The SECRET to AMAZING QUALITY INSTAGRAM photos

[@matesirovic409]

I began to upload my images in the highest resolution possible 2 weeks ago. My quality is much better than before when I resized them to 1350×1080. Can't understand how everybody in these KZbin Videos can recommend something thats that bad... Thank you for the vid, huge point with the full res !

[@abby1103]

YOU CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU RIGHT NOW!! I been trying to find (for weeks even months) the best method to upload photo and none of them worked until I found this one. I'm so thankful THANK YOU! and I'll definitely recomend this video to all the people that I know

[@NigelDanson]

Brilliant thanks 😊

[@SorrenAveria]

Limiting the resolution to 1080px wide and the size to 1600kb is very effective before. Instagram tends to be very aggressive on compressing very large images before. I've been uploading 1080px wide images on Instagram for years but now I think they have improved their compression algorithm and I have no idea about it. Thanks to this video. From now on I will upload higher resolution images.

[@MSmith-Photography]

The captions that I use on my photos are more like funny stories. I rarely use serious or short. I feel that I need to make people laugh.

[@axadmethodic6827]

Digital painting editing feat Amanda Cerny kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYaoi2tuhNhomJo

[@rontz]

I've given up on caring about image quality on Instagram. There are just some things happening that can't be explained, so there's no reasonable workaround. Example: I'm uploading the exact same file (edited in Photoshop, high res) from an old iPad mini and a way newer iPhone 6S to the same account, everything done the same way, only difference really is the device. What's happening? Great sharp image on the iPad upload, completely pixelated image on the iPhone upload, when viewing on the iPad.

[@supercooldude824]

Same

[@thethreebros4210]

Same man, if one photo in the set of my post on insta is blurry I will just say whatever, it’s just one photo

[@MarkLincoln]

Great tips! Thanks Nigel. At the beginning I was thinking there was no way you could be right in relation to uploading larger than 1080x1350, until you showed your test results! Interesting! Thanks for the advice.

[@permanent.tourist]

To avoid Instagram softening the image when it resizes it, and avoid what’s called “sub pixel rounding”, the best resolution at which to export your original is at a round factor of the size which Instagram uses. In the case of a 4x5 vertical image, that’s 2700px on the long edge.

[@neild108]

Thanks for the tip. I will give it a try.

[@neild108]

Mark, do you have any advice on the Lightroom quality setting best for Instagram given the spec you suggest, 2700 px on long side? Thanks!

[@permanent.tourist]

@@neild108 I'd export at the maximum possible quality and let Instagram optimise the image for their site/app. Otherwise it'll be “optimised” twice, which will lead to unnecessary degradation.

[@pematamang9268]

@@permanent.tourist is great quality instagram is only 1350 or 1080. Otherwise image look worst quality due to instagram compressed.

[@olsonbryce777]

I'm so confused by what you're saying. Could you give an example? Not native speaker

[@ImagesbyAsh]

Great Video Nigel. I've been pulling what little hair I have left, trying to stop Instagram cropping my photos...now I know why and how to fix. You are a legend!!!

[@gretab.1837]

Something about him is so nice, such a nice man and really great to listen to him talk. Thank you for the good tips.

[@NigelDanson]

Thanks 😊

[@pexeu1966]

Love the face at the end ( proper boy with a new toy , I wonder how many times that blind has gone up and down just because it can) stay safe and keep smiling...

[@devanand2121]

Awesome! and best video quality and light for your studio! thanks for amazing tips!

[@marvinbeatty]

Thanks for the tips! I knew about the 4:5 ratio but hadn't done any tests on what size looks best. Your living space looks very nice; calming.

[@peterjulianphotos4659]

Hi Nigel, I was so frustrated with trying to post edited photos to my Instagram account, I was ready give up on it. Then I thought there must be a better way, and your video popped up in my feed - I don't know how I'd missed it in the past, anyhoo once my new build pc is up and running (hopefully end of the week) I'll start putting up some of my recent trip. Cheers and thanks again.

