It’s a tall order to keep it cool, calm and casual in real life, let alone on Insta.
The only upside on Insta is that you actually have time to filter your thoughts, and if you’re so inclined, your image, too.
The problem here is that people can usually smell a rat when your photos don’t show a single blemish or are too heavily edited, and your followers will probably assume you care far too much about how you’re perceived on social media.
So, if you want to be cool as a cucumber both IRL and online, use these little tricks:
1. Keep it current
If you’re posting throwback photos to your 2012 Eurotrip, people will know that you’re fishing.
It’s pretty straightforward, really – if you have nothing you want to post, and you’re simply trying to find a photo for the sake of copping mad likes from your potential boink buddies, maybe just hol’ up until you have something timely to post.
Or post whatever, I’m not the Insta police.
2. Take good photos, don’t edit bad photos
Sometimes, people just take bad photos. No really, even Angelina Jolie herself has taken a bad photo. Probably. She may just be the exception.
Regardless, only Jolie is Jolie, so just lean into the fact that unflattering photos are inevitable. If you have taken a shocker, you have two options:
- Roll with it and upload it anyway because you’re in a cool city/country/bar.
- Print it off and give it to your parents to hang on their wall – they’ll think you’re beautiful regardless.
The third option, which I’d steer clear of, is to edit the scheibe out of it until you barely even look like yourself.
There are also some ways you can prevent pumping out too many fuggo snaps, one of which is to invest in something better than a camera phone.
Yes, they’re all well and good, but if you want primo snaps without the effort of chucking some filters on a phone-quality photo, chuck some dosh at something like the new Nikon Z 50.
The mirrorless quality means it’s a smaller camera that you can actually carry around with you, so you won’t need to bring an entire crew and their family along with you on trips for A+ snaps.
3. Show character
Despite what you may see on celebs and influencers’ accounts, 99.98% of us have flaws to some degree.
And while you might spend a bit of time fretting about your own wrinkles and blemishes, I guarantee people are paying too much attention to their own to even notice yours.
If anything, it seems more out of place when you spot a photo of someone looking like they’re made out of candle wax.
If you’ve got crows feet or worry lines or a missing eye, don’t try to erase them with filters – own them.
Character is key, especially if you’re pretending to be super chill, remember?
4. Chuck in group shots
You know what screams super chill and totally normal? Group photos.
Exhibit A)
It shows you have mates, ergo aren’t a total dud, plus it could make you look like the cream of the crop (depending on your mates’ levels of attractiveness).
Or…you know…it could do the opposite, so err on the side of caution with that one.
5. Keep the posts semi-irregular
They say to gain traction on social media, you should post frequently to boost that number of followers. We’re not trying to boost followers though, we’re trying to look CHILL.
So, look like you’re out there living your life. Post something when you have something to post but leave it at that.
Remember, you’ve always got Insta Stories if you’re starting to have withdrawals.
