When it comes to Instagramming pictures, a lot of judgment gets thrown around. Was the photo poorly edited? Was the wrong filter used? Is the like to time ratio high enough? And the judgement doesn’t stop with food pictures. In fact, it increases. That’s why it’s important to represent your food in the best possible way.
This is your 3-step guide to Instagramming food pictures that you can be proud of and that your followers will double tap instead of judge.
Before – Photo by Courtney Warren
After – Photo by Courtney Warren
1. Filter: The beauty of Instagram lies in its ability to turn your decent-looking food into a mouth-watering, color-popping, perfectly lit masterpiece that your followers will feast their eyes on with envy. These days, it’s all about the filter. Naive Foodstagrammers are quick to slap on a filter and call their food pic postable. However, it is crucial that the proper edits be made to avoid judgement of a food gram.
Before posting a food pic, it’s essential to use the special editing tools that Instagram provides. The adjustment of brightness, contrast and saturation are key to making your food’s colors pop. The sharpening and warmth tools should be used carefully as to not make the food look too fake. For most food pictures, it is safe to stay away from the fade and color adjust tools. However, every food Instagrams differently, so experimentation is critical.
Before – Photo by Courtney Warren
After – Photo by Courtney Warren
2. Caption: The caption is almost as important as the filter. The name of the food and place of consumption placeholder caption often pulls few likes and can bring down even the best looking of food grams. Food puns and short, detailed descriptions of flavor guarantee more likes and less judgment. Hashtags such as #spoonfeed, #foodporn and #foodie will increase your photo’s views, which will in turn increase your likes.
Before – Photo by Courtney Warren
After – Photo by Courtney Warren
3. Timing: A Foodstagram with the perfect filter and caption can be completely underappreciated if it is posted at the wrong time. To avoid photo neglect, make sure the food you Instagram matches the time of the day. For example, if you Instagram a bagel, it should be posted around breakfast time, whereas dessert should be posted after dinner. It is also an advantage if your followers are hungry; it makes followers several times more likely to double tap.
From salad to chocolate cake, your perfectly edited, captioned and timed Foodstagram will be a guaranteed hit.