How to Post Portrait and Landscape Photos on Instagram

Instagram has evolved beyond the basic square photo format that once defined it. Now, users can post photos in both portrait and landscape orientations, providing more flexibility in showcasing their content. However, Instagram’s format still prioritizes certain aspect ratios, and without proper adjustments, your photos can end up cropped or distorted. Whether you’re a photographer, influencer, or casual user, knowing how to post portrait and landscape photos on Instagram will help you present your images in the best possible way.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the step-by-step process for posting portrait and landscape photos, explore Instagram’s aspect ratio requirements, and share tips on how to optimize your images for the platform.

1. Understanding Instagram’s Aspect Ratios

Before diving into how to post different photo orientations, it’s important to understand Instagram’s aspect ratio requirements. Aspect ratio refers to the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image.

a) Square Photos

Square photos were Instagram’s original format, and they are still widely used. The aspect ratio for a square photo is 1:1, meaning the width and height are the same.

• Dimensions: 1080px x 1080px (recommended size)
• Best for: General posts, close-up shots, or symmetrical compositions.

b) Portrait Photos

Portrait photos are taller than they are wide, making them ideal for vertical shots such as full-body portraits or landscapes with tall elements.

• Aspect ratio: 4:5 (width: height)
• Dimensions: 1080px x 1350px (recommended size)
• Best for: Portrait photography, fashion, and content where height is more visually engaging.

c) Landscape Photos

Landscape photos are wider than they are tall and are typically used for scenic shots, group photos, or wide-angle views.

• Aspect ratio: 1.91:1 (width: height)
• Dimensions: 1080px x 566px (recommended size)
• Best for: Wide shots like landscapes, architecture, or group photos.

2. Posting Portrait Photos on Instagram

Portrait photos are becoming increasingly popular because they occupy more screen space, making them more engaging for viewers. Posting portrait photos requires careful handling to avoid unwanted cropping or image compression.

Step-by-Step Guide to Posting Portrait Photos

1. Open Instagram and Tap the Plus Icon
   To get started, open your Instagram app and tap the + icon at the bottom of the screen. This will open the photo selection interface, where you can choose an image to post.
2. Select Your Portrait Photo
   Scroll through your photo gallery and choose the portrait photo you want to post. When you select it, Instagram will automatically crop the image to a square (1:1) format.
3. Tap the Resize Icon
   To avoid cropping your portrait photo, tap the resize icon (the two diagonal arrows in the bottom left corner of the image). This will adjust the photo to its original portrait aspect ratio, fitting the entire image within the frame. The image will now be displayed in its full 4:5 aspect ratio.
4. Edit the Photo
   Once the photo is resized, you can proceed with editing. Instagram provides a variety of filters and editing tools to enhance your photo. You can adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and more to make the photo stand out.
5. Post the Photo
   After editing, click Next. Add your caption, location, and tags as needed. Once you’re ready, click Share to post the photo on your Instagram feed.

Challenges with Posting Portrait Photos

• Cropping: If your portrait photo doesn’t match Instagram’s 4:5 aspect ratio, it will be cropped. In this case, you can manually adjust the cropping within the app or use external editing apps to resize the photo to 4:5 before uploading.
• Image Compression: Instagram automatically compresses images, which can reduce quality. Uploading at the recommended dimensions (1080px x 1350px) helps minimize the impact of compression.

Best Practices for Posting Portrait Photos

• Compose Your Shot Vertically: When taking portrait photos for Instagram, shoot vertically. This ensures the composition fits Instagram’s portrait format without requiring significant cropping.
• Use Editing Apps: If your photo doesn’t fit Instagram’s portrait dimensions, use photo editing apps like Adobe Lightroom, Canva, or Snapseed to adjust the aspect ratio before posting.

3. Posting Landscape Photos on Instagram

While Instagram primarily favors vertical images due to its mobile-first interface, landscape photos still have their place. Landscape images are great for showcasing wide scenes or capturing panoramic views, but posting them without compromising on size or quality requires specific adjustments.

Step-by-Step Guide to Posting Landscape Photos

1. Open Instagram and Tap the Plus Icon
   Start by tapping the + icon at the bottom of your screen to open your photo gallery.
2. Select Your Landscape Photo
   Choose the landscape photo you want to post. Initially, Instagram will crop your landscape photo to a square format. However, landscape photos need a wider aspect ratio to be viewed correctly.
3. Tap the Resize Icon
   To fit your landscape photo to the correct aspect ratio, tap the resize icon (the two diagonal arrows). Instagram will now display the photo in its original landscape format (1.91:1).
4. Edit the Photo
   Once your landscape photo is resized, proceed to edit it as you would any other photo. Use Instagram’s built-in filters and editing tools to adjust brightness, sharpness, and color.
5. Post the Photo
   After editing, click Next and prepare your post. Add a caption, location, hashtags, and tags if necessary. When ready, click Share to post the landscape photo to your feed.

Challenges with Posting Landscape Photos

• Screen Real Estate: Since landscape photos occupy less vertical space on mobile screens, they might not be as visually impactful as portrait photos. To compensate, make sure the photo has striking details that grab attention.
• Cropping: If your landscape photo isn’t within the 1.91:1 aspect ratio, Instagram will crop it. Consider resizing your image beforehand using apps like Photoshop or Canva to avoid losing important parts of the image.

Best Practices for Posting Landscape Photos

• Wide Shots Work Best: Landscape photos work best when capturing wide scenes like panoramic landscapes, architecture, or large group photos.
• Focus on Composition: Since landscape photos won’t take up much vertical space, ensure the composition is eye-catching and focuses on the main subject.
• Use External Editing Apps: If your landscape photo doesn’t fit Instagram’s required aspect ratio, use photo editing apps to resize and reformat the image before posting.

4. Posting a Mix of Portrait and Landscape Photos in a Carousel Post

Carousel posts allow you to share multiple images in a single post, but mixing portrait and landscape photos can present challenges due to Instagram’s formatting. Here’s how to maintain consistency in a carousel post without compromising on quality.

Step-by-Step Guide for Posting Mixed Orientation Photos

1. Open Instagram and Select Carousel Option
   Tap the + icon, then select the carousel icon (two overlapping squares) to choose multiple photos.
2. Select Your Photos
   Choose the portrait and landscape photos you want to include. Instagram will automatically crop each image to a uniform aspect ratio (either portrait or landscape, depending on the first image selected).
3. Adjust Cropping Manually
   Instagram will crop the remaining photos to match the aspect ratio of the first photo. If you want to avoid automatic cropping, resize the images beforehand using photo editing apps to ensure they have the same aspect ratio.
4. Edit Each Image Individually
   After resizing, edit each image using Instagram’s filters and editing tools.
5. Post the Carousel
   Once you’ve edited and resized the photos, tap Next. Add a caption, location, and hashtags, then tap Share to post.

Best Practices for Carousel Posts with Mixed Orientations

• Maintain a Uniform Aspect Ratio: To prevent unwanted cropping, ensure all images in the carousel are resized to the same aspect ratio before posting.
• Tell a Visual Story: Use the carousel feature to tell a cohesive visual story, even if the images are in different orientations.
• Keep the Viewer Engaged: Since carousel posts encourage users to swipe through multiple photos, make sure each photo is engaging and adds value to the overall post.

5. Tips for Optimizing Portrait and Landscape Photos for Instagram

a) Use External Editing Apps

Using apps like Adobe Lightroom, Snapseed, or Canva allows you to edit photos and adjust them to the correct aspect ratios before uploading. These apps also provide higher-quality filters and editing tools than Instagram’s built-in features.

b) Focus on Composition

For portrait photos, make sure your subject is centered and there’s enough room around the edges to avoid cropping. For landscape photos, focus on wide shots with strong horizontal elements.

c) Consider Instagram’s Feed Layout

Instagram’s grid layout displays photos in square format on your profile. If you want a cohesive look, consider how both portrait and landscape photos will appear on your profile grid.

d) Maintain Image Quality

To prevent Instagram’s compression from degrading the quality of your photos, upload images at the recommended resolutions:

• Portrait: 1080px x 1350px
• Landscape: 1080px x 566px

6. Conclusion

Posting portrait and landscape photos on Instagram is easy once you understand the platform’s aspect ratio requirements. By following the steps outlined in this guide and using external editing tools, you can present your photos in their best possible format without compromising quality.