Nothing compares to professional wedding pics, but it's fun to take personal photos on your big day too. As part of Brides' first #BridesTakeover Instagram series, fine art wedding photographer extraordinaire Jose Villa is dishing advice on how to make the most of your Instagram photos. (Bonus: He posted exclusive — and gorgeous — pictures on the Brides Instagram too!) Below, Villa reveals what can make and break the social media shot.
Brides: What are some tips for shooting beautiful Instagram photos?
Jose Villa: I'm always thinking of the overall palette of the images when they are grouped together. In order to make those images in your profile not look so cluttered, I keep in mind simple, clean backdrops with not too much black. I like softer, airier images, and black tends to make the images too busy for my eye.
Brides: What is your favorite filter?
JV: I try not to use the filters Instagram has, but I do like using Google's Snap Seed, which is a free application! It can get overwhelming with all the filter options, but I just use the "tune image" to keep it simple.
Brides: Can you tell us why you chose these particular photos for our Instagram takeover?
JV: I always like to post images that have interest, things that are not seen every day. I love color and simplicity, so I kept that in mind as I chose these images for your followers. I also wanted to make sure that they had a fun and unique story to them. I love moments and details that people usually walk past and take for granted, which I think is extremely important.
Brides: What are your favorite kinds of Instagram photos?
JV: Simple, clean, classic, timeless, and elegant images. More specifically, gorgeous landscapes and gorgeous details.
—Written by Donna Kim for Brides
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