As a teen who avidly uses Instagram for networking and entertainment, I’ve always wondered how my peers could take such aesthetic and creative photos “for the gram.” Unique poses and quirky camera tricks have always caught my attention. For some time, I have been in awe at how easily my friends take pictures of themselves, showing nothing but confidence. I decided to talk to some people about what it takes to take the best Insta pictures.
Senior Lena Nguyen, in a Zoom interview, said that when she takes pictures, she likes to “look for good lighting, a cool background, and most importantly have confidence in every smile.” She adds that “taking pictures is all about having fun and expressing your true self,” emphasizing that photo-taking doesn’t always have to be too serious. “It is also a plus if you wear an outfit that makes you feel happy and comfortable,” Nguyen said
Perhaps the most important part of taking Instagram photos is the surplus of poses that you can choose from when taking pictures. The infamous poses that I see are of my peers either doing the “peace sign” or the carefree “arms up in the air.” Although these poses may be the go-to for most students, it’s also important to highlight the number of other poses that you can try using in your Instagram photos. Senior Kelly Nguyen says she likes to do the “touching hair” pose, where she uses one of her hands to brush the side of her hair and smile for the camera. Nguyen adds that it is one of the simpler poses that anyone can pull off. Alternatively, she also suggests the “looking down” pose. Nguyen says that this is her go-to pose when she “feels ugly and doesn’t want to show her face, but still likes her outfit.” Nguyen’s honest suggestion for her “go-to” pose is something we all should be taking notes on.
Often, we forget to realize that taking Instagram photos isn’t as easy as it seems, Specifically, it can be hard for some to pose in front of the camera. In a text message interview, sophomore Annabelle Yang said, “that it is sometimes hard to control yourself from laughing.” For me, personally, when I know that a camera is taking pictures of me, I will laugh or fake cry in an attempt to avoid the awkwardness of taking a nice picture. One of the best ways to avoid this mishap is to have people you’re comfortable with taking pictures of you. In a Zoom interview, junior Sydney Hoang said that “the smiles feel more natural” for her when her close friends take pictures of her.
Overall, there is a certain complexity that comes with taking Instagram photos. Whether it be having one of your best friends be your photographer, or scouting the perfect places to take your Insta photo, these are the numerous things to consider before you find the right poses for the gram.
