How to take Instagram Worthy Photos at Home

Sometimes it’s not always possible to go out and take photos in front of pretty walls or cute cafes for Instagram. Things like weather, time, or sickness (read: the Coronavirus) keep people inside. In all seriousness, it’s really important to stay inside right now and away from populated places. Make sure you are keeping yourself and loved ones safe!

Staying inside doesn’t mean you can’t get great photos for Instagram, though! Take your mind off of what’s going on in the world right now and get creative. Here are some ways to take cute photos for Instagram!

Get creative with angles

Taking photos from above is a great way to switch up your Instagram feed.

Taking photos from above is also really flattering! It’s a great way to switch up your Instagram feed and also make photos at home look great. There are also so many ways to switch up angles! Instead of straight on, try putting the camera lower to the ground looking up at you. Just play around to find what will look good!

Play around with plants

If you have plants (real or fake) try using them for photos! You can look through them, or if you have a cool plant pot try using that too.

I have a giant fiddle leaf fig that was perfect to do some looking-through-the-leaves photos. Originally I wanted only the leaves surrounding my face, but I actually liked my living room wall peaking through.

It’s also fun to use smaller plants to take a cute shot with, too. In this case I used my baby fiddle leaf fig since I love the pot that’s it in. Leafy plants make for really fun photos!

Do a fun makeup look against a blank wall

This is an easy way to get a really dramatic shot and also play around with makeup! I used to do crazy makeup looks when I was younger before I started wearing makeup everyday, so this was so much fun to remember how much I used to enjoy doing this.

I put on a sparkly romper to complete this galaxy look, and taking the photo in from of a blank wall really allowed the makeup to pop.

Try taking a photo behind a window

My photos are technically behind a door, but it’s the same idea. This switches up a traditional headshot and adds a cool layer to photos!

You can also play around with what’s reflected in the photos – the options are endless with the window shots!

Use your favorite nooks to get fun shots

We have bay windows in our bedroom that both Alex and I love to sit in and read or go on our laptops, and also found that photos look really cute there!

Try using different props (or in my case, my dog!) and poses to get a dynamic photo. I also put on my over the top slippers for some different poses and used studio lighting to make everything look more crisp. Chairs can be your best friend for photos since there are so many ways to change up your pose!

Add doodles to your Instagram photos

Since getting my iPad last year, I’ve had lots of fun adding doodles to my photos. It can add interest to blank walls, or pull in a really fun element if you feel like your photo needs it.

This photo was taken in one of my apartment’s courtyards, and I didn’t like how blank and bland everything looked, so I added some flowers to make the wall look more fun! I use Procreate on my iPad to add in doodles, but there are tons of (free!) apps that let you do the same thing. Download them and have some fun with your photos!

Those are some of my favorite ways to get fun Instagram photos all while staying home. If you use any of these, make sure to tag me and let me know! I’d love to see what you create 🙂

Stay safe and make sure to wash your hands!