An aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed is everyone’s goal these days. We see influencer after influencer while we scroll through our new feeds, and when we click through their profiles, we see a beautifully curated collection of photos that are all different, yet somehow fit together perfectly. What is their secret?
The main thing each of these accounts have in common is consistency. They post about similar things or take photos of similar subjects, then edit the photos with the same filters or presets, and make sure their feed is balanced. They meticulously plan which photos they are going to post, and when they are going to post them, in order to make sure each photo fits into the puzzle they are putting together.
This may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! We’ve broken it down into just a few simple steps for you. If you follow these steps, you will have an Instagram feed that all of your friends will be jealous of in no time at all.
1. Choose a Theme
Every good Instagram feed has a theme. The theme you choose may depend on what types of photos you will be posting, your own personality and preferences, as well as the kind of image you want to put forward.
Do you want to curate a feed that resembles that of a sun-kissed California girl, a moody artist, an urban minimalist, or some combination of multiple ideas? Be creative and come up with something that fits your personality, your style, and the photos you take!
The theme you pick for your Instagram feed will become your “visual personality” and is something you are going to be applying to countless posts, so make sure it is something you are happy with. Pick something you love and run with it!
2. Decide What You Want to Post About
Once you have decided on a theme, you have to pick your subject matter! Consistency in your feed is not just about making sure the colours are right, a big part of it is also keeping the focus of your photos the same or similar. Whether this is beauty, fashion, travel, or anything else, it is important that you post about similar things on your account. This will tell potential followers what you are all about and also keep your feed looking chic! If your posts are all over the place it will be very difficult to fit your photos together and create a feed that is truly cohesive and aesthetically pleasing.
3. Choose the Preset You Want to Use
The simplest way to make sure that each and every one of the photos on your feed looks the same and fits together is to choose preset you love and stick to it! There are countless presets available online nowadays so it has never been easier to access this invaluable tool. A simple Google search will turn up plenty of options, some free, some paid, but overall, presets are not expensive and they are definitely worth the investment! No matter what look you are going for, there is guaranteed to be a pack of presets that fits your feed. Download a couple and try them out on your photos to see which one is going to work best for you and become your feed’s characteristic look.
Presets are also a great option because they are so easy to use! Though you may need to make a few small adjustments after applying it (they will look slightly different on each photo, so slight adjustments may be necessary to get the right effect), for the most part, presets are a one-click fix! If you have never used presets, check out this guide on how to install Lightroom presets and that should help get you started!
Below are a few examples of great feeds that use the same preset to get a cohesive look!
4. Determine the Order of Your Posts
When posting your photos, you will want to make sure you aren’t posting about the exact same thing or photos that look too similar all in a row. If you have two or three photos with people or that have similar colouring, break them up by placing 2-3 photos between them. This will keep your feed balanced!
If you post photos that are too similar all in a row, your feed will start to look heavy in those areas, and rather than flowing smoothly as a whole, it will feel as though it is chunky and broken up into clumps. When you break up these photos, you also create contrast between photos. Overall, your feel will be much more balanced and it will flow smoothly as followers scroll through.
Another thing to keep in mind when planning the order of your photos is the colouring of your photos! If you have a couple of photos that are predominantly white, and a handful of others that are brightly coloured, make sure you mix them together and post them in a way that feels balanced. You don’t want to post a strip of all white photos, followed by a strip of bright colourful ones, and then switch back to a few more in white, because this will not create a cohesive feed! Using the same preset on each photo will make this easier, as well. The preset will apply similar hues to each photo automatically and make it even easier to colour-coordinate the photos in your feed.
Before posting your photos, make sure you line them up in the grid format they will appear in on Instagram so you can see how they will all look together and you can rearrange them as necessary! There are numerous apps available that will help you do this, or you can simply create a table that you paste your photos into in order to preview what they might look like on your feed!
Creating an aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed can seem like a daunting task, but it really isn’t that difficult! The key is to have a general idea of what you want your feed to look like, and stick to it. Plus, with the popularity of Lightroom presets, this is as easy as choosing a preset and using it on every photo. Having a cohesive feed is easy when someone else did all the editing for you! Now get creative and start curating your feed and you will have it looking flawless in no time at all!
