4 pro-photographers' tips for improving your Instas

Making your images look good on Instagram is easy with all of those pretty filters (avocado toast, you've never looked so good!), but making your Instas look stunning is now within reach too. We asked four professional photographers about the expert tricks, tips and secrets they use for capturing their beautiful Instagram images. Before you swipe over to Clarendon, check out their advice on what to do take your pics from pretty to perfect.

Elaine Chan-Dow, visual artist and photographer

Zig and zag

"If you are photographing a collection of items from above (called a flat lay), try to arrange your items in a Z shape (forwards or backwards) to direct the viewer's eye.

Pro tip: Climb up on a stool or chair if you need extra height to frame your photo perfectly!

Square off

Seems obvious but if you want the best looking profile page, it's worth doing. "If you are taking images specifically for Instagram on your smart phone, set your camera to square so there's no need to crop later."

Pro tip: Instead of using the app to take photos, do multiple takes of the image you're trying to capture using your smart phone's camera, then choose the best one to upload to Instagram.

Use a real camera – it's not cheating!

"It's okay to use a real camera instead of your smartphone. When you do, photograph your images horizontally and frame your photos within the left and right borders of your viewfinder. Make sure you leave space at the top and bottom so you can crop it into a square in Instagram."

Pro tip: Instagram isn't the only app with photo filters. Try other popular photo editing apps like VSCO or ColorStory to make your photos Instagram ready.

Heather Davidson-Meyn, Fun Love Photography

Keep it clean

"Get as much natural light on the scene or subject you're photographing as possible. This will help you get a clear and sharp photo. Try to isolate your subjects from busy backgrounds, so the viewer automatically knows what they are looking at."

Pro tip: Use the Tilt Shift option in the Edit menu to blur out the background of your image, so that your subject really becomes the focus.

Be true to you

"Your followers want to know you! Tell stories about your life and who you are with your pictures (you will see a lot of coffee in my feed!). Be real and authentic and don't be afraid to include a selfie now and then. Don't just be an invisible, unknowable name behind your grid, let yourself shine through!"

Be consistent

"Not all your photos should look the same, but your style should be obvious when looking at the grid on your profile page. Viewers are more likely to become loyal followers if they can rely on you to provide the consistent content that attracted them to you in the first place."

Pro tip: Choose an aesthetic or colour palette that will become your calling card. Try to use it in almost every photo you post.

Emily Doukogiannis, Emily D Photography

Engage your subjects

"Having your photo taken can feel uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to. Engage your subjects and make them laugh. When it comes to kids, simply asking a question to get their attention, telling a poop joke or whispering to calm them down works wonders. Same goes for grown-ups, actually."

Capture the action

"Before you take a photo ask yourself why you're taking it. Is it a portrait or an action shot? Discovery and action shots are best done when the subject is engrossed in what their doing – a photo can be great even if someone isn't looking at the camera."

Pro tip: To best capture action shots, hold down the shutter button on your smartphone camera to take multiple photos in a row."

Light people properly

"To get a hands-down amazing photo every time, limit your photo-taking to daylight hours and make your subject face the largest window you have. Then, with your back to the window, snap the photo. If the subject is too bright and you lose the detail on his or her face, move them slightly back. If it's still too dark, move them closer to the window (your natural light source)."

Ali Inay, photographer and the mind behind MTL Café Crawl

Gallery guide

"The new gallery feature is a great way to give more details about a certain place or a story. People used to shy away from posting multiple photos of the same scenes, but now, without sacrificing the general look of the gallery, it's possible to provide the complete story."

Be a curator

"Try to select photos that would complement or contrast each other. It can thus be a combination of details shots and wide angle ambiance photos of an interior, or some architectural photos and portraits."

Pro tip: Why not post panoramic photos piece by piece!