[@hugocarvalho6969]

The general opinion on KZbin videos is to upload 1080x1350 images (if cropped 4x5 obviously) to avoid compression and quality loss and I've been doing that on my Instagram. So you saying to upload a higher resolution got me confused. But anyway, as an amateur (and very recently) taking photographs, I really appreciate your videos, good informative content!

[@NigelDanson]

Yep - I thought that too and then did the experiment and found it not to be true 👍🏼

[@DrDryce]

compression is not avoided even if you upload on the "recommended" settings

[@ashleywilliams9890]

@@NigelDanson I've done the same experiment Nigel and got the same results... I post at 2048 on the long side and image stays sharp!

[@Snickers_GLNY]

Thanks! I thought I was the only one who had to re-edit for IG, etc. Love your videos.

[@BrianJamesPhotography]

Good video and informative! You push your content to Dayflash.

[@vburris7998]

Lots of informative information! It would be great to see a video about Dayflash! A new photo and video sharing app. Your perspective and tips about Dayflash would be great to watch. Hope to see a video soon.

[@axadmethodic6827]

Digital painting editing feat Amanda Cerny kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYaoi2tuhNhomJo

[@bloneric]

Hi Nigel please let me know what color settings you use in your video camera, the warm colors are fantastic, thanks

[@susanbray6817]

This was really helpful to me, although I struggled to find how to change the view from 4 x5 to 5 x 4 for ages! Wondered if you might consider doing a similar one with the best export settings for Facebook. Thank you 😃

[@_JBP_]

Hi Nigel - Please can you share the link to your export presets video? It never appeared when you referenced it. Very useful! Cheers

[@jameswestii454]

It’s crazy how many different ways people do this. I today have seen so many people say to: Select Width & Height and set 1080 pixels for the Width and leave Height at nothing, set the resolution to 72ppi because it does not matter for Instagram and don’t limit file size. They export to Desktop, Air drop to IPhone, upload from photo gallery to Insta and their images look great. Have your recommendations changed now since it’s December 2022? Thank you.

[@lisarobertson7011]

Thank you Nigel - i always learn something from your videos! Many thanks.

[@kayleighelisehughes79]

Best advice. Everywhere online suggests 1080 and it was awful. Thank you so much

[@tjsinva]

Good stuff! Looks like you're missing some sleep, Nigel. Take care of yourself. Rock on!

[@NigelDanson]

Too much sleep at the moment 👍🏼

[@JJSogaard]

Nigel Danson. Well, I guess that’s a problem you can have as well...

[@LucidCreature]

Great tips Nigel! This definitely clears things up for me. I especially agree with the hashtags, definitely don’t wanna use one with over million posts, your post will definitely get buried with the rest!!

[@tomatoesforbreakfast]

This video was so helpful thank you so much. I learned something very valuable to me from your video.

[@brianjones6784]

Love you and your amazing work Nigel. Buuuuuut.... all the time and energy in growing some big techs platform, who will use your work in a heartbeat without compensation or mention. Instasham should be a photographers last worries...

[@NigelDanson]

I don’t see it like that at all Brian. I see Instagram as a platform for sharing, enjoyment and a great way to grow a business. 👍🏼

[@thecaveofthedead]

The 4x5 thing made me chuckle because I do that just because I like that ratio - even for landscape format which is _not_ ideal for Instagram. Just got used to that ratio from 8x10 prints and my 6x7 camera. But I had kinda noticed that the portrait ones seemed to fill all the available screen space.

[@carlosdias1940]

Thank You Nigel, for another great perspective for social media. Request, if possible: At minute 2:48 refers for a video about more detailed export settings. Would you be able to provide a link? Looked in depth and couldn't find the video. Thank You ahead. Cheers

[@clairebrooksphotography]

I just tried uploading a blackboard image with the suggested image size and I reckon it’s the sharpest image I have on my feed! Thanks for the tip 👍🏻

[@clairebrooksphotography]

blackbird even!

