NOTE: This post, “Social Media Images for Snapchat”, introduces Snapchat’s requirements for images needed in setting up your account and the images and videos you plan to use in posts on this site.
This 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.
Be sure to maintain consistency (and your branding) by using the same colors, banner, headshot, and fonts from other social media sites to make you/your business recognizable.
To repeat, you ideally start with an image as large as you can make it, usually 1,080 px wide by χχ px high.
Snapchat 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, stretching, or compressing.
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., profSnap or snapProf meaning profile picture for Snapchat or coverSnap meaning cover photo for Snapchat.
Develop your own preference and then be consistent to reduce confusion!
NOTE: Any post content on Snapchat must comply with their Community Guidelines and Privacy Policy.
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| In this post | Back to “Intro to Social Media |
| Snapchat | Online Imaging Options |
| Resources for Social Media Images | Definitions |
Exploring More . . .
You may want to also 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.
If you found this post on “Social Media Images for Snapchat” interesting, consider subscribing to KD Did It, if you’d like to track this post for future updates.
| Snapchat Social Media Images | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part of Web Building: Behind the Scenes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Definition: Any image you use on your social media site, including banners.
Snapchat is a mobile social media app that allows users to send photos, videos, and other media to particular recipients to receive. These snaps, a.k.a. photos and videos, are automatically deleted after the recipient views them — Users can choose how long the snap is visible for or save it. There is also a paid subscription level, Snapchat +, that provides access to exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features. Pricing may vary in different countries and devices. |
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| Snapchat Account Set-up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You can have a personal Snapchat account and a business one, business only if you’re 18 years of age.
When setting up an account on Snapchat, you’ll need: |
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| Snapchat Profile Page | Definition: Your Profile page is where you express yourself to the Snapchat community and where you can access Insights to check on post metrics and how many subscribers you have. |
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It features your 3D Bitmoji avatar, location on the Map, friend info, and more.
You can customize its pose and change the background with different colors or images depending on your settings. There are four Profiles:
A.k.a. Profile Screen |
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| Snapchat Private (My) Profile | Definition: Allows you to include particular friends.
NOTE: A Private Profile hides personal information. |
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| Snapchat Public Profile | Definition: Allows for full control over where each Snap is shared, who can see it, and if you want your content saved to your Public Profile or not.
Use your Public Profile to express yourself to the wider Snapchat community. Posts can be promoted as an ad. A.k.a. Business Profile |
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| Snapchat Friendship Profile | Definition: A private space to view saved messages, snaps, and other content with a specific friend. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Snapchat Group Profile | Definition: Displays saved Snaps and Chats for a specific Group Chat, as well as information about the other members of the group. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Snapchat Profile Header | Definition: An optional image at the top of your Profile Page.
The cover image should clearly reflect your brand colors, logo, and overall aesthetic, instantly making your profile recognizable. A.k.a. cover photo, hero image, profile banner |
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| Snapchat Profile Photo | Definition: A three-dimensional avatar below the optional banner of your Profile Page.
Create your avatar in Snapchat. See “How to Create and Edit My Bitmoji Avatar“. |
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| Snapchat Biography | Definition: You are allowed up to 150 characters for a biography to share interests, hobbies, fun facts, or anything else you want your friends or the general public to know about you. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| If not a video, photos will be converted to video. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Snapchat Chat | Definition: Direct messaging feature where you can make voice calls, send text, emojis, photos, and videos to individual friends or groups.
See image specs in Snapchat Snaps |
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| Snapchat Snaps | Definition: A single photo, short video, or other media that disappears after the recipient views it once. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Snaps can be compiled into Stories.
Lenses allow you to transform your Snaps. |
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| Snapchat Lens | Definition: Allows you to transform your Snaps adding 3D effects, objects, characters, and more.
Specialized lens are everywhere and can do most anything — explore Face Lens, World Lens, Scan Lens, Photoshoot Lens, Connected Lens, Dress Up Lens, AI Lens, and so many more. Be aware that Lenses come and go and may not always be available. Some Lenses have Context Cards that
Be aware there are a number of restrictions based around Lenses. Check out “How Do I Use Lenses on Snapchat?“. Find new Lenses. Source: How |
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| Snapchat Filter | Definition: A design overlay that you add on top of your Snap. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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You can add:
They are only available in designated areas, a.k.a. geofences. A.k.a. custom filter, geofilter, on-demand filter |
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| Snapchat Snapcodes | Definition: Allows you to unlock special Lenses that can be used for a limited time:
Explore more at What is a Snapcode? |
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| Snapchat Video Call | Definition: A live video conversation with one to 15 people on Snapchat.
For video call specs see the video specifications under Snapchat Stories. |
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| Snapchat Stories | Definition: A collection of photos or videos (Snaps) that play in the order they were taken that can be viewed by your friends for 24 hours and that users can post to share with their friends. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Videos may be Live, motion graphic, or stop motion video.
They must include audio. |
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| See the Example of a Snapchat Chat image above. Just imagine it moving. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Snapchat Spotlight | Definition: A public feed where users can submit their Snaps to be seen by a wider audience on Snapchat, with the potential to go viral. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 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.
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/>
“How Do I Find New Lenses on Snapchat?” Snapchat Support. Snapchat. n.d. Accessed 24 Dec 2024. <https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012408719892-How-do-I-find-new-Lenses-on-Snapchat>. 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.
Pinterest Photo Credits
Snapchat Icon by maulid091 is free, via Vecteezy.
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