#OOTD Pic Tips You Never Knew You Needed

This definitely isn’t the first time someone has written out a set of tricks of the Instagram trade. In fact, you’re probably reading this right now and expecting me to go over all the points that you already know, such as picking the right location, using natural light as much as possible, experimenting with angles, having a friend help out, etc.

These days, it’s all about branding, which is why so many of your favorite influencers always seem to be snapped in a professional manner. Unless you’re looking into working in social media full-time, you don’t need to follow every single footstep of Insta stars to a T; rather, this post is a reminder for you to have fun and find confidence within yourself, and not doing it for the likes.

So while lighting and location can make or break a good Instagram pic, there are some other things to consider to make your post less rigid and a more accurate representation of you.

You don’t have to capture a head-to-toe shot

Love your outfit but having a bad hair day? Or maybe you want to focus on the tinier details of your ensemble, such as your jewelry, belt and bag? No problem. There isn’t an OOTD instructional manual that says you must include your entire body in the shot. Everyone has their own formula for a perfect OOTD shot, since it’s every individual that gets to define what works for them.

Because Instagram automatically crops your photos, it’s much easier to set your camera to square so you know exactly what will fit in your shot. It also helps draw the attention towards certain aspects of your outfit, which is great for those that don’t have such a stellar background to complement the look. That way, the pic lets your OOTD speak for itself.

Just make sure you do have exceptional lighting for those smaller components

Work Out Angles with a Friend

Play “photo shoot” with people that you trust! Especially for those that are camera shy, it’s hard to find out what angles work for you, and we often discover our bad side through photos taken by other people. Having another pair of eyes working out the best angles for your pics is definitely constructive. You’d be surprised how different you look when the camera is at a longer angle versus straight ahead, or against the wall versus with a side view, or laying in bed with the camera above you.

You can also make a day out of it! While hanging out with your best friends, get multiple shots throughout the day to get a variety of angles, settings and lighting. That way, you have a vast selection to choose from before debuting your OOTD on social media.

Have fun with it!

Your OOTD pics don’t always have to be so serious or so posed. Show genuine happiness in your posts instead of faking a laugh just because those formulated emotions appear to be the recipe for instant likes.

Often, you’ll see people looking off in the distance, like they’re lost in thought. You can always experiment with different poses, but the main thing here is that you want to be having fun with your OOTD and the picture as a whole. Be goofy, or pose in a way that will really show off the best parts (if not the entire) ensemble. You don’t have to capture that seemingly perfect influencer shot.

Never feel like you HAVE to post your OOTD on social media

Though this may seem counter-intuitive for today’s post, it’s actually a really important tip that more people should pay attention to. Don’t feel obliged to “do it for the ‘gram.” A lot of people have built a toxic relationship with social media, and while you’ll certainly come across Insta-worthy locations that would serve as great backdrops for your post, don’t feel like you MUST take a photo. While the purpose of OOTD photos is to show off your outfit, photos are also about capturing a moment. If you simply aren’t in the mood to be photographed, that’s totally okay! The best photos are the ones where you’re totally feeling your vibe and experiencing emotions that you want to share with your followers (and the rest of the world). So there’s no need to structure your reality for the internet, forcing a smile just to get a good picture.

Your Instagram is a representation of you. Don’t let other people’s accounts or opinions dictate what you put out in the world. If you’re proud of what you’ve created and want to share it with the world, by all means, go for it! But know that an awesome outfit doesn’t go to waste when it’s not documented on social media.