As the second most engaged social media network, Instagram is a vital communications tool for all small businesses. In case you’re behind the times, Instagram is predominantly a photo and video sharing platform. But you need to do more than post any old photo—you need to keep it professional and polished.
That’s where Instagram presets come in. These predetermined photo edits help you quickly and easily adjust photos from a computer, tablet or phone. There are many programs out there that can help you transform images in a single-click and function similarly to Instagram’s own filters. Additionally, you can use photo editing programs like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop Elements to create your own custom presets.
Why use presets though? Because having a unified look on your Instagram page can help provide that polished and professional presentation that is necessary in today’s market. You can carry over your brand identity to not only the quality of your content, but also the story your images tell.
Additionally and equally important, presets save you time. Do you like your images slightly overexposed? Or perhaps you prefer a slight sepia look to them? Rather than adjusting images one-by-one, you can quickly and easily adjust a bulk of photos with your preset edits.
Hootsuite Presets
Starting with a high quality photo is always key. No matter how much you edit, quality can never be substituted. Hootsuite utilizes settings in Lightroom to host its presets for Instagram. By downloading the files onto your computer or phone, you can open them in Lightroom and get editing. Hootsuite offers between 5 and 10 presets that can be shared between your devices.
To access them, first you need to download Lightroom to your phone. Then, you’ll download the .dng files from Hootsuite onto a desktop computer, and electronically send them to your mobile phone. Once you’ve signed up for Lightroom, you can import the files that have been saved onto your phone. Here’s just a few of the Hootsuite presets.
Dark Presets
Hootsuite offers multiple types of “Dark” presets. They provide a high contrast look, from saturated to slightly washed out photos. It’s just a question of how saturated and contrasted you want your images to appear. This cooler preset might be perfect for a brand that wants to be bold.
Light Presets
As the opposite of “Dark” presets, “Light” presets take high contrast images and desaturates them. Why? Because your brand might fit with that look—a relaxed, warm vibe rather than a moody, heavy appearance.
Neon
Have you ever taken a photo on a dark street and the color of the nearby signs just don’t “pop” like in real life? Neon gives color a vibrant new life, while focusing the image to give it a clearer, crisper appearance. Urban companies that use cityscapes to promote their brand might apply this preset.
Of course, we’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to Instagram presets. If you need help with Instagram and are not sure how to achieve that professional look, an experienced social media manager like Aliya Hammond Consulting can help you navigate the journey and successfully build your brand.
You’ve probably realized by now that Social Media is no longer an option. In fact, it is a vital and highly successful tool for building a business. Aliya Hammond Consulting is an online Digital Marketing, Training, and Consulting Company headquartered in the greater Philadelphia area. We specialize in Social Media Management and Marketing, Social Media Training, Blog Writing, and Graphic Design Services for small and large businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. If you are looking to improve or increase your online presence, you can rest assured you are in good hands with us. Contact Aliya Hammond Consulting today to find out how we can help your business grow!
