3 Photo Secrets to Spice Up Your Instagram
Are you looking to level up your Insta-game? My team and I are always having fun shoot days in my studio to create some gorgeous imagery for AIIR. We decided to host a Dreamy Photo Challenge on our Instagram account to inspire our #AIIRForce community to allow their inner strengths to fuel their creativity and create without limitation.
I want to give you all of you the tools you need to have the opportunity to have your work showcased on AIIR and potentially win $1,000 in prizes! We created all of the imagery for this challenge by ourselves from start to finish, so I’m here to share with you my *Top 3 Photo Secrets* to spice up your Instagram and create the photos of your DREAMS.
1) add LIGHTING ELEMENTS!
First and foremost, whether you’re inside or outside, you want to make sure that the sun is facing the model. Now how can we take it up a notch? Let’s play with some fun lighting elements!
I love to use colored lighting gels to create that dreamy vibe. In the photo on the left, we positioned the colored gel in the corner of the lens to give the illusion of a pink fog coming down or a hazy light beaming from up above. You can literally get these gels on Amazon for only $10 and play around with them in all of your shoots at home or in the studio!
Another fun element that adds an instant upgrade to your photos are clear cut crystal balls! These pick up the light from elements in your surroundings to create that rainbow lens flare that you see in the photo on the right. These can take a little getting used to but once you have it down, you can incorporate some really cool lighting elements into your imagery!
2) use FUN + unique PROPS!
Have you ever felt like you don’t know what to do with your hands in a photo? Here’s your solution: Add a fun prop! Not only does this elevate the look of the photo by creating more of a storyline, but it also makes it easier to pose!
In theme with AIIR, we love to use various crystals, holistic elements such as marigold or sage, or even incorporate our products into model photos! By doing this, we tell a story through our imagery. Instead of just scrolling past another photo of a model, it subconsciously causes people to pause and take a second to imagine a scenario, which often provokes a feeling as well.
A fun prop can really take a photo from 0 to 100. This tip will really level up your Instagram and set you apart from other creators and stylists!
3) have some POST-PRODUCTION fun!
Not feeling the props? You can always use some after effects apps to liven up your imagery! There are an endless number of free apps out there that add cool lighting effects or dreamy filters to your photos with the click of a button. Here are some of AIIR’s faves that we like to use on our account! (Psst these all have free versions available!)
*PicsArt*
You can use PICSART to add fun crystal elements or lens flares!
*Canva*
CANVA ALLOWS YOU TO add text over your photos!
*Tezza*
Tezza is perfect for dreamy filters and adding sparkle effects!
READY to enter our Dreamy Photo Challenge!?
Use AIIR Professional Crystal Infused haircare to create a style that represents what beauty and wellness mean to you. It can be anything that inspires you from the clouds to crystals to holistic elements and dreamy colors. Post your photo to Instagram and use the hashtag #hAIIRDream to enter. don't forget to tag us and let us know what products you used and the story behind your creation!
One person will win the grand prize and 3 lucky people will win our styling line.
the Contest ENDS on June 1st at midnight PST. We invite you to express your creativity through makeup, wardrobe and location. this contest is Open to all professionals and consumers in our #AIIRForce Community. and you can have Unlimited entries!
Need some AIIR to get started!? We’ve got you covered.
dreamy photo looks modeled by: Natasha Rachelle