Instagram Photo Sizes Explained: 4 Tips to Optimal Photo Sizes
In today's visually driven world, Instagram has become a powerhouse platform for sharing captivating photos and connecting with a global audience. As a photographer, it's crucial to understand the optimal image sizes for different types of Instagram posts. By ensuring your photos adhere to the recommended dimensions, you can showcase your work in the best possible way and make a strong visual impact. In this cheat sheet, we'll explore four essential points covering Instagram photo sizes, including square posts, landscape posts, portrait posts and Instagram Stories.
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Within this article, we will explore the following 4 points:
Square Posts: The ideal size for square Instagram posts is 1080 pixels by 1080 pixels. This aspect ratio ensures your images appear crisp and properly framed within the Instagram feed. Avoid using smaller images as they may appear pixelated when displayed on larger screens.
Landscape Posts: If you prefer a wider composition, opt for landscape-oriented images with a size of 1080 pixels by 608 pixels. This aspect ratio (1.91:1) is suitable for images that showcase a broader scene or emphasize horizontal elements. It ensures your photo occupies the maximum space within the Instagram feed.
Portrait Posts: For portrait-oriented images, the recommended size is 1080 pixels by 1350 pixels. This aspect ratio (4:5) allows for a taller display, making it suitable for capturing vertical subjects or emphasizing height in your composition. This format is commonly used for portraits, full-body shots, or other vertically-oriented content.
Instagram Stories: Instagram Stories have a different aspect ratio compared to regular posts. For optimal display, use an image size of 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels. This 9:16 aspect ratio ensures your stories cover the entire screen when viewed on mobile devices, preventing any cropping or loss of content.
The photo here illustrates points 1 to 3 visually. Here you can see how a photo taken on a full frame camera gets cropped different depending on the dimension selected. To ensure you get the size image you want, most editing suites have the option to crop to specific dimensions. I used Lightroom to ensure the image was the right size.
This photo was taken in Petra, Jordan on my Sony A7iii with a Sony 12-24mm F2.8 GM lens (absolute beast of a lens!)
Now, let's look at the points above in more detail.
Square Posts
Square posts are a versatile option that works well for a wide range of subjects. They are especially popular for showcasing products, food, architecture, and tightly cropped compositions. By maintaining a square aspect ratio, you can create a balanced visual experience within the Instagram grid.
When preparing square images, make sure to consider the composition carefully. Since you have equal dimensions on all sides, the focus should be on centralising your main subject or creating symmetry. Pay attention to leading lines, patterns, or any elements that guide the viewer's eye toward the centre of the frame.
Avoid using smaller images for square posts as they may appear pixelated when displayed on larger screens. Low-resolution images can detract from the overall quality and professionalism of your content. Therefore, it's best to upload high-resolution images with a minimum size of 1080 pixels by 1080 pixels.
Remember, while square posts are a popular choice, Instagram also supports landscape and portrait orientations. So, depending on the subject and composition of your image, you might find it more suitable to use one of the other recommended aspect ratios.
By understanding the optimal dimensions for different types of Instagram posts, you can ensure your photos look their best and make a strong visual impact on your audience's feeds.
Landscape Posts
Landscape posts on Instagram allow you to capture and share the beauty of wide vistas, stunning landscapes, group photos, or any subject that benefits from a broader frame. The wider aspect ratio provides more space to display horizontal elements, making it ideal for showcasing expansive landscapes, architectural shots, or panoramic views.
When capturing images for landscape posts, it's important to consider the composition. Look for leading lines, interesting foreground elements, or focal points that guide the viewer's gaze through the frame. The wider aspect ratio enables you to include more details from left to right, so make sure to take advantage of the added space.
Since landscape posts have a different aspect ratio than square posts, it's important to consider how they will appear in your Instagram feed. They will be displayed with black bars on the top and bottom, allowing them to fit into the vertical scrolling format of Instagram. However, this means that the full width of your image might not be immediately visible to viewers unless they tap on it to expand.
Remember, while landscape posts are a great choice for showcasing wide scenes, Instagram also supports square and portrait orientations. Choose the aspect ratio that best suits the subject and composition of your image to maximize its impact.
Knowing the recommended dimensions and composition tips for landscape posts, you can effectively share stunning wide-angle shots and captivate your audience with the beauty of expansive vistas or horizontal subjects.
Portrait Posts
Portrait posts on Instagram are an excellent choice for showcasing vertical subjects, such as portraits, full-body shots, fashion photography, or any image that benefits from a taller frame. The vertical orientation allows you to highlight the height of your subject or emphasize vertical elements within the composition. It also allows you to take up more screen real estate, ensuring you image is shown longer.
When capturing images for portrait posts, consider the placement and positioning of your subject within the frame. Pay attention to the rule of thirds or other compositional guidelines to create a visually appealing and balanced composition. Utilize leading lines, vertical symmetry, or other techniques to guide the viewer's eye through the image.
When sharing portrait posts on Instagram, they will be displayed in a vertical format within the feed. This means that viewers can see the full height of your image immediately without needing to expand it. Take advantage of this by ensuring that the main subject or point of interest is clearly visible and well-positioned within the frame.
Remember, while portrait posts work well for vertical subjects, Instagram also supports square and landscape orientations. Consider the subject matter and composition of your image to determine which aspect ratio will best showcase your content and capture the attention of your audience.
Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories provide a dynamic and engaging way to share ephemeral content with your audience. Whether it's behind-the-scenes footage, quick updates, or interactive polls, Stories allow you to connect with your followers in a more immediate and casual manner.
When creating images for Instagram Stories, it's essential to match the specific aspect ratio of 9:16 to ensure your content is displayed properly. This vertical orientation fills the entire screen when viewed on mobile devices, maximizing the visual impact of your Stories.
Since Instagram Stories are displayed in a vertical format, it's important to consider the composition and layout of your images. Optimize the placement of your subject or focal point to ensure it is easily visible and not obstructed by text or stickers. You may want to leave some space at the top and bottom of the image to account for overlays or captions.
Instagram Stories also allow you to enhance your content by using various features like stickers, text, drawings, or interactive elements. Consider how these elements will interact with your image and ensure they don't distract from the main focus.
Additionally, you can use third-party apps or software to create more elaborate and engaging Stories. These tools often provide templates, animated elements, or advanced editing features that can take your Stories to the next level.
What are the best sizes for Instagram posts
In conclusion, understanding the right image sizes for various Instagram posts is a valuable skill for photographers. By optimising your images to fit the recommended dimensions, you can ensure they appear crisp, well-composed, and visually compelling to your followers. Whether you're sharing square, landscape, or portrait posts, creating engaging Instagram Stories, paying attention to the aspect ratios and composition will elevate the quality of your content. So, keep this cheat sheet handy, adapt to any future updates from Instagram, and let your stunning visuals shine on the world's favourite photo-sharing platform. Happy posting!