NOTE: This post, “Social Media Images for Instagram”, introduces Instagram’s requirements for images needed in setting up your account and the images and videos you plan to use in posts on this site.
The post’s intention is to provide this information about fields and provide image examples of what the various post types look like to help you in preparing the images and text you’ll need.
To repeat, you ideally start with an image as large as you can make it, usually 1,080 px wide by χχ px high. Instagram will adjust your image to suit their guidelines, so be sure to pre-adjust your image to the correct dimensions to ensure your composition isn’t compromised by automatic cropping. This will ensure clarity. Keep this file as your original. Make duplicates of it for every different size you’ll need. I like to label my images with its purpose and the social media name, e.g., profInsta or instaProf meaning profile picture for Instagram or coverInsta meaning cover photo for Instagram.
Develop your own preference and then be consistent to reduce confusion!
NOTE: Any post content on Instagram must comply with their Community Standards, Terms of Use, Branded Content Policies, Data Policy, and Platform Policy.
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In this post | Back to “Intro to Social Media |
Online Imaging Options | |
Resources for Social Media Images | Definitions |
Exploring More . . .
You may want to revisit “Intro to Social Media Images” and/or look at more possibilities in “Images on Your Website” and “Understanding Licensing” or have some fun on the homepage Building Your Author Website.
For more on websites, check out: “First Steps for a Website“, “Outline Your Website“, “Anatomy of a Web Page“, “Pages on the Front End of Your Website“, “Pages Behind the Scenes of Your Website“, “More Specific Disclosures for Your Website“, and “Navigation For Your Website“.
Build Your Author Website is . . .
. . . an opportunity to do a bit more with your author’s website or blog and have some fun with it as well as getting a look at building it from the ground up with a comprehensive listing of the pages you’ll need . . . all while learning something about HTML (hypertext markup language) and CSS (cascading style sheets) — the easy way, lol.
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Instagram Social Media Images | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Part of Web Building: Behind the Scenes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Definition: Any image you use on your social media site, including banners.
Some types of content that perform well on Instagram include:
All images are cropped to a square in the feed. The maximum number of images per post is 10. – Carousel Use the best resolution possible. |
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Instagram Account Set-up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When setting up an account on Instagram, you’ll need: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Instagram Profile Page | Definition: A place on Instagram where you introduce yourself and your posts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It is set below the Instagram post image.
NOTE: Instagram profile and username are often used interchangeably. |
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Instagram Header | Definition: A collection of image(s) at the top of a profile page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It’s a key part of a social media profile because it’s the first thing that draws attention to your profile.
Some tips:
For the most part, cover shots are only used on videos, Reels, and Stories. Examples of what you can include in an Instagram header:
A.k.a. banner, cover image, cover photo |
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Instagram Profile Photo | Definition: Your picture, or at least one representing you. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Instagram uses a circle, so ensure that your image, when cropped, includes what you want — avoid full-height or waist-level photos.
NOTE: Followers won’t be able to click your profile to expand it, so the picture should be clear. |
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Instagram Biography | You are allowed up to 150 characters for a biography, so make the most of it.
If you have a website, include its address. |
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Instagram Images | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If the aspect ratio of your photo isn’t supported, it will be cropped to fit a supported ratio.
Use a phone with a high-quality camera as different phones have cameras of varying qualities. |
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Safe Zone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pay attention to your safe zone when creating your images and leave approximately “14% (250 px) of the top and bottom of the image free from text and logos” to prevent them from being covered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Instagram Still Images | Still images visually communicate experiences, allow you to express yourself, connect with others, and capture attention quickly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Instagram Carousel | Definition: Users can swipe through multiple images or videos.
Useful to show some behind-the-scenes action and appear more transparent to your followers. |
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For example, if you are a Personal Trainer, this could be a carousel of training routines to show different exercises to go along with an explainer caption.
Can upload up to 10 images. A.k.a. multiple images |
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Instagram Boomerang | Definition: Similar to a video except it takes multiple photos (normally around 20 photos) in a short time of 3-4 seconds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It looks like a short video that is played forwards and backwards.
The images can be converted into a video. A.k.a. burst images |
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Instagram Video | There are four types of videos on Instagram: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Instagram In-feed Video | Definition: A regular video that you share to your profile and it shows up in your followers’ main feeds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Click play button to play video |
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Instagram Stories | Allows you to share photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours unless you add them to your profile as a Story Highlight. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Instagram Reels | Definition: Reels allows users to record and edit short videos designed in direct competition with TikTok. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reels are made up of a single clip or multiple clips edited together.
