Social Media Photography: Trends and Best Practices
In social media, whether you are managing a personal account or a business account, you need to have quality content to reach your audiences and increase the engagement. What you say is important, but also the photography you showcase is just as significant. The trends within social media are evolving every day, so as of 2022, they have evolved even further since 2021. This blog will discuss the recent trends that are occurring with the photography in social media, along with the best practices to take into account and use to boast the reach and engagement on any social media account you manage today.
The Trends in Social Media Photography
The current trends with social media photography have either been occurring within the last year or have been brought back from the grave! We do not always understand how these trends appear and why they reach so many audiences but they are evolving and it is important to know what trends are rising before you take your camera out to post your quality content. Read below to learn about the top five trends in social media photography today.
Self-Portraits
This trend began its fame during the pandemic when many individuals were not able to take photos of their fancy vacations or events because everybody was locked in their homes. Thus, they began to take photos of themselves or with their immediate family members around them because it was the easiest form of photography you could take and post during this time of being constrained. This began the increase of self-portraits which this trend has only expanded since then. With self-portraits, you become more attentive with the environment around you when taking them as well.
Film Photography
Our future merges with our past, which is portrayed with this trend that is “shooting on film” or also known as film photography. This trend has become a long-term one due to its past usage, then coming back from the grave. Film photography has gained its popularity over the past year again, and it has remained popular among both personal experiences or brand promotions. It is known for its aspects such as its “color, grain, and the aesthetics” that it provides. We do not see this trend ending any time soon, so if you are open to experimenting with it then try it for yourself!
Filters Are a “No Go”
In social media, people are now expecting a “realistic approach” to the content they reach, which means natural makeovers and NO FILTERS. Doesn’t that sound crazy? Just a decade ago when social media platforms began to rise, filters began to rise as well. So many platforms such as Facebook and Instagram even provide their own filters as a feature to use, but filters are losing their fame. Instead, photoshoots are prepared through its lightening and angles, which will be discussed further on in the best practices for social media photography. So do not worry, we will prepare you to help make your photos appear more natural.
Let Us Celebrate Diversity
This trend is followed more by companies and organizations, but have you noticed the increase in diversity through the professional photos taken for brands? If not, you are missing out! Our society is finally evolving from homogenous photography, to becoming more diverse and inclusive in their content. There has been a collaboration with groups of different backgrounds such as age, gender, race, or sexual preference. This trend has been occurring for longer than the other ones, and it is a great trend to take on in your own photography!
We’re Going Mobile
Yes professional cameras are effective for high quality photography, but it is not always convenient and can get expensive. Great news, the camera capabilities on the current cellphones are only getting more advanced and are creating an evolving trend! With following the “realistic approach” mentioned previously, people are starting to turn away from the “over-polished” photography because they want authenticity. Thus, going mobile does not only provide high quality photos as well, but also it provides the authentic photography needed for your content to reach and attract your audiences.
The Best Practices in Social Media Photography
Okay, now that you know the current top five trends in social media photography, it is time to learn how to practice your photography to follow these trends! As of 2022, these are the top five best practices to take on when you decide to do a photoshoot with your friends, capture the little moments of life, or take self-portraits of yourself. Read below to find out more about these best practices!
Rule of Thirds
Using the rule of thirds will improve the composition of your photos way more than just winging it when taking photographs. It improves it through creating balanced and visually appealing photos to post on your social media platforms. However, some do not even know how to follow the rule of thirds. To do it, you will use the handy feature that is offered on most cellphones, which is the grid with two vertical and two horizontal lines spaced equally apart, as shown in the photo above. So to bring your photos to the next level, make sure your position your subject where the lines intersect, then you got it!
Focus, but Don’t Zoom
When shooting from a distance, it can become tempting to zoom in on your subject to get a closer image, but it actually will appear not as clear. The only photos that should appear blurry and grainy is when you are purposely trying to give off that effect for the film photography. However, for good quality images, do not zoom but rather focus it by getting closer to your subject. We promise it works way better than using the zoom feature on your cellphones.
Experiment with the Lighting
The lighting in photography makes a large impact on your photos anywhere you take them. Depending what you are trying to achieve, the lightening can produce different outcomes. If you want a softer effect in your shots, then try shooting on a cloudy day where the light is diffused and it results in less shadows and glares. However, if you want a sharp effect in your shots, then shoot on a bright, sunny day. This will result in harsh shadows, but will capture all the vivid details in your shoot.
Play with the Angles
The perspectives and angles also make a large impact on your photos. There are a variety of angles to play with along with the poses when shooting with people. You will be surprise how much the angle alternatives will result in different outcomes, so have fun with it!
Candids! Candids! Candids!
You have probably heard of this one, but candids are also super popular right now! They can put a fun spin on your photoshoot and result in aesthetically pleasing photos. Your subjects do not always need to pose, but candids can add a personal effect to the photo, which also follows the “realistic approach” mentioned previously. So play around with it and let us know how it goes!
References
https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com
https://redbooth.com/hub/awesome-photography-tips-for-social-media-success/
https://www.thedrum.com/profile/depositphotos/news/top-5-social-media-photography-trends-for-2022
https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/social-media-editor-real-life-story
https://www.impactgroupmarketing.com/blog/articleid/596/10-tips-for-taking-quality-social-media-pictures
https://www.vanguard86.com/blog/tips-for-taking-social-media-photos