How to snap your home for Instagram
A foolproof guide to photographing your home like an Instagram influencer, writes Natalia Didovich.
You don’t have to be a professional photographer to capture beautiful pictures of your home for Instagram. Michelle Matangi, a self-described serial decorator with over 10,000 followers oninstagram, has told us her top tips on how she mastered the art of photographing her home for social media.
It’s all about the angles
To take the perfect shot, Matangi said you’ll need to get low to the ground and try to get a straight-on shot.
‘‘From what I’ve noticed, angled shots don’t tend to get as much interaction as a straight-on shot does,’’ Matangi said.
‘‘Why do straight on shots get more engagement? I think it’s because people find them more aesthetically pleasing, to be honest.’’
Good lighting is crucial
If you want to capture the best image possible, good lighting is very important. However, Matangi said the key to getting the perfect photo depends on where your house gets the best natural light.
‘‘For instance, my hallway is southfacing and doesn’t get a lot of natural light, so the only way I can photograph it is by opening the front door and using the light behind me from one of the other rooms when the light is perfect at about midday on a summers day.’’
Matangi said it’s important to ensure that your source of light is always behind you and recommended opting for natural light rather than turning on your interior lights.
‘‘Maybe turn a lamp on if you want an ambient look, but I do think a room photograph’s better with the lights off. Natural lighting is definitely key.’’
Play with levels
‘‘It’s really important to have objects at different levels in a shot because people like to look at things that are interesting and take their eye to new areas of the photo,’’ Matangi said.
‘‘For example, say you’re wanting to photograph an area of your home that is a sofa and a piece of artwork, it’s also really important to include a plant or lamp and ensure all of these objects are at different heights as this is what contributes to make for a pleasing shot.’’
Find a focal point
When styling a space to shoot, Matangi said every shot needs a focal point, a point of interest from which your photo is centred upon.
‘‘There is always something that sticks out as your focal point, such as an artwork or a piece of furniture.’’
She also recommended finding balance in your shot.
‘‘When I say balance, I mean that it needs to be multi-dimensional with more than just one thing in the shot, otherwise it would just be boring.’’
Tools of the trade
You don’t need a professional camera to take a quality image of your home for Instagram. Matangi currently has an iphone X, but prior to December 2017 she used an iphone 7+.
‘‘They’re actually pretty good to use because if you tap the screen it gives you quite a few options, for example you can play with the