Photo Tips for your Social Media Posts
Photography is a visual form of story telling. In a world where everyone has a camera on them at all times. This means we are documenting every element of our mundane lives with mediocre photographs and putting them out into the world without a second thought!
But if your images don’t stop the scroll, it’s likely they’ll never be seen by your intended audience. The vast number of images we see on a hourly basis means few will have a lasting impact in our memory bank.
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Before I press my shutter I always ask myself three important questions.
- WHO is my audience?
- What am I selling?
- How do I tell a story which captures the attention of the intended audience?
As a general rule, I typically wait at least 24 hours to post my photographs to my social media timeline. I might share a snippet to my story (because this content with disappear). But I prefer to give myself a buffer between creation to sharing in hopes I don’t regret what I post later.
Use Beautiful Light to create your Social Media Posts
It should go without saying, light is what makes a photograph interesting! If you want to become a better photographer you’ll need to get good at identifying beautiful light or learn how to create it on your own.
As the sun moves throughout the day, the characteristics of light change dramatically. Here are some tips to help you identify and utilize beautiful light for your photography:
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Golden Hour Magic
- Golden hour occurs shortly after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low in the sky. The light is warm, soft, and creates long, flattering shadows.
- Tip: Plan your shoots around these times to take advantage of this enchanting light.
Avoid Harsh Midday Sun
- During the middle of the day, the sun is high, creating harsh shadows and bright highlights which wash out details. If you have to shoot during this time, stick to the shade.
- Tip: If you must shoot during this time, look for shaded areas or use reflectors to soften the light on your subject.
Cloudy Days provide Soft Even Lighting
- Overcast skies act like a giant softbox diffusing sunlight, creating soft, even light that eliminates harsh shadows.
- Tip: Take advantage of cloudy days for portraits or close-up shots, as this light is often flattering for skin tones.
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A reliable way to identify the best lighting is by extending your hand in front of your face. Turn your palm towards you as you spin yourself around. Watch the light on the palm of your hand as your turn. Which direction is your palm facing when you observe the best light?
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