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The SITS Girls

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Instagram How To: An Easy Tutorial

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I first heard of Instagram after seeing people use it on twitter: It made their photos look so fun!  But it’s not just a photo-editing app: It’s a way to share photos to different social networks easily and you can follow people right in Instagram to keep up with what your friends are doing in a visual way, instead of text like on twitter and facebook.

Have you ever wondered how to use Instagram to grow your blog? Most of us have! This beginners guide to Instagram will get you off and running in the right direction. I

How to Use Instagram

We’ll start with the basics of how to use Instagram today, but watch out for more posts this week on what else you can do with it.

You can download Instagram for free on your iPhone, iPod, iPad, or Droid.  Once you have the app, you’ll need to set up your account. You’ll see a screen that looks like this:

instagram welcome

Tap “Sign Up” and you’ll get this next Instagram screen:

instagram sign up

Enter your info: you might want to use your twitter name as your username for consistency, to make it easier for people to find you and so that photos others take and tag you in will show up in your twitter stream.  Only add your phone number if you want people to be able to search their phone contacts and find your Instagram account that way. Do add a photo of you for your profile.

How to Take Photos with Instagram

You are now ready to start taking photos. Press the camera button on the bottom middle.

instagram tutorial

On the bottom of your screen, either press the camera button to take a photo or press the button on the far left to use a photo from your camera roll.

instagram tutorial

I used a photo from my camera roll, so next I could move and scale my photo. Push and pull to scale. Click “choose” when you are happy with your photo.

instagram tutorial

Choose a filter from the bottom of your screen: scroll left and right to see different filters. At the top of your screen, you can also(from left to right): adjust the frame, go back, add a blur, or cancel the photo. Click the green checkmark when you are satisfied or the red X if you change your mind about a photo.

how do you use instagram

On the next screen, you can add a caption and share your photo to your different accounts if you so choose. When you are writing your caption, you can add hashtags like you would on twitter.  This is also where you can configure your social media accounts. I only have my twitter account linked and only tweet certain photos.  I do sometimes share elsewhere but just use the photo as it was saved on my phone and upload how I’d upload other photos. It’s a matter of preference and convenience.

how to use instagram

Click done when you have the caption you want along with the social networks you want to share this photo with and then you’ll see your final photo. For more information about Instagram, check out: Finding Your Friends on Instagram.

instagram tutorials

About Tracie Nall

Tracie lives in Arizona with her husband, teen daughter, and more books than her shelves will hold. She spends her days writing and editing. Many of her words end up on her blog, From Tracie. Find Tracie on Twitter @FromTracie and on Instagram where she takes pictures of things that are yellow.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. brash and sensual says

    I have a Droid and couldn’t access the photos already on my phone until I deactivated the instagram camera which was encouraged early on in the settings. In your tutorial you mentioned the button to the far left to access previously taken photos but the only button there is the home button which goes to some billboard free for all page. Your tutorial was well done and thank you for the quick and simple. I just wanted to share an obstacle others may encounter. :o)

  5. Charlotte says

    Thanks so much for this tutorial, Shell! I downloaded the Instagram app but haven’t really done much with it. After reading this, I posted a pic taken earlier today with my brother at his graduation (I’m such a proud big sis, but my brother is about 3 feet taller than me, LOL!!)

    This is awesome and I’ll definitely use more often. You are the best! Also I’ve missed you and will stop by and catch up this weekend. XOXO

  14. Sherelle says

    I have yet to use instagram. I have so many social networking accounts, and at this point I hesitate to get to know another. I know they are important tools needed to get my blog out there, as well as staying relevant with new social networks! These tutorials will be helpful!

  15. Morgan {Style Oyster} says

    I love love love InstaGram. Best way to quickly share pics of the kids (I can be bad at downloading from my main cam and emailing to family)…so this way they can see right away. I love seeing everyone’s picture updates…it is such a great insight into “real” lives. xoxo

  18. Kriss @ Cabin Goddess says

    I have been an iPhone addict of instagram for a while! So glad I was able to find this, thanks to someone I indoctrinated into the obsession. I did my post today and linked up the linky page also! I forgot to put the hashtag #outside but I did use #dayone thanks again this is a great intro post, is the Android version> iPhone does not have as many app options!