Instagram: The latest in social media sharing

by Charlotte Long | 15 Oct 2013

Make even the dullest of subjects shine with editing features and filters, and share your pictures with anyone and everyone.

What is Instagram?

Instagram is a free, fun way to share photos with friends and family, as well as catching up on what they have been doing and what they have seen. You can even follow your favourite travel company or local club so that you can stay informed about exciting deals or upcoming events.

The app is available to use online and can be downloaded on a compatible mobile device such as an iPhone or iPad. Once you are in Instagram, all you have to do is take a photo with your mobile phone or tablet, choose a filter to apply a fun effect to your image and then upload it for all of your friends to see.

Signing up

1. Go to your app store on your phone or tablet. Search for ‘Instagram’ and download the app.
2. Open the app and create an account. You can connect through your Facebook account or create a new account.
3. Once you are signed in, go to your account settings to find and invite friends. You can do this through your mobile phone contacts or your Facebook friends. You can also invite friends that don’t already have Instagram to sign up.
4. You can then choose to follow the friends you would like to receive updates from. Once you follow a contact you will be able to see their photos in your newsfeed.
5. Use the search function to follow your favourite brands, shops or celebrities.
6. Now it’s time to upload your first photo!

Adding a photo

There are two easy ways of adding a photo to your account. The first option is to take a photo from within the app, the second is to import an existing photo from your smartphone.

Taking a photo with the app

1. Open the app and press the middle button. This will take you to the camera screen.
2. Take a photo. Once you have captured the image, you will be taken to the edit screen to choose from a number of effects.
3. You can browse each effect to preview what your photo will look like. Once you have chosen an effect press the next button.
4. The next screen will give you the option of entering a caption or tagging a friend in the post. You can also add information such as naming the location where the photo was taken.  
5. Once you have added any extra information you would like to include, press done and the image will upload.

Importing an existing photo from your smartphone

1. Open the app and press the middle button. This will take you to the camera screen.
2. Select photos from your camera library using the bottom left hand button.
3. Resize your photo by pressing crop. Once you have resized the image you will be taken to the edit screen to choose from a number of effects.
4. You can browse each effect to preview what your photo will look like. Once you have chosen an effect press the next button.
5. The next screen will give you the option of entering a caption or tagging a friend in the post. You can also add information such as naming the location the photo was taken. 
6. Once you have added any extra information you would like to include, press done and the image will upload.

Once you’ve edited the picture it will save to your phone. What are you waiting for? Download the app and share your images with us on our Facebook page.