by By Kate Kundahl
The photo dump is trending on Instagram as people are gravitating towards doing carousel posts that share favorites from their camera roll from a given time over a feature post for every event in their lives. The Instagram photo carousel feature has made way for this shift in social media posting by allowing you to include up to 20 images per post, and both personal and business social media accounts utilize it. However, curating the perfect photo dump has become an art form. For personal accounts, finding the perfect balance of people and filler photos is essential. However, this tool is an asset for brands, particularly when utilizing influencer posting. Whether you’re looking to up your personal Instagram or stand out as a brand, here are four easy steps to curate the perfect photo dump.
Step 1: Set Your Theme
Maybe you’re heading out of town for the weekend, recapping fall term, or looking to highlight uses for your brand’s new product, these are all great uses for a photo dump! Start first by setting a time frame or theme for your dump. There are no rules for a dump but having a consecutive theme (a period of time, season, event, trip, group of friends, or even a color) will help to make the post more interesting for viewers.
Step 2: Select Your Photos
Once you’ve selected your theme, you can start to narrow down your photos. It’s important to select a diverse array of photos that stand out from one another. You can have some that are similar as they will be spaced throughout the carousel, but some different angles, varying size groups in photos, candid pics, or filler photos of views or food can all be included to add variety. While Instagram does allow for up to 20 photos to be added to a carousel, it is best to stick to between eight to twelve photos.
Step 3: Arrange the Carousel
Play around here and find the arrangement you like best! There is no right or wrong way to arrange the photos but some important things to remember are to put your favorite first– it will appear in your feed, vary the size of any group photos by spacing similar photos apart from each other, and make sure the arrangement conveys the message you are trying to convey through the post, even if it’s just sharing your camera roll favorites. Instagram allows you to make draft posts and rearrange photo order wich makes the curating process much easier.
Step 4: Caption, Tag, and Post!
Now that your post is laid out, it’s time to pick a caption. Make sure that your caption is reflective of the theme/goal of your post. The theme, photos, and caption all work together to convey your message, so making sure they are cohesive is important. If you are including any other people or brands in your post, be sure to tag their accounts. Now, you are ready to post!
Let’s take a look at influencer Alix Earle’s recent photo dump on Thanksgiving at a Miami Dolphins football game in partnership with Poppi Soda. Her photo dump includes a variety of seven different photos and is captioned “Couldn’t ask for a better Thanksgiving night – family, football, & @drinkpoppi #poppipartner #sodasback”. Even though it is a brand partnership, it reflects well both on her personal account and on Poppi as a brand.
Whether you’re working for a brand or posting for your friends, the Instagram photo carousel feature is the perfect way to level up your social media feed and find a fun new way to post!
Hi Kate, I really like this blog post! I like that you said “curating the perfect photo dump has become an art form” because honestly, it’s true. There’s a perfect balance between having a perfect collection of relevant pictures that tell a story versus just posting anything and everything from the last few weeks or months. I’ve been really into photo dumps recently though because I feel like it allows Instagram posts to be a lot more casual. It doesn’t feel like you need to find the “perfect” photo to post because there’s an assortment of them. Plus, then you can include some funny or silly ones later in the dump to show off some personality too! I learned a lot from this post, and will definitely use these tips the next time I want to post a photo dump!
What I especially appreciate is the emphasis on storytelling through the arrangement of photos. The idea of varying images and strategically placing the most eye-catching photo first is such a simple yet game-changing tip. It’s also great that the piece touches on the growing trend of photo dumps, which feel more authentic and personal compared to traditional single posts. I love example of Alix Earle’s Thanksgiving photo dump is a clever addition. It showcases how influencers use this format effectively and also provides a real-world context for the advice given in the article. It’s a nice touch that connects your steps with real results. Nice work!
Hi Kate, this is a great overview of how to create an effective photo dump! I especially appreciate the tip about varying the types of photos and the emphasis on having a clear theme. It’s true that photo dumps can feel more authentic and engaging than individual posts, and you’ve explained the process in a way that’s easy to follow. Good work!