How to make your iPhone photos & videos look a million times better
Editing visuals so they pop (and stand out in a crowded feed).
And, we’re back! How was your weekend? We spent Saturday at the beach (unpopular opinion: I’m convinced that beaches are only fun for 2 hours max) and Sunday hopping between friends’ houses and ice cream shops.
Today I wanted to talk about something that’s near and dear to my heart: photo/video editing. One of my most popular Instagram posts is a video where I explain the basics of editing photos. With a few quick + easy tweaks, you can take your photo and video content to the next level. See the full video HERE.
First impressions are make or break in the world of social media, and high-quality visuals are a key factor in making a good one. Professional, well-edited photos and videos grab attention, boost engagement, and help you stand out in a crowded feed. Clear, vibrant content not only tells a compelling story and reinforces your brand identity but also enhances user experience. Better visuals keep people engaged longer, increase conversion rates, and ensure your content shines across all platforms.
THE TLDR: Easy Photo Editing 101
This is a long newsletter. If you’re too busy to read this whole thing, here’s the TLDR: you don’t need fancy apps or filters to get high-quality visuals. You can use the tools you have available RIGHT NOW.
Below are the elements I change in every photo, whether I’m using the Edit feature on my iPhone, Lightroom, or another fancy editing app. I used a picture of my kids to show how each of these changes affects the original photo:
Saturation: This is the intensity of the image’s color. I like my photos bright, so I always make sure saturation is high. This way, the colors don’t get washed out when I eventually increase brightness.
Contrast and/or black point: Both affect the difference between light and dark. I like images that are high-contrast (bright highlights + dark shadows). Black point sets the point at which the darkest parts of the image become completely black with no detail (so, increasing this can improve the depth of a washed-out image).
Brightness and/or exposure: These affect the overall light. Brightness is how light or dark an image appears overall. Exposure affects the highlights (making elements that are already bright lighter or darker).
And, here’s what the final image looks like when I put it all together:
Want to learn a little more? Here’s a 10-minute video that dives deeper into every editing option on your iPhone.
Common Pitfalls
The edits mentioned above are simple tweaks, but they’re not without their traps. Here are the mistakes I see most often:
Over-Editing: Going overboard with filters and effects can make your visuals look unnatural and unprofessional. Less is more (repeat this to yourself over and over). Remember that you want your image to look as true to life — on a bright sunny day — as possible.
Ignoring Composition Rules: Brush up on some photography basics, like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry, before you shoot or crop. But you don’t need to be an expert! When in doubt, try to center your photo’s focus in the middle of your frame with some balance/borders around the sides.
Poor Lighting Adjustments: Incorrectly adjusting brightness, contrast, and exposure can wash out images or make them look too dark, killing their quality and impact. Whenever possible, shoot your content in natural light (turn off all your indoor lights and shoot next to a window). If you can’t, remember that natural light is cooler/more blue, and indoor light is warmer/more yellow. So, if you’re making adjustments afterward, you want to decrease warmth or temperature.
Using Low-Resolution Images: Starting with low-res images or videos then trying to upscale can result in pixelation and loss of quality. Anything you post on Instagram should be AT LEAST 1080p so it doesn’t look blurry or pixelated.
Understanding and applying basic editing principles will help you avoid these stumbling blocks and majorly enhance the quality — and effectiveness — of your social media content. So, grab your editing tools and start creating visually stunning content that captivates and converts!
Have questions? Need help creating video content? I can do it for you! Send me a note!
This week: a hilarious take on “Would You Rather?”, what it feels like to watch your bank account disappear, and how to turn a walk into viral content.
HOP ON THESE TRENDS:
Jump in fully clothed. This one requires a little commitment, you’ll need to get wet. It’s a game of “Would You Rather?” The joke is that you’d rather jump in a pool, river, or the ocean rather than ________ (anything you find annoying or would never do).
Visual: Film yourself running and jumping into some body of water.
Copy: [Add text over the whole video that says]
“jump in the river/pool/ocean fully clothed or _______ (something you’d never do)”
On My Way. This one is super easy to recreate! It’s very versatile - I’ve seen it used by moms who’ve just sent their kids back to school, people in the grocery store parking lot, and people picking up their food deliveries.
Visual: You (or someone from your team) walking. It helps if they’re in a picturesque spot.
Copy: [Add text over the whole video that says]
omw to _____ (the more specific, the better!)
$123,456.78. This one is about some “thing” that’s costing you a lot of money (and you’re counting down as your bank account diminishes.) People have been using it for renovation projects, their kids, and traveling.
Visual: If you’re comfortable in front of a camera, you can act this out like the example below. If not, you can pull together a bunch of clips of the item that’s costing you money (like this).
Copy: [Add text over the whole video that says]
my bank account on/during __________
$123,456.78 (and counting down)
OR, BUILD YOUR OWN REEL(S):
STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC
Effective content can keep gaining traction on Instagram’s algorithm for months, so post content that will be relevant for AT LEAST 6 weeks. Here are some topics you can post about now:
Outdoor Living & Activities
Post a video or carousel on tips for maintaining a cool outdoor space (think DIY sunshades, portable fans, refreshing summer drinks). Showcase local spots with best-of posts featuring parks, hiking trails, or swimming spots in your area. Post informative content on staying safe in the sun, including sunscreen recommendations, hydration tips, and protective clothing advice.
