Instagram is one of the top social media platforms for wedding photographers, and there are several ways to maximize photography Instagram accounts. You can share past wedding photos, connect with clients and vendors, and allow ideal clients to see who you are as a person and a photographer.
Photography Instagram Accounts
Here at ShootDotEdit, we take on editing wedding photos so you can spend your time on the most important tasks for your photography, such as creating a strong Instagram strategy. There are various strategies to use on Instagram that sometimes it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. We put together 15 Instagram photography tips and tricks you need to know, and ones you can implement into your Instagram strategy now.
1. Post Consistently
As a social platform solely based on images, posting consistently ensures you stay top of mind with ideal clients. Rather than posting on random occasions, post with purpose. The more consistent you are, the easier it will be to keep followers engaged with your posts.
2. Share Strong Images
Rather than sharing every image you shot from the engagement session or wedding day, only share the best photos. These images are the strongest of the day, and represent you to your ideal clients.
3. Create a Hashtag Strategy
Since there are so many hashtags you can use on your posts, create a strategy to help you narrow down the best ones for you. Find out the top hashtags to use for your photography business to make sure you are targeting your ideal clients.
4. Add Break Lines for Hashtags
Instead of including every hashtag in your main text on your posts, add break lines in to hide them. This trick makes your posts look cleaner, and allows you to add the number of hashtags you decided upon in your strategy.
5. Update Links in Bio
Because Instagram does not allow links in the posts, update the link in your bio. Links to include are your website, blog, and other social media platforms. Update the link every day if possible, or if you are not sharing anything on your posts, keep the link to your website there. Discover quick tricks for adding links on your photography Instagram account to ensure you drive traffic to the best place possible.
6. Hide Tagged Photos
As a wedding photographer, you build a brand message that speaks to ideal clients. A quick and helpful shortcut for your account is to hide tagged photos. This ensures you only share the best images from the wedding day, which lessens the chance of confusion to your brand.
7. Utilize Instagram Stories
In 2016, Instagram Stories became a new way for you to connect with followers. Use Instagram Stories to provide an inside look into your activities and more of who you are. These include bringing your followers along during shoots, and even into your personal life and daily routine. Many top Instagram photography accounts utilize Stories to keep their followers engaged and give them a sneak peek into their everyday activities. Learn more about how to build a plan for your Instagram Stories to keep your followers engaged.
8. Start a Series
When you share photos with your followers consistently, there are plenty of opportunities to keep it light and fun. Start a series on your account to keep engagement high. Use something you love to do outside of photography, such as cooking, and post weekly about it.
9. Hold a Contest
Another way to keep engagement high is to hold a contest, where interaction is a must. A contest allows you to share more about your business, attract ideal clients, and encourage visits to your website and blog. Don’t forget to provide prizes that directly relate to your business. This is a key way to use Instagram for photography business and invite clients to learn more about you and your services.
10. Invite Followers Behind-the-Scenes
For you to connect with your followers, invite them behind-the-scenes on your projects and shoots. Instagram Stories are perfect ways to share sneak peeks into a product you are working on, or a look into the wedding you are preparing to shoot.
11. Tag Clients and Vendors
To build relationships, utilize tagging on your Instagram posts. When you tag clients in a photo, they are more likely to share it with their family and friends. When you tag vendors in images, you share their work with your audience and encourage them to share more about what you do.
12. Add Geotags
As you post to your account, use geotagging to share the location with your followers. Similar to tagging vendors, this allows you to share where you are during your wedding shoots. This helps you gain attention of ideal clients who want to get married at a certain venue. Wedding photography duo, Justin and Mary Marantz, use geotagging to book new clients and venues. Find out 5 things they recommend to do for your photography Instagram account today.
13. Use Instagram Shortcuts
Like most processes in your workflow, shortcuts are necessary for you to maximize your time on Instagram. From hashtag generators, to receiving notifications, to uploading multiple Stories at once, there are plenty of shortcuts that will help you save time and be effective.
14. Utilize Statistics
Since social media constantly changes, using statistics is the perfect way for you to make informed decisions. A program, such as Iconosquare, provides insights into what works for your account and what does not, meaning you can adjust your posting schedule accordingly.
15. Build a Schedule
Just as you would for Facebook, build a cohesive schedule for posting on Instagram. This schedule can include what type of posts you will share, as well as what days and times. A schedule keeps you organized and ensures you post on a regular basis.
Quick Tip
Save hours each year and use Schedugram to schedule your posts ahead of time. Rather than posting to your account daily or weekly, utilize Schedugram to schedule out as far as possible.
What did you think of our list of tips and tricks for you to use on your Instagram account? These are great starting points to encourage interaction and engagement with clients who are perfect for you. To access more Instagram tips for photographers, download our Instagram for Photographers Guide by clicking the banner below!
Thank you for the great resource.