Music, visual effects, on-screen text, closed captions, and voiceovers can be added to recorded clips right in the app. Record a reel with your own original audio, with original audio by another Reels creator, or with audio from the Instagram audio library using the Audio tool in Reels. NOTE: You can not use original audio from a feed video unless you remix the video. NOTE: Be sure to place any text or important visuals in the center “safe zone” of your video. A.k.a. IG Reels |
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Instagram Reels Cover Photo | Definition: The image that represents the content of a particular Reel. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Instagram Live Video | Definition: Allows users to broadcast live videos on Instagram using streaming software (OBS, Streamlabs, etc.) through a stream key to your followers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Live streams can last up to four hours and can include up to three guests (co-hosts) through a virtual Live Room.
Connect with your audience in a more personal way and give them a behind-the-scenes look at your business. Use Live to promote events or products, answer questions from followers, host workshops, conduct interviews, follower funding for creators, live fundraisers (in partnership with PayPal Giving Fund) and more. |
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Instagram Thumbnail | Definition: Smaller images of content and videos presented in rows when someone goes to your page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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They will expand when clicked and include a place for people to comment.
It can also be your profile picture reduced in size to add it to posts, etc. |
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Threads | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Definition: Allows users to post text updates up to 500 characters, along with other types of content such as images, GIFs, and links.
Part of Instagram and meant to supplant Twitter with an emphasis on social networking. Images include photos, videos, or a combination and use the same specifications as Instagram. |
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Threads Account Set-up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Uses the Instagram set-up. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which website issues are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix the . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Working Your Website posts in its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Word Confusions, and Writing Ideas and Resources.
Resources for Instagram Social Media Images
Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I will earn a small percentage, if you should buy it. It does not affect the price you pay.
Bull, Hayley. “GIF vs Boomerangs.” iShoot Photobooth. 18 Jan 2019. Accessed 10 Nov 2024. <https://ishootphotobooth.com.au/2019/01/what-are-gifs-and-boomerangs/>. Article.
Davies, Olivia. “10 Types of Visual Content That Performs Well on Instagram.” Picture Perfect. 27 July 2022. Accessed 10 Nov 2024. <https://www.pictureperfectphoto.co.uk/10-types-of-visual-content-that-performs-well-on-instagram/>. Article.
Dial, Minter. “Write a Great Bio.” MINTER DIAL: Brand strategy and digital transformation. 3 Sept 2014. Accessed 5 April 2019. <http://minterdial.com/2014/09/write-a-great-bio/>
Influencer Marketing Hub Team. “Your Complete Guide to Instagram Image Sizes for 2024.” Influencer Marketing Hub. 5 Sept 2024. Accessed 21 Nov 2024. <https://influencermarketinghub.com/instagram-image-sizes/>. Article.
Jackson, Austin James. “Best Export Settings for Instagram in 2024.” Adorama. 1 Jan 2024. Accessed 25 Mar 2024. <https://www.adorama.com/alc/instagram-export-settings/>.
Newberry, Christina. “Instagram Video: Specs, Tips, and Examples for 2024.” Hootsuite. 12 Oct 2023. Accessed 12 Nov 2024. <https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-video/>. Article.
Nizzoli, Giada. “Using Images in Blog Posts: Complete Guide for Businesses.” Crafty Copy. n.d. Accessed 25 June 2024. <https://craftycopy.co.uk/blog/guide-on-how-to-use-images-in-blog-posts>.
Nyst, Annabelle. “Social Media Image Size Guide For All Platforms in 2024.” Search Engine Journal. 19 Sept 2024. Accessed 10 Nov 2024. <https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media-image-sizes/488891/>. Article.
Olafson, Karin and Tony Tran. “Social Media Image Sizes for All Networks [December 2024].” Blog. Hootsuite. 3 Dec 2024. Accessed 6 Dec 2024. <https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-image-sizes-guide/>. Article.
“Reels.” Features. Instagram. n.d. Accessed 10 Nov 2024. <https://help.instagram.com/270447560766967/?helpref=hc_fnav>. Article.
Sadhu, Sparsh. “The Best Instagram Image Sizes: A Guide for 2024.” SocialPilot. 6 Jan 2024. Accessed 25 Mar 2024. <https://www.socialpilot.co/instagram-marketing/instagram-image-size-guide>.
Pinterest Photo Credits
Instagram Icon by Ian Spalter, Joy-Vincent Niemantsverdriet, Eric Goud, and Robert Padbury is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons and courtesy of Instagram.
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