.
Why Perfect Pictures Make You ‘Double Tap’
With over 300 million monthly users, Instagram is one of the most popular apps. As foodies and food connoisseurs, it’s an indispensible source of inspiration for flavour combinations and photograph composition.
It’s also enormously social. Many would assume that it’s just a place to find beautiful and visually satisfying photos or video clips, but it’s so much more than that. Instagram has become a community for food lovers: the users use it to communicate, offering advice and feedback. And there seems to be far less trolling than on other social networking platforms.
But a successful Instagram account requires more than just a ‘shoot-and-post’ outlook. Here are some handy tricks by some of the best food accounts on Instagram that’ll make your pictures go from frumpy to fab in no time!
@missfoodwise
“Be yourself: don’t copy trends; just have fun with it. I don’t use tactics for getting followers. I don’t carefully contemplate what to post; everything you see comes from me.”
@adelasterfoodtextures
“If you are going to do it, then go all out with the time you have available and do your very best with that time. Test yourself. Try and make it better every time. Learn, do research, create and only post the things you love.”
@topwithcinnamon
“Edit the photo outside of Instagram before uploading it to the app. I prefer the selection of filters on other apps – I use VSCO for filters then edit the contrast/exposure in Snapseed. Then I upload to Instagram.”
@allthingsmeaty
“The foodie section on Instagram has a strong community feel. Try to remain positive and supportive of other brands/users. And always remember that Instagram uses a square aspect. You don’t want to take a great shot and then lose the edges when it gets cropped.”
@shivesh17
“Presentation is important. Since the followers can obviously not judge the taste of the food, the entire focus is visual. So one should experiment with props and the styling of the food, before photographing it.”
@mydarlinglemonthyme
“Post images because you love them, not because you think they will get loads of likes. Take the time to interact with your followers and answer the questions they may ask. Instagram is a much more personal form of social media than others, and I think it’s that interaction that people really love. Be genuine.”
@theboywhobakes
“Whilst lighting is important, never use the flash. The ones on phones and cameras make food look washed out and awful. And if you are in a restaurant, it is just rude.
“Use the grid on the camera in Instagram when composing shots; it’s a really helpful tool. Also, Instagram is a really great community so get involved: post pictures, comment and follow lots of different accounts.”
@clerkenwellboyec1
“Post photos when people are in the mood for that type of food; eggs at breakfast, cake in the afternoon, cocktails in the evening. Adding some personal tips, insights or your personal thoughts are always helpful, too.”
@symmetrybreakfast
My style is reliable: it’s a daily update as you head off about your morning routine. The surprise is in having a fresh idea every day, but being presented in a format that is similar and reassuring.
@kloelladeville
“Always shoot in natural light and be mindful of background.”
With over 40 million insta images being tagged to #instafood, we can say with utmost pride that foodies are slowly taking over this social networking platform.