Hey guys! Today’s post is all about getting the perfect picture for Instagram + life! I get so many comments about how I edit my Instagram but also how to TAKE great pictures for Instagram!

This post is going to be all of my tips on how to look great in every picture / how to always look good in photos! These tips will help you be more confident when you’re taking pictures! Whether or not you’re trying to start a blog, want to up your Instagram game or if you just want to be more confident in group photos- these tips are sure to help you 🙂

I’ve been working on camera the last 5 years / have done tv segments with E! News, E! Online, HLN, Access Hollywood, Mode, etc and these are some of the tricks I’ve learned in my time on camera!

These are the actual tricks I use when I am shooting pictures for and editing my Instagram! These tips are not about how to do your makeup or what products you need to buy- these are all posing tips and little tweaks that will ensure that you take the best photos possible!

I also work with brands to creatively direct post for their social media outlets. These are some of the secrets I’ve learned throughout the last few years on how to take great still life photos + product shots!

10 Tips For How To Always Take Great Photos!

1. POSE WITH THE WEIGHT ON YOUR BACK LEG

Posing with your weight on your back leg takes most of you away from the camera- leaving you to look longer and slimmer on camera. It also forces your body into a more flattering position!

2. THE LONG LEG

When you’re posing with your weight on your back leg, extend your front leg in front or to the side of you. This makes you look taller and slimmer on camera! This photo trick also works while you are sitting!

3. TAKE THE PERFECT PHOTO IN ONE TRY

If I’m going somewhere that I know my photo will be taken, I will check in the mirror before hand to see what angles I like my outfit / look best at. I’ll take note of where everything is positioned so that way I remember the pose to do!

4. GETTING STRANGERS TO TAKE YOUR PICTURE

You guys always ask me on instagram just HOW I get my uber drivers to take my photo- I usually ask them and tell them that I like to document my trips [bc Im at the airport when this is happening] and they’ve all been really cool about it! They only take about 1 or 2 shots though, so that’s why its best to practice before hand!

5. INSTAGRAM SURFACES

Turn anything into an instagram surface to shoot products on. Marble tables, blankets, rugs- anything with an interesting texture that looks cozy on camera! I like to shoot things on top of these interesting surfaces: flowers, perfumes, etc.

6. MARBLE PAPER

You can have the aesthetic you want even if you can’t afford an actual marble table. I bought my marble paper on amazon here [if this one is sold out just search ‘matte marble adhesive’]

7. SHOOT FLAT LAYS WITH AN ANGLE

Have an angle running through your product photo- I like to lay either a blanket or a furry seat cover going through the photo with the products on top. This gives the photo a sense of motion and feels more natural!

8. HAVE THINGS GOING OUT OF FRAME

Photos of food, products, flowers etc look more natural if there are things going out of frame. You don’t want your photos to appear staged, so don’t have them perfectly arranged within the square.

9. SHOOT FULL LENGTH PHOTOS WITH ANGLES

You can still make a plain wall look interesting in your grid by shooting the picture at an angle. It will give motion and direction to your grid instead of shooting the picture straight on!

10. WHEN IN DOUBT: POST FLOWERS

Break up your grid with some flowers! You can seriously buy one bouquet of flowers and get like 10 different pictures and just post them when you don’t know what else to post. Take an overhead photo of the flowers when you’re walking, take an up close photo to show off the details. You can also go to flower mart / grocery store and take photos of flowers without even buying them!