[@gordo3295]

Brilliant explanation, thanks

[@thorvaldstolsmobe7555]

Thanks for awesome tips and an awesome channel! I am really going to try this out, but I’m wondering how you approach cropping landscape orientation images? Doing this may really change the composition of the image, so do you worry about that at all or do you just crop away and think of it as a completely separate image? I guess it depends whether you think of IG as a display of your art or a teaser for the “real” image on your web site. Or am I missing something? Cheers!

[@vladsirbu9538]

great tutorial Nigel, thanks. Just wanted to ask how can I avoid banding on instagram? it's really ruining my photos...

[@leonflack5673]

@Nigel Danson your Lightroom skills are amazing; I'm curious to know why you choose to use the Snapseed App rather than Lightroom Mobile for your phone app.

[@photosense57]

Nigel, thank you for that very important info on Instagram settings. I use Snapseed and Lightroom but I do it on my 12.9 iPad Pro. Easier to see the edits. That's what happens when you hit your 60's. Cheers from Ontario Canada.

[@AshleyWoodhams]

This is SO helpful...thanks mate!

[@zigatretjak75]

That’s a cool vblog and a great isolation of your studio

[@madcat1007]

Just finished Webinar with you. Thanks a lot for that. Very interesting. Hope you get to do them every week. Brilliant in these crap times!!

[@axadmethodic6827]

Digital painting editing feat Amanda Cerny kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYaoi2tuhNhomJo

[@aramoxs1911]

Thanks! i was just researching this, do you think uploading a photo that is 3200 x 4000 would be a good idea for making it look better on IG?

[@helenhiggs6171]

You can upload straight from Safari on your Mac by putting it in developer mode, choosing user agent from developer menu and choosing iphone

[@ofthewayministries]

I have always enjoyed your content, instruction, and process. This is wonderful to know. I have a couple of questions: (1) As you edit in Lightroom, why not complete the process in Lightroom mobile instead of Snapseed? Would the empress be thee same who you would retouch on the mobile app before exporting/saving for Instagram? (2) I've seen the recommendation to resize/crop for 4x5, but why not a 1x1 ratio (squared image)? Thanks for any guidance you provide for this.

[@scottnoble1076]

Another great video really informative thank you I've just also picked up you mentioned this photo with the boat and the water and Ladybower that is in the Peak District South Yorkshire Sheffield area and it is not the Lake District as I don't know what one there and only in the Peak District where I live hope this is helpful look forward to your next video what I'm going to watch shortly kind regards

[@simongrichting1136]

Thanks Nigel for another good video. It is truly amazing that you have launched free workshops for at risk people! Thanks again man! I missed the competition last week but I already have a good picture in mind for the next one;-) Looking forward to the next video:-)

[@TheSethGZ]

Can I get a link to the video about setting up your export file presets?

[@andrewiverach659]

Thanks Nigel great advice. I have loaded a photo at the max size to Instagram and looks a treat.

[@latingigolo]

Thanks for the video! Why do you use another app for editing on your cellphone and not Lightroom for mobile?

[@godkingjoshua]

This is really gonna help me grow on here and also Dayflash thanks so much

[@owenrose4000]

Is there a difference in quality from cropping to 5x4 in Snapseed as a pose to Lightroom? Great video cheers for the help!

[@Arseny.Petukhov]

I use Grids for Mac OS to upload to Instagram straight from my computer. Great app, you should check it out.

[@jonkers2007]

Excellent tips, thank you Nigel

[@janm2473]

This seems awfully complicated for the daughter of an immigrant..haha... This is really meant to be funny, Nigel.. Thank you for your wonderful videos and all the help you give us...We're grateful.. Happy Easter,

[@Bobcat-1967]

Snapseed also has a genius tool called "expand." You can enlarge the area around your image with im assuming some sort of cloning algorithm. its perfect if your background is uniform like a flat colour or sand and grass etc but not so good with trees and branches .

[@loribenton5975]

And I did not know that either. Thanks!

