How to Edit Photos for Instagram in 7 Simple Steps

Many marketers overlook the importance of a cohesive Instagram aesthetic throughout their brand pages. Instagram serves as a virtual storefront for your business, encouraging customers to explore your content and propositions. Done right, it can increase brand awareness and build a loyal following.

But to achieve a visually pleasing final look, well-edited images are a must. To learn how to edit photos for Instagram, dive into this informative guide. Here you’ll find tried-and-tested tips for everything from formatting to color selection, and beyond.

7 ways to edit photos for Instagram professionally

1. Choose a color aesthetic and style for your visuals

Before you edit pics for Instagram, make sure you have a visual style and color aesthetic you can aim for. A well-thought-out visual approach will minimize the time spent curating and editing photos. Plus, sticking to a single color palette will create a unified look for your Instagram feed.

To give you an idea of how it works, imagine that you have a nature-related project. Earthy shades will suit it, for example, any green or brown range presented on the Depositphotos blog. All because these colors symbolize natural elements, often imitating leaves, wood, sand, or soil.

Brown color

Brown color theory is quite simple. This shade is often associated with the earth and can evoke feelings of warmth and comfort. Colors that go with brown are usually found in nature, such as green, yellow, and orange.

Green color

Green color theory is based on the idea of renewal and growth. It is often seen as a soothing hue, representing balance and harmony. Colors that complement green include blues, browns, purples, and neutrals like white and gray.

2. Take photos with maximum resolution

Investing in high-quality visuals is paramount today. They have the power to improve your brand’s credibility and win customer trust. In fact, people between the ages of 18 and 34 tend to prioritize the quality of pictures when making purchasing decisions.

For this reason, take photos with a professional camera, the latest iPhone, or Samsung Galaxy. They will provide you with the highest resolution possible, ensuring crisp and clear visuals. As an alternative, you can download high-resolution images from stock photo platforms like Depositphotos.

3. Edit photos for Instagram using multiple apps

Now that you’ve defined your visual style and taken high-quality photos, you can move on to the next step: choosing an editing program. However, it’s best to edit pictures using multiple Instagram photo editors. Why? Because each editor offers unique features, tools, and effects that can enhance different aspects of your images.

A few cross-platform photo editing apps you might like include:

• Unfold contains hundreds of ready-made templates and allows you to plan your Instagram feed in advance.
• VSCO has an extensive collection of unique filters designed for Instagram pictures.
• Snapseed lets you store your own designs and apply them to new images.
• InShot is great for resizing visuals for stories and posts.
• Prequel offers a variety of creative filters and effects.

4. Keep your profile’s layout in mind when editing

Avoid posting pictures in a hectic manner; instead, think of a logical way to showcase your visuals. Maybe you want to tease your followers with new products by posting behind-the-scenes photos. Or, you want to tell a story with a series of pictures.

Either way, your posts should make sense or convey a message while still being pleasing to the eye. So, keep your profile’s layout in mind when editing. Make sure your images match the visual aesthetic of your feed and complement each other (a consistent color scheme or filter will help you create a cohesive look).

5. Have a consistent editing style

While a consistent editing style doesn’t matter much for personal profiles, brand-level content should be uniform. Use the same filters, formatting, and colors on your images to create a cohesive and professional-looking feed. The way you edit your Instagram photos is a part of your brand consistency strategy (even if you don’t have one).

According to research, consistency in branding is associated with higher levels of brand recognition, which is the starting point for every consumer’s purchasing journey. So, even something as simple as visual consistency can help improve your professional image and boost sales.

6. Always adjust the white balance

White balance is another important part of Instagram photo editing. Not only can it change the look of your photo, it also affects the feel. Tweaking white balance can help you achieve both warm and cool light temperatures.

Adjusting the white balance can also help eliminate any unwanted color casts. For example, if your photo appears too warm or yellow, you can adjust the white balance to make it look more natural. Similarly, if your photo looks too cool or blue, you can use the white balance to create a more inviting atmosphere.

7. Crop images if necessary

Often underestimated, image cropping can make a huge difference in the composition of your photo. As a result, you will improve the balance and symmetry of the image and draw attention to the main subject.

Cropping can also help create a unified image format. If some of your photographs are horizontal and others are vertical, cropping them is key to a consistent look. By making sure all your pictures are in a similar format, you’ll create a cohesive, professional-looking gallery.

Final thoughts

Creating a visually appealing Instagram feed may not seem significant. But in reality, it greatly impacts your business image, customer trust, and overall brand perception. Consistency in colors, themes, and a well-curated feed has more power than you think. So, edit photos for Instagram with attention to detail to establish a strong brand identity and take your online presence to the next level.