Now that Instagram Stories has been in existence for exactly one year, it is high time for some practical tips to make your Stories stand out from the rest.
The best Instagram Stories tips
While Snapchat dominated the market a year ago, it is different in 2017. With a series of major updates to Instagram, Facebook has made the ultimate Snapchat competitor, which has now overtaken the app with the white ghost.
1. Select the correct Story setting
If you decide to create an Instagram Story, it’s smart to get started right away. Before taking a photo or recording video, you can choose from Normal, Boomerang, Playback Video and Hands-free. As the name suggests, Normal is meant for simple photos, but with a Boomerang you can make a video repeat itself continuously.
The picture first forwards and then backwards. Playback video records itself completely from back to front and Handsfree finally makes a 15-second video that does not require you to hold down the record button.
2. Use photos from your camera roll (even if they are older than 24 hours)
Sure, you can use Instagram’s built-in camera, but chances are many of your best photos and selfies are in your Camera Roll. Fortunately, you can also just post it in an Instagram Story.
You do this by swiping down on your screen in the Story screen. Then all photos and videos that you have taken in the past 24 hours will appear. If you want to upload an older file, you have to fool Instagram. You do this by sending the file to yourself in WhatsApp. By then saving this file, Instagram thinks it is a new photo.
3. Add selfie stickers
In addition to stickers, locations, text and drawings, you can also add a selfie sticker of yourself to a photo. Nice if you photograph a beautiful landscape on vacation, but also want to show how you look yourself.
You make these selfie stickers by first choosing an image for your Story. Then tap the sticker icon in the top right corner of the screen. Then tap the camera icon in the menu that appears on the screen. Take a selfie and post it in a location of your choice. You can also change the format.
4. Pin stickers to a moving object
Stickers may look like boring pictures at first, but there is an easy way to bring them to life. You can attach every sticker to a moving object in your video.
You do this by choosing a sticker, placing it on a location and then pressing and holding the screen. A bar will appear on the screen with the text ‘Freeze’ below it. Then give Instagram a few seconds to apply the sticker and you will immediately see the result. By tapping the sticker again you can remove or change it.
5. Add music to your videos
You might not know, but it’s really easy to add background music to your Instagram Story. Since Instagram is listening in, you can just turn on music on your iPhone to automatically use it as background music. Put on music (in a music app of your choice), record your Story and listen to the result.
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