[@ghufranabubakar]

Hi Nigel. Loved this video really clear explanations and engaging tone. Just 2 quick question. 1) everywhere I have seen ppl talking about 4:5 aspect ratio including instagram recommended aspect ratio. You've mention 5:4 aspect ratio in there a big difference. 2)Do you have any particular export settings in snapseed. I've just set it to do not resize and left the jpg at 100%. I heard you say you click save so I'm guessing the expiry options matter?

[@NigelDanson]

It should be 4:5 - my mistake. Basically a portrait not landscape for maximum real estate on page.

[@ghufranabubakar]

@@NigelDanson thanks for the clarification

[@AlmoD95]

Do you use Lightroom Classic or Lightroom CC?

[@NigelDanson]

Classic

[@99bounz]

Thanks for a great video. Do you have any comments on quality for LR / Instagram plugin for Lightroom?

[@kreativistine]

Thank you for this video. Can you please share your different presets for image export for different uses? Or do you already have a video about that? 😊

[@rabtrekker]

Such good info, thanks!!!

[@robertpauljansen]

Hey Nigel, I have looked for the video you did on exporting settings but couldn't find it. Where can I find it? Thank you.

[@shyamrockstarter]

One thing I noticed with Snapseed is when you save as a copy it compresses the Jpg a lot. If you export it as a jpeg it is sometimes the same file size or larger(depending on the edits) than the original file.

[@NigelDanson]

Thanks - top tip!

[@CASMANWHAT]

I LOVE THIS! can you make more lighting videos? you explain lighting dynamics so well.

[@57sapke]

Love the video, thx for the tutorial. I have a question, when you use LR mobile to take a photo (dng) can you load this raw file in Snapseed? I tried this, but it converts to JPG.

[@dashimansu]

Really amazing information. Thanks

[@largefamilyruralliving7434]

Learned a bit about snapped i didn't know, thanks.

[@Lensamaulana]

thank you for this sir

[@JohnPaul-ii]

Why not just load to instagram straight from your computer Nigel ? Thanks for sharing again. Nice roller blinds.

[@NigelDanson]

You can’t unless you trick IG into thinking you are using a mobile... 👍🏼

[@_what_the]

You can. If you're interested how to do it, you can use the responsive mode in your browser

[@JohnPaul-ii]

Seem to work just fine on my computer kent T , and it has done for quite a long time. Thanks

[@JohnPaul-ii]

Have app on the iPad on wifi works fine Nigel . On pc also. Thanks 🙏

[@StreetfrontAlt]

@@_what_the Just using it now. Awesome tip that saves me so much time! Thank you.

[@martinmurel101]

Great video :) I noticed the quality was set to 90 and not 100. Why not 100?

[@hanna363]

Have you ever experienced blurry photos when posting more than one image? My instagram has done this for a year now and I have tried your techniques but they didn’t work for multiple images. I have an iPhone 11 used Snapseed to export and edit. Do you think this is an instagram issue?

[@Bilnsky]

yep

[@siddx388]

Yes me too😭 I hate Instagram for making the pics blurry

[@bronwolff6335]

Hi Nigel I use ON1RAW2020 . It seems if I follow your advice and crop to a 5x4 and then export out at your recommended width and height From ON1 , I get a perfect square. ☺️ am I missing something here or is it just ON1 ? Thanks

[@syd9587]

When I post a single pic using these methods it comes out clear, but what about the best way to post multiple at a time?

[@cesarm6131]

how come the image size setting in LR export was 3500x3500 px but the image was exported at 4x5 ratio?

[@NigelDanson]

It is set like that for longest edge

[@markgoeman8139]

Very helpful - thank you!

[@TomatenDK]

Hooooooooooly moly what a long explanation :O ! So whats the resolution when I want to save it on my pc ? So I can just upload it from my pc to Instagram ? I jkust need the two numbers (resolution) :D

[@tiamotiodio]

Do someone can suggest pages like earthoutdoors, that share other people photos?

[@venelinvishnin8341]

#somewheremagazine

[@evanb_8652]

Extremely informative and useful! It also confirms that you should upload images at a higher resolution. I think this might hold true for Facebook as well. Just a hunch... Thanks!

[@HD_FieldMedia]

great video, ill try some of your tips !!

[@MrMJBall]

I hope the other side of that screen is white, and you've got some mega comfortable sofas with a movie projector... Great set-up!

[@Moor3y]

Nigel love your videos!! I’ve watched a fair few on KZbin but yours come out top most definitely!! Love that you spend a lot of time in Lightroom as that’s what interests me a lot. I have a question though, when you are mentioning the presets in Lightroom for exporting you say you’re not going into detail as you have another video that does that, well I can’t find that video so would you be kind enough to link it for me? Thanks dude ✌️

[@smileymark13]

Hi Nigel, great explanation of how to get the best photo on Instagram. I have just started showing my work to the world and one thing I have discovered is by using fb creator studio it allows me to post my images / time lapse films a lot easier than downloading to my iPhone. I can edit all my media on the pc then use creator studio to post in my Facebook and Instagram in one action which saves me loads of time. Maybe worth a look for you. Cheers mark

[@dangerpowers123]

Big fan of snapseed. Use it more than Photoshop these days. You can even do masking on each change and edit you make

[@jason_glover]

hi Nigel i was wondering if in this lock down period if you could help me i am wanting to print my images to put in frames but am finding it hard how to resize my photo do i use mm/cm/inches or pixels im trying to print a photo to fit a hole in a matt that is A3 but i want a white border around the print so i can fix it to the back of the matt thank you for your help.

[@ivormorgan9030]

If you use LR this may help kzbin.info/www/bejne/pF62nqadoZh1edE

[@jasonparra9416]

Does uploading straight from Lightroom mobile have any quality loss? I usually prefer just editing on mobile then uploading from the app

[@jordanhart9441]

Do you mind me asking what lens you used to record this video and what settings you had your camera on? I'd like to learn how to get the background blur effect with subjects in my videos... Thx

[@defconzero]

wide aperture and pinpoint focus gets that blurred background

[@smickphoto]

What about LR instagram for Lightroom I use this to upload directly from Lightroom.

[@AlynWallace]

Interesting, I average about 50% of my impressions from hashtags

[@NigelDanson]

Really! I was speaking to Mads and his is similar to me... about to look at your hashtags

[@AlynWallace]

@@NigelDanson I haven't even updated my hashtag behaviour for years either most of them are probably dead now. Might do a refresh and see if I can increase it further

[@aaronjenkin]

I get more impressions from hashtags than I do from anything else (unless something goes wrong). My last post I had double the impressions from hashtags than from home. For me, if a post does well typically it has many more hashtag impressions.

[@erbenvanderlans6200]

@@aaronjenkin I'm experiencing the same but even more. Most of the time people find my photos via hashtags 4 times more than via de homepage. As an example, one of my last posts had 6911 impressions from hashtags and 'only' 1698 coming from the homepage.

[@kenspo]

@@NigelDanson Hashtags combined with time of posting is what gives me the most. Time of post maybe even more important. Tested with one pic..posted it at two different times with same hashtags. First one almost nothing..Second time..it blew up with likes and comments..But I'll never get Insta 100%..haha

[@gausselim1474]

I have so many questions, I don't know where to start. First, why export to phone? Can't these edits be made on PC and uploaded from there? Second, since I use a7r4, do I just leave resolution right where it's at? Third, I take many wildlife and portraits too so the 4×5 doesn't work because it cuts people and animals off at the sides. I'm more interested in carousels but it seems that Instagram will only allow 1 size for all images withing a carousel, so I must chose either 1x1 or 4x5. Can I use the Instagram editor for each image within those carousels? This Instagram thing seems like endless work and I haven't even posted anything yet because I can't get anyone to answer any of my questions. I'll pay for help. I just need it.

