Making a reel with photos on Instagram is easy and a great way to showcase your best pictures. Reels allow you to edit multiple photos with transitions, music, effects and more to create a short, engaging video.
Step 1: Select the Photos You Want to Use
The first step is choosing the photos you want to include in your reel. For best results, pick high-quality photos with similar vibes or a common theme. You’ll want around 15-20 photos. Make sure you have permission to use any photos taken by others. Some tips:
- Choose photos of the same person, place or event for a cohesive look.
- Select photos with similar colors or aesthetics.
- Pick your best and most visually striking photos.
- Include a mix of portrait and landscape photos.
Organize the photos in the order you want them to appear in the reel. This will make the editing process easier later.
Step 2: Open Instagram and Go to Reels
In the Instagram app, tap the plus (+) icon in the top-right corner, then select Reel at the bottom. This will open the Reels camera.
Tap the gallery icon in the bottom left corner of the screen. This allows you to access and upload photos from your device’s camera roll.
Step 3: Upload and Edit Your Photos
Select all the photos you want to use and tap “Next” to upload them. The photos will now appear at the bottom of the screen.
You can use the editing tools to customize each photo:
- Crop/Pan – Zoom and adjust each photo.
- Effects – Add cool effects like black and white or retro.
- Timer – Adjust how long each photo appears.
- Align – Line up objects across photos.
Play around with the editing tools until you’re happy with how each photo looks. You can reorder the photos by holding down on a photo and dragging it left or right.
Step 4: Add Music to Your Reel
Music can really make your reel stand out. Tap the music note icon to open the music library.
You’ll see tabs for Trending, For You and Browse at the top. Search for a song or select one of the recommended tunes that fits your photos.
Make sure to pick music that matches the vibe of your photos. You can preview how the song sounds with your reel before confirming your choice.
Step 5: Adjust Reel Settings
Before posting your reel, you can tweak a few settings:
- Timer – Change how long each photo displays.
- Speed – Adjust playback speed of the whole reel.
- Effects – Add an overlay like glitter.
Tap the checkmark icon to open the reel settings. Play around with these options until you’re satisfied.
Step 6: Add a Cover Photo and Captions
Choose a cover photo that will be the main image people see on your reel. You can also add text captions and stickers.
To add captions:
- Tap a photo to select it.
- Tap the text icon.
- Type your text.
- Customize the font, color and more.
- Drag the text box into position.
Captions help provide context. Be creative and find your caption style.
Step 7: Preview and Post
Tap the play icon to preview your entire reel from start to finish. Check that transitions between photos look good.
When you’re happy with it, tap “Next” and add any desired tags, location and caption to post the reel to your profile.
Tips for Creating Great Photo Reels
Here are some pro tips for taