Make Your Photos POP!

As a marketer, I'm often faced with the task to "make it pop!"

Although this is usually in reference to traditional ads, the same rules apply to the photos we post on social media. I treat an Instagram feed like a magazine layout. You have one opportunity to capture someone's attention so make it pop off the screen.

​Here are the top three ways to give your photos the pop they deserve:

1. Clarity

Increasing clarity is a sure way to separate your subject from the background. Unlike contrast tools, clarity increases the mid-tones which leaves the highlights unaffected. 

Aside from the clarity feature commonly used in Adobe Lightroom, try using Pixlr's Ingrid or Hagrid filter for an easy one click solution.

2. Saturation

There's no doubt that photos rich in color pop on any platform. By increasing saturation you enhance the colors that already live within the photo. Just the slightest bump will bring out the pop of color you're looking for. If your photo starts to look too warm (or orange) you can increase the cool tones of the photo which will balance it out and still maintain a vibrant feel.

3. Shadows

Lifting shadows is the number one (and my favorite) way to bring a photo to the finish line. This is often my first step to giving a photo life and really see what I'm working with. Bright well-lit photos are my personal favorite and when you lift the shadows at any level you're bringing it one step closer to that aesthetic.

Lightroom and Snapseed have the best tools to lift shadows.