Hannah Argyle: How to create Instagram-ready snaps

Each week, as part of our Lightroom Coffee Break series, we’ll be hearing from some of the hottest photographers and Instagrammers to bring you bite-sized hacks for editing in Lightroom.

This week, we caught up with Hannah Argyle, a hugely successful mummy blogger, photographer and stylist, who shared her handy hints and tips on what it takes to create a strong online presence, how to create the perfect Instagram ready photos and her favourite features for speeding up her workflow…

Adobe: You’re a successful photographer, content creator, blogger and a mum. Tell us how you started your career in blogging?

Hannah: Thank you! Blogging actually came second to Instagram for me. I only started my blog just over a year ago. I’d already gained quite a good following on Instagram and was regularly working with brands and a blog seemed like a natural progression. I wanted to try and cement my career as a photographer outside Instagram, and have a dedicated space to not only use to for collaborations and to showcase more of my work, but to share what I have learnt over the last few years about photography. Hopefully I can inspire other people that they can do it too!

A: Have you worked with any cool brands over the years?

H: Yes I’ve been very lucky! I’ve worked with many different brands, travel companies like Club Med and Thomson Cruises, homeware stores such as Anthropologie and Laura Ashley and fashion with companies like Marks and Spencer and Fatface. I have also worked with Land Rover to launch their recent Discovery model, photography wise I’ve worked with Nikon, and of course Adobe!

A: How important is photography to creating an online presence?

H: These days we are exposed to more and more high quality images than ever, with so many beautiful Instagram accounts, blogs and Pinterest imagery online. We live in a very visual age, where great writing needs to be supported by good images in order to grab people’s attention. So, if you can create your own great images to support your blog articles, or promote your brand online, you have a good head start.

H: I think consistency is the most important thing on Instagram. It’s important to keep producing content of a good quality, that fits with your aesthetic and style, so that people know what they can expect from you. Post regularly (but not too much!), interact with people as much as you have time for and be strict with yourself to only post your very best content. Also treat it like a mini blog, add in a little personality and allow people to get to know you.

A: Are there any quick tricks you can share for creating the ultimate Instagram or blog-ready photos in Lightroom?

H: The most important thing is to check your edits, against your own edits. I use the Flag Filters feature to build a collection of photos that are going to be exported to my blog or Instagram account. This way I can look at the little gallery of work and make sure the appearance is consistent. Check your white balance, and make sure the tones of the images look very “you” and fit your profile.

A: What’s one of your favourite photos you’ve taken and why?

H: I have so many favourites! The ones that mean the most to me always involve my children. They are the reason I learned how to take photos, and I love pictures where I can still clearly hear their laughter. The picture with the kite is one of my all-time favourites, one that I hope I’ll still be looking at on the wall when I’m an old lady. The cuddle in the wheat field is also very special to me, a perfect moment on a perfect summer’s day. My Sugarhouse Studios pictures must be in there too. It was the first time I stepped in front of the camera myself, using a tripod and timer, and we had loads of fun! Another memory for the wall definitely.

A: What’s next – have you got any exciting projects coming up?

H: My youngest son starts school in September, so I guess things will change a little then, I will finally be a “full time” photographer and blogger! I have a few trips planned, but travel is difficult for me to fit in around the children and school holidays, so my ultimate aim is to focus on jobs that do fit in with my family and life. I’m working on my house and garden more and have got some collaborations coming up for those. I also hope to get organised with tutoring and running workshops as I get so many inquiries.

Watch Hannah as she explains how to use Flag Filters to speed up your workflow in Lightroom in under 60 seconds.

A huge thank you to Hannah for sharing her expertise with us. You can see more of Hannah’s work on her blog_, check out her perfectly-curated Instagram or see what she likes on _Pinterest.

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