Variations on a Theme: Insta-ntly

I've been on a kick of wanting to read more about Instagram and mobile photography. If I could only keep one social media app, it would be Instagram. It's not even close. Since I enjoy the medium so much, I've been on a research tear reading more online and requesting books willy-nilly. (You should see my nightstand and holds list.) 

In case you want to join me for this ride, this month's Variations on a Theme is all about Instagram and taking great pictures with your phone.


Capture Your Style: Transform Your Instagram Photos, Showcase Your Life, and Build the Ultimate Platform
Aimee Song 

With over three million Instagram fans, Aimee Song knows a thing or two about taking the perfect Instagram photo. And Instagram is so much more than a platform for pretty pictures. It’s the fastest-growing social media network with an engaged community, a major marketing tool for brands, a place where Beyoncé drops her albums, and a hub where products can be bought with a simple double tap. Including everything from fashion, travel, food, décor, and more, Aimee includes insider tips on curating a gorgeous feed and growing an audience. In this ultimate how-to Instagram guide, you’ll learn: How to brighten, sharpen, and filter your photos, The best apps and filters, How to prop and style food and fashion photos, Ways to craft your voice and story on Instagram, How to gain more Instagram followers, Secrets behind building a top Instagram brand, How to transform an Instagram hobby into a successful business, Tips for driving revenue based on your following. Capture Your Style will empower you to become your own master mobile photographer, whether you’re looking to launch an e-commerce business or simply sharing a gorgeous meal with your friends, turning even the most mundane moment into Instagold. This is a must-have reference for anyone interested in the ins and outs of stylish personal branding.

Jack Hollingsworth

Forget all the tech-talk about workflow and archiving, Apple have given us all a camera that takes care of all this for us, so now it's time to take great photos. This book will show you the best ways to approach every possible subject with your iPhone, offering tips as clear and simple as the iPhone's interface. Additionally you'll see some great effects that you won't find in Instagram (but your followers will love).

Peter Cope

Smartphones have put powerful cameras, literally, in our pockets and encouraged us to document our lives in ever-increasing detail. But do we realize their full potential? This dedicated guide explores the best practices for taking, creating, manipulating, and sharing photographs and videos on your smartphone. Instructive and inspirational, it covers the Top 10 rules for picture taking, delves into popular genres (such as children and pets, concerts and festivals, action and sports), and provides Pro Tips for achieving more professional-quality images. “Try this” panels and jargon-buster boxes explain technical terms in context. Updated with all the latest on VR kits, snapping selfies, and the best apps, The Smartphone Photography Guide helps you become the best photographer you can be.
Suitable for all general smartphone users, platform agnostic, compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows phones.

Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman

Whether it’s of your sister’s smile, your morning coffee, or your new puppy, photos are a way to connect on Facebook and Instagram, keep a visual diary of our lives, and create momentos for future generations. Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman, creators of the mega-popular DIY style blog A Beautiful Mess, are in love with photographing everyday life. Here, they share that love with 95 all-new tips and photo challenges that will inspire you to style and snap better photos and then transform them into simple yet stunning projects and gifts. You’ll learn how to: Take the most flattering self-portraits, Be your own stylist to turn dull, cluttered photos into pretty lifestyle photography, Capture adorable couple portraits, Turn everyday moments, hobbies, and rituals into amazing photos, Show off your favorite photos by turning them into handmade jewelry, home décor, and gifts. Packed with Elsie and Emma’s happy spirit and unique style, A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book will inspire you to capture your days, your friends, and your dreams in beautiful photos!

Leela Cyd

Instagram is a digital wonderland of stunning photographs and inspirational images, but how can you make sure that your own photos stand out amidst the rainbow of eye candy? To master Instagram and earn that coveted double tap of approval, you need to have a strong personal brand and an aspirational style that captures the viewer. Styling for Instagram will help you achieve both. Author Leela Cyd has an eye for photography and keen sense of digital media—and she has the Instagram following to prove it. Full of gorgeous, full-color inspiration images, Styling for Instagram is full of her expert advice on how to make the most of Instagram. From tips on arranging the perfect composition and styling your shots to using natural lighting and telling story with your work, the book will help you capture the attention of the Instagram community.

Murad Osmann and Nataly Zakharova

The Follow Me project was created in 2012 based on the concept of showing the beauty and uniqueness of different locations around the world. It is a story told through the eyes of two ordinary travelers who attempt to portray local lifestyles and narratives by means of photography. Since the project’s launch on Instagram, it has become a worldwide Internet sensation, emerging as a leading news feature and gathering millions of views on social media and the news sites that covered it. In each stunning image, photographer Murad Osmann is led to a new location by his girlfriend, Nataly Zakharova. These images remind us that in the hustle and bustle of daily life, we so often forget to stop and appreciate the things that surround us—the historical and architectural heritage left to us by our ancestors. Readers join Osmann from the point of view of the main character and are taken on a journey to different historical and cultural sites. The project aims to acquaint readers with different lifestyles. For Osmann and Zakharova, this theme seems infinite, as there are an endless number of places to visit on our planet. Paging through the book, readers will be invited to see something familiar to them from another point of view, via the lens of Osmann’s camera. Follow Zakharova and Osmann on a trip around the world, through such locations as Moscow, Madrid, Ibiza, Hong Kong, New York, and London.


Other Instagram Titles
Art with an iPhone - Kat Sloma
Getting Your Shot - National Geographic
The Instagram Book - Steve Crist
Instagram Power - Jason Miles
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook - Gary Vaynerchuk
Likeable Social Media - Dave Kerpen

Comments