Books are beautiful. Everyone loves a gorgeous cover and none have embraced this more than bookstagrammers. These Instagram mavens take something we all love and turn it up a notch with their dreamy and perfectly styled Instagram shots.
As an author (and fellow book lover) there is a lot to be gained by joining the ranks of these social media masters. You can promote your own books to readers, support fellow authors you adore and enjoy a new form of creative expression.
We interviewed three bookstagrammers to get their top tips on snapping that perfect shot every time.
Introducing the Bookstagrammers
@alexreadsbooks
Alex 24, Germany, book lover and blogger Twitter: @alexreadsboooks GR: alexreadsboooks ā alexreadsboooks@gmail.com alexreadsboooks.wordpress.com
@owlibrary
Ines Lavender Poland, ’99 Booklover, Bookstagramer, Bookbloger Fb: facebook.com/Owlibrary @: lawendacorine@gmail.com (business&others) zaczytane-zwariowane.blogspot.com
@treehouseofbooks
ācÉtɦeriɳe | whidbey islÉɳdā āÉooĘsācoļ¬eeāÉdveɳtureācrooĘed Ęingdom curreɳtly repping ā“ @hootlootbox @createexploreread @spearcraft ā designer & writer ā“ www.heyatlascreative.com
What are the best props for creating great holiday bookstagrams?
@alexreadsbooks
I’m very fond of holiday decorations; tree ornaments, sugar canes and the like, whatever is typically associated with the holiday season.
What is your top tip for newbie bookstagrammers?
@treehouseofbooks
The biggest piece of advice that I can give to a new bookstagrammer is to decide on a theme and stick with it. Thatās not to say that you canāt change your theme every now and then, but if you only have 5 photos when you begin and they are all consistent in lighting, backdrops, coloring, etc., itās pretty easy to pass off as an already experienced bookstagrammer. Consistency is everything with bookstagram. Whether you always make sure to use the same filter when editing, always shoot from the same angle (like birds-eye view, for example), always take your photos outdoors – or a combination of these – it will really help you stand out. Think of your feed as a cohesive work of art; because your “grid” is the first thing that someone is going to see when they decide whether to follow you back or not. Everything should look and feel like itās all one big happy family, made up of smaller, interesting posts.
@alexreadsbooks
Constantly work on your feed. Chances are high that it won’t look as amazing as you’d like it to look when you start out, but we all started small, just keep working on your photos, try new things, learn from your experiences.
@owlibrary
Well, I think being yourself is most important. You know, when you’re watching all these amazing accounts you will surely think, “Oh, I want to post like that” and it’s not good. Of course, you should have some kind of inspiration, but first of all you should show people yourself. And the second most important thing for me is the consistency of your photos. There should be one thing (blanket, mug, filter) that will show people looking at your account that you know what you are doing and all your photos are “from one hand.”
How can an author use Instagram to get their book seen by readers?
@alexreadsbooks
This is probably really obvious, but use tags! There’s so many of them, stick your promo posts in there. And while it’s not a personal favourite of mine, following people to get them to look at your account (and unfollowing them again a while later) is a legit tactic.
@owlibrary
I hate when I am following an author and they show their families, pets, etc. All I want to know is “Are they writing something new? When will there be a new book published?” So I think that authors should use Instagram to show us how their work is going and maybe repost some of the most beautiful photos of their books
How do you change your images to make them more seasonal?Ā
@treehouseofbooks
Personally, I find that less is more. I keep every post consistent, but I do like to add in little bits of themed props into my photos that have to do with the season or holiday, without going overboard or adding too much to my photos that they start to not look like “me”. For instance, in the Autumn, I would add 1 or 2 small pumpkins into my photos, or I would wear an autumny-colored sweater that I showed off (I’m almost always holding a cup of coffee in my photos); and on Halloween I featured Halloween books (Halloween Party by Agatha Christie, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving), while I held a tiny paper skeleton next to the books. Small touches say a lot without having to scream “Hey, Internet! I’m recognizing that it’s a holiday!”
@alexreadsbooks
The type of props I use changes. I tend to use a lot of things that at least look like they could have come from nature, so I look at what nature does and adjust the props that appear in my images accordingly.
@owlibrary
I don’t use another filter or anything like that. I just show seasons on photos. Leaves in autumn, snowy weather in winter, flowers and sun in spring and summer. Of course, I could’ve used filters, but it’s fun when you have to play with the composition and light to make people feel the atmosphere.
Where do you get inspiration for your Instagram account?
@alexreadsbooks
Home decor stores and fellow bookstagrammers. The first are where I get most of my props from, and I need to at least have a little inspiration to convince myself to spend money on something. The second is where I occasionally find new ideas to try out. Then of course there’s monthly challenges that are, among other things, a good way to help pick which books I take photos of.
@owlibrary
I follow many accounts and they give me the inspiration. I try not to copy them, but just make the same atmosphere or composition changes with my personal stuff.
What’s your favorite Instagram tip? Share it in the comments below!
This is the absolute best advice I’ve seen on using Instagram. I’m just starting out with it and I’ve struggled with how to translate my brand to this SM platform. Now I’m bursting with ideas. Thanks, and lovely post examples, BTW.