Many personal and professional accounts now heavily rely on social media. That is why it’s important to feel equipped to take high-quality content no matter the platform you’re uploading to. To help you create engaging social media content, Camera House has put together a detailed guide below.
Mastering the Art of Social Media Photography
To take the best social media content, you first need to master the techniques of basic photography. Explore the fundamentals of camera functionality below.
- Exposure. How light or dark an image looks depends on exposure. You can change it by using the camera's settings. Explore our article Understanding Camera Exposure.
- Shutter speed. The two main uses of shutter speed, are to alter the brightness of a photograph and to provide dramatic effects involving movement. Check out our article Shutter Speeds Explained.
- ISO. When it comes to photography, ISO measures how light-sensitive your camera is. Check out our article Confused About ISO to understand more.
- Aperture. The aperture is the gap in your lens through which light passes before hitting the sensor. Depending on how wide or how small the aperture is, determines how much light is let into the camera. Check out our article Understanding Aperture.
Tips for Taking Photos for Social Media
When creating photography and video content for social media, there are a range of techniques to consider to get the perfect shot. Check out our top tips for taking photos for social media below.
- Consider the format. Depending on where you’ll be posting the images online, you’ll want to ensure that you shoot in the right orientation and size for the platform.
- Use the right equipment. Shooting on a high-quality camera for photos or videos will provide consistently high-quality content for social media. This may be by using a camera or lens or investing in a tripod to shoot stable videos. Explore our article The Best Film Cameras for Instagram on the Camera House blog.
- Check your lighting. Lighting plays a large role in building ambience and creating high-quality images and videos. Invest in artificial lighting equipment or time taking your content outside in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is at its softest.
- Take multiple shots. When choosing the right image or video to post, make sure you have options to choose from. Try multiple angles, backgrounds and lighting setups to get the perfect image for your page.
- Clean your camera lens. Make sure you capture a crisp, clear shot by having no dirt or dust on your lens. For selfie photography, ensure you clean your front camera too. Explore our article on The Best Cameras for Selfies and Self Photography.
Edit & Boost Photos for Social Media
For consistency on your page, enhance your content by editing it to suit the content existing on your social media page. There is also a range of editing trends that can help keep your content relevant. By using the apps regularly you’ll stay up to date on trending hashtags, songs and text to add in the editing stage of production.
Utilise the range of wonderful free and subscription-based editing platforms online. Check out some of our favourites below.
- Adobe Lightroom. Simply and effortlessly adjust the lighting, colours and feel of your images. Access Lightroom as a subscription-based Adobe service.
- Canva. Add text and design graphics for a range of different formats and platforms. Canva is a free online service.
- Adobe Premiere Pro. Edit video and add sound and graphics with ease. Access Premiere Pro as a subscription-based Adobe service.
Choosing the Right Equipment for Social Media Photography
Cameras
There’s a range of cameras available to suit different styles of social media platforms. For the perfect all-rounder, consider the Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera. For capturing video, explore the OM System OM-5 Compact Camera. Vlog content or creating imagery on the go, is perfectly suited to the Sony ZV-1Digital Vlog Camera.
Lenses
Lenses offer a wonderful way to get more out of your camera. For long-distance shooting, check out the Nikon Nikko Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3. As an all-rounder for photos and videos consider the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 24-70mm f/2.8 Lens. Portraits and product shooting will benefit from the Fujifilm XF 16-80mmF4 R OIS WR Weather Resistant.
Tripods & Camera Accessories
Tripods and camera accessories can make the process of shooting much more streamlined and effective. Ensure your images and videos are always stable by using the ProMaster Scout SC430K Travel Tripod Kit. Vloggers will benefit from the Alfoto AF-99 Vloggers Video Kit. Shoot product photos or portraits to a professional standard with the ProMaster Solid Pop-Up Background 6x7' Dual-Sided.
Shop the best Cameras, Lenses & Accessories at Camera House
Take advantage of Camera House’s knowledgeable staff in-store and online and ask them what social media photography gear is right for you! Check out our shipping information online and enjoy flat-rate delivery Australia-wide, or check out our store locator to visit a Camera House store near you.
