Are you creating the best content you can for Instagram? I first joined Instagram several years ago, years before I even thought about blogging. I rarely posted anything. When I launched my first blog in 2017, I posted on occasion, but looking back at it now I didn’t put nearly enough thought into my content. Relaunching my blog earlier this year, I was serious about my blogging journey and I put more thought into the type of content I was creating for my followers, still, I worried that my limitations as a wheelchair user would hinder the type of content I wanted to create. In a way it does, but not always in ways I thought it would. Since launching my blog and being more focused on the type of content I share, I realized I couldn’t be the only wheelchair user struggling with that thought, so I’m sharing some tips about how I create my content for Instagram
My Instagram Content Mistakes When I First Started Blogging & How I Changed It
The first issue with the content I was sharing was that I wasn’t consistent. The second, I was hardly in the photos. The third was that the content wouldn’t really connect to the things I wanted to talk about: mainly beauty, fashion, and my life as a woman with a disability. There were so many other issues with my content some of which I’ll be talking about soon.
Although I relaunched my blog and subsequently my Instagram earlier this year, I started taking more photos last summer. About a month after my blog launch I decided to start taking more photos that would match the content I was talking about. I asked my PCAs or as I like to call them life assistants, and even my mom to take photos of me on occasion. I even bought a tripod to help me take photos and different angles. I’m having fun with it even though it’s somewhat difficult to manipulate the tripod while I’m in my wheelchair.
When I first started putting more effort into my photos last summer, considering it possible Instagram content every time I took a picture, everything was new and I felt like I had all these ideas for photos. Fast forward a couple of months and it’s not so new anymore. I still loved everything about what I was doing, but I was getting bored doing the same poses and concepts over again. I felt I was limited by my wheelchair and the inability to just grab my tripod and go somewhere, remaining socially distant just reminded me of that.
So what did I do?
How I Take My Instagram Photos Now
I look for Inspiration: Instagram and Pinterest are amazing when it comes to looking for inspiration, whether it’s beauty, fashion, pose ideas, and much more. Figuring out how to pose when I’m taking the photos can be awkward and make the process take much longer. For that reason, I look for pose and prop ideas on these social media platforms. Testing out ideas that you find is a great way to change up your photos, however, it can also be hard if you see some photo ideas or poses that you would like to do, but can’t because of limitations. It may be difficult, but don’t let that discourage you, take a break, remember why you wanted to take the photos in the first place, and come back to it.
I Make It Work For Me: I’m not going to pretend it isn’t difficult when I see a concept or a photo I would really like to try, but I’m not capable of doing it. I try to take instances like this and see if there is a way that I can do something similar that works for me. There are times it works and times that it doesn’t, but more often than not the addition of a prop, change of angle, or change in my pose (the best I can), leaves me with some pretty great pictures. Don’t throw in the towel because something isn’t exactly how you pictured it, try to see if there is a way to make it work for you first.
Related: Tips For Changing Up Your Instagram Photos
Ask For Help And/ Or Use A Tripod
When I first started blogging and creating more content for Instagram years ago, I wasn’t putting as much thought into what I was posting and I didn’t take pictures often enough to post them and when I did take pictures, they were of other things. Last year when I started posting on Instagram more and first thought about rebranding my blog, I realized I would need help with the type of content I wanted to create. These days, my PCAs take my photos with my photo or help me position my tripod, my mom will suggest a pose I could try or take a photo. I no longer post content I don’t love because I ask for help creating content that I know my followers will love.
Ask a friend to take photos for you, socially distant style or get a tripod. I purchased mine on amazon. It’s simple and even though I need help positioning it sometimes, having it has given me more options when it comes to my photos.
One More Thing: Stories
Instagram Stories. I’ve learned to love posting on my Instagram feed and creating great content. However, I can’t say I felt the same when it came to Instagram stories. If a posted a story it was rare, still, I’m learning more about that aspect of Instagram and finding things I do like about it. Whether it’s your stories or feed content, don’t be shy about exploring the capabilities, you don’t have to love all aspects of it, but if you can find one thing you do like and learn to do that well, then that’s one step closer to creating great content.
There are dozens of tools and apps to help you take and edit your Instagram photos. Have fun with, get inspired by others you see on social media then create photos and feed for your unique aesthetic and vibe. Being a wheelchair user or limited in some other way may mean that you can’t always have a shot in that amazing pose, doesn’t mean you can’t create great content and have a beautiful Instagram feed.