[@hervek.1941]

When I took my photos I always do it in 3x2 format and my eyes are used to work on this format. Do you take photos for insta and other support or you just resize the same pictures when posting it on insta ? (Hope my question is clear)

[@agegirl]

When u choose 2x3 what does that equal to? It seems like when u choose that it doesn’t crop the photo as much. And, does 4x5 equal to 1080x1350? To get the maximum amount of photo, if I am cropping through an app..does it matter if I choose the 2x3? Obviously there’s a difference in size but, will Ig and fb allow the whole photo if I choose 2x3 or will it compress it? Also, using an app to crop what is the difference between cropping the ratio to 4x5 versus resizing entering the dimension “1080x1350?” (Sorry if I’m confusing you. I confuse myself 🤦🏻‍♀️ lol) I’m doing all of this on iOS device. Not on desktop. Any suggestions?

[@agegirl]

When u choose 2x3 what does that equal to? It seems like when u choose that it doesn’t crop the photo as much. And, does 4x5 equal to 1080x1350? To get the maximum amount of photo, if I am cropping through an app..does it matter if I choose the 2x3? Obviously there’s a difference in size but, will Ig and fb allow the whole photo if I choose 2x3 or will it compress it? Also, using an app to crop what is the difference between cropping the ratio to 4x5 versus resizing entering the dimension “1080x1350?” (Sorry if I’m confusing you. I confuse myself 🤦🏻‍♀️ lol) I’m doing all of this on iOS device. Not on desktop. Any suggestions?

[@kaylastamper9639]

Is there a reason my Lightroom doesn’t look the same as yours? I know there’s Lightroom and Lightroom classic. But the one your using is the regular Lightroom? And mine doesn’t have that many options

[@gmcacadia9973]

I have a lot of photos on my hard drive that I'd like to share on IG. Is there a way to convince IG to allow upload from a PC? The current method is rather tedious to complete.

[@junaidjaved7686]

Hi! I am afraid IG doesnt allow uploading of posts from a PC :/

[@junaidjaved7686]

Hi! I am afraid IG doesn not allow yhe user to post from a PC.

[@KonstantinDikov]

You can upload from your PC. Open Chrome, press F12 on the keyboard to open developers tool window. At the right-top corner of the developer tools there is a button for switching between standard and mobile preview. Click for mobile preview and refresh the page by pressing F5. Now you should be able to see the + button for uploading.

[@NickLewis]

Great video and I loved the sneak peek of your backdrop? or is it just a divider?

[@NigelDanson]

It is actually a projector screen but works as a divider to help sound and light as well 👍🏼

[@MichaelMartin-lv6fs]

Hi Nigel I've tried your settings and cannot replicate the results. (Android phone) My photos look very pixelated on Instagram. Recently in fact most of my previous photos on Instagram have also become pixelated, even though they weren't before. I'm struggling to figure this out!

[@glead82]

Is there a difference between snapseed and Lightroom mobile? You could create a collection and sync it to Lightroom mobile, do the edits for IG and export or share directly to IG.

[@Julien.Esnault]

If we just export 3500x3500 without going on snapseed, it works aswell or we need to do a second edit ? Thank you :)

[@goat2503]

I edit with Lightroom mobile on my iPad, how do you do it this way?

[@vinnykeenan4215]

that's pretty cool, a mini man cave at the flick of the remote... good advice there Nigel

[@pematamang9268]

Is W and H is 3500 Pixel is not too large for instagram and it could be reduce file size automatically by instagram and make worst quality. Can you correct me.

[@darkroomprojekt625]

Hey Nigel, Great work as always. Any tips on uploading a high res video to IG? I have a time lapse I made in Adobe Premier and every time I upload the quality is rubbish (I have a ghost acct I use to ensure quality on uploads). Maybe you could make a video on that? Take care, friend.

[@1wheelken]

For anyone wondering how to flip the 4x5/8x10 crop to portrait for IG, hit the "X" key to toggle back n forth...

[@ashleywilliams9890]

Ahhhh thank you! Top tip of the day!

[@DavidinEssexUK]

What about using @ tags. Some people/magazines etc suggest tagging the with an @?

[@lobsterkitty7]

Very helpful, thank you for sharing!