Labor Day
Help people celebrate with a post on easy BBQ recipes, grilling tips, and side dish ideas. Highlight personal or community traditions, like parades, picnics, or family gatherings — and encourage your followers to share theirs. Feature outdoor activities perfect for a day off. Host a Labor Day sale and showcase the discounted items or services.
New (School) Year
Share tips on creating a comfortable, efficient study area (furniture recs, lighting tips, organization hacks). Post a series of inspirational quotes or messages to inspire students and teachers as they embark on a new year. Post a recap of summer memories, transitioning into what you’re looking forward to in the new school year.
STEP 2: FILM YOUR B-ROLL
B-roll footage should align with the main topic or theme of your video. Recommending outdoor activities? Showcase them. Highlighting an item perfect for the new school year? Ensure it’s relevant and available. It helps make the content more cohesive — people naturally prefer a visual link to the text they’re engaging with.
Stuck for ideas? Here are some examples to get you started:
Walking through the frame. Set up a tripod (or enlist someone to hold the phone) about 20 feet away. Then, casually meander across the frame. Turn your head toward the camera at some point. Your background should be somewhat picturesque, but you don’t need to book a trip — just find the prettiest spot in your house or neighborhood.
Your profile in the car. Hot tip! Videos of yourself in the car always perform well. It makes viewers feel close to you like they’re catching an authentic moment (small spaces feel intimate). Just make sure you’re not really driving. Safety first!
The view from your front windshield. As you might guess, these perform best if the view is pretty. Pull out the camera when you’re riding shotgun on a scenic road.
STEP 3: CHOOSE YOUR HOOK
This is a crucial element of your video: the text overlay. Spend some time and craft it carefully. Your aim is to grab attention as viewers scroll through their feeds, so choose your words precisely. Your audience wants to feel acknowledged and understood, and the perfect wording will help you stand out.
If you’re struggling, you can always use Chat GPT to get inspired. Input a description of your business, plug in one of these templates, and ask it to generate 5-10 options then tweak until they fit your vision.
Remember: Instagram has a specific vernacular (often without punctuation or proper grammar). That’s ok! This isn’t a test. Stick to these templates even if they seem “wrong” grammatically. More simply? Don’t mess with a good thing.
Saying “I supported ______ [a positive description of your business] everyday this month” sounds a lot better than “I’m addicted to ____[your product]”
OTHER EXAMPLES:
Saying “I read earnest, historically accurate love stories every day this month” sounds a lot better than “I’m addicted to romance novels”
Saying “I researched upscale home prices in my city every day this month” sounds a lot better than “I’m addicted to fantasy scrolling on Zillow”
Saying “I supported a female artisan and business owner every day this month” sounds a lot better than “I’m addicted to buying gold jewelry”
sorry but nothing makes my heart happier than _______ [a very specific, enjoyable activity having to do with your business] after ______ [another very specific, enjoyable activity having to do with your business]
OTHER EXAMPLES:
sorry but nothing makes my heart happier than seeing customers rock our latest collection after curating the perfect seasonal storefront display
sorry but nothing makes my heart happier than seeing a kid devour a post-checkup lollipop after distracting them with my "doctor dinosaur" impression
sorry but nothing makes my heart happier than a table full of empty plates after guests fall in love with our cheesy garlic bread
don’t get me wrong _____ [the opposite of your product, but something enjoyable that everyone loves] are fun but ______ [your product] is truly where it’s at ;)
OTHER EXAMPLES:
don’t get me wrong browsing pinterest for design inspo is fun but bringing it to life in a client’s home is truly where it’s at :)
don’t get me wrong ogling the latest fashion trends is fun but curating a killer wardrobe that makes you feel like yourself is truly where it’s at :)
don’t get me wrong binging travel documentaries is fun but having a local plan a custom Italian beach vacation is truly where it’s at :)
STEP 4: PICK TRENDING AUDIO
Using trending audio won’t guarantee your post goes viral, but selecting up-and-coming tracks can boost your content's visibility. Instagram pays attention to trends and tends to promote content that features popular audio. To maximize these advantages, opt for audio that’s just starting to gain traction.
Whatcha Say. An oldie but a goodie! Poppy and fun.
belinalilly. Cute and peppy.
Tis Autumn and LaLa (Gilmore Girls). Both of these sounds go viral every fall - and people are already starting to use them (trending now!) If you’ve got fall content to share, now’s the time.
STEP 5: UPLOAD EVERYTHING AND POST!
Congratulations! You've nailed down your topic, selected your B-roll, and crafted a precise message. You've also picked the ideal audio that's just beginning to trend. The best part? You've spent nothing and invested less time than it would take to hire a production team. Share your creation and watch your engagement soar!
Want to see how this looks IRL? Here’s a post I did on my personal account yesterday that follows this format.
Topic: Summer meals (a bit of departure from “Outdoor Entertaining” but what I was feeling in the moment) +
B-Roll: Walking through the frame +
Hook: Saying “I supported ______ [a positive description of your business] everyday this month” sounds a lot better than “I’m addicted to ____[your product]” +
Trending Audio: Whatcha Say
You did it—thanks for sticking with us! Next week, we’re diving into selling a lifestyle (not a product!) on Instagram. Just a reminder: the next issue will be our first PAID issue. Everything past “What to Post This Week” will be paywalled.
Got a topic you want us to cover? Drop your suggestions in the comments!
Catch you then!
xx,
Alison