Instagram account help

amother

OP ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 3:20 pm

Here’s the story:
Years ago I was active on instagram but didn’t know what I was doing and my page is horrible looking. I had a small amount of engagement. Very small but it was something. I stopped posting for a couple of years bc my clients didn’t really want to be posted (photography business). Now I just have an ugly looking page and people can find it when they google me.

I’d love to erase and start again but then I’m loosing all the posts from years ago and the engagement that went with it.

I Dont have so much to add right now so saying to just leave it and add new and it’ll be ok isn’t a good idea

amother

Nasturtium ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 3:46 pm

Engagement from years ago isn’t doing anything for you, so I suggest archiving your previous posts and starting with a blank page

Find things to fill it with, if you can’t use client pics then take your own pictures. Idk the type of photography you do, but you can find someone who will pose for you for free in exchange for the pictures, and you get content

Also most photographers put a clause in their contract to be able to use the pictures on social media. At the end of the day, you own the pictures not the client and can use them however you want

Personally for me, viewing a portfolio is the first step I take in deciding on a photographer. And instagram is the first place I look. Business-wise, it’s important to have an aesthetically pleasing page with good content

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 4:47 pm

Right. But I need the content from all those years bc I Dont have so much now. I just didn’t post them with a nice cover image (I made a graphic image to cover each photo, Dont know why! And not consistent look at all!)

I have a lot of clients who don’t consent and that’s fine with me. I gotta work with what I got. I just don’t wanna lose from All the content I have. But if I post it all at once that’ll look weird, no?

What else can I do?

Considering I’m in a business that requires a nice aesthetic, I want my IG page to reflect that. My website is beautiful but I messed up on IG.

amother

↑ Nasturtium ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 5:27 pm

You can post all at once to create your grid, that’s fine

After that you should stick to a specific schedule of posting to help with the algorithm

You need an aesthetic page, so if your previous posts don’t reflect that I would archive

If you want you can hire a professional, they will help set up your page and create the overall vibe of your grid, give content ideas, give you a posting schedule etc

amother

Crimson ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 5:34 pm

Start with a new page and post a link on your old page.

Some of your aesthetic ideas sound a little outdated like making a cover graphic. Check out other photographers. I would think photography is easy enough to have a beautiful grid! Use your old pictures for sure or offer a good price to people you know if they let you post pics. In the future, if clients refuse you could ask them if pictures that don't show their face or something they don't mind you posting.

amother

Raspberry

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 5:36 pm

I had a photographer give me a good price on photos in exchange for allowing her to post on instagram, because she works in a community where people aren’t comfortable being posted. I agree with the previous poster who suggested offering free or cheaper sessions to people in exchange for allowing you to post on instagram.

amother

Lotus ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 5:52 pm

amother Crimson wrote:

I disagree with having to start new page. What does she gain?
OP what do you lose by archiving your current photos?
That your new ones will all be posted at once?
That’s ok in order to rebrand.
Definitely link your website. And try to recreate that look on Instagram.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 6:00 pm

I Dont wanna be busy and active on IG. I just want ppl who look me up to be impressed with what they see. It looks a bit nebach right now.

I Dont want to start a new page bc I Dont wanna lose the few followers I have.

The only reason not to archive is bc I’ll be losing views and likes and the date will all the same time (as opposed to showing I’ve been in business the last many years)

But I guess aesthetic is more important than all that right?

amother

↑ Lotus

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 6:03 pm

amother OP wrote:

You can write in your bio- established 1982 or whatever… 😄

StylishTichel ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 6:05 pm

I'm a photographer who did this in the spring and it worked!

I archived all my old posts so I can still have them for safekeeping, and I started posting my new work.

Happy to help if you'd like some advice.

You can message me and we can dm over if.

amother

↑ Crimson

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 6:11 pm

OP if you have a website that comes up when you Google your name or business I would even consider not being on insta and just advertising elsewhere. Think whatsapp statuses, even print etc. IMHO a beautiful website should be enough.

amother

↑ Nasturtium ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 6:16 pm

amother OP wrote:

Nobody looks or cares about dates, and the likes will IYH grow on your new pics. It’s not a reason to keep old pics that will not work with your new grid and that’s more important. Nobody can even see how many likes a picture got without clicking on it, and no one is going to click on it if your grid is messy and all over the place..

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 6:24 pm

Ok I’m convinced. I appreciate the advice!

I have some videos (some are bts and other interesting/random thinfa) that I want to post. What would be a good cover image for those?

↑ StylishTichel

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 6:28 pm

amother Nasturtium wrote:

It's funny, people actually do pay attention to those.

I can't even count the amount of people who thought I was brand new based on the fact that my oldest post that's not archived is from this spring.

In reality I had been on Instagram for over four years!

amother

↑ Nasturtium

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 7:18 pm

amother OP wrote:

Ok I’m convinced. I appreciate the advice!

I have some videos (some are bts and other interesting/random thinfa) that I want to post. What would be a good cover image for those?

For that I suggest posting as stories and adding to a highlight

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 8:04 pm

Good idea.

But what if I end up creating a bunch of videos with the intent to post. How would I go about that (regarding cover image and keeping the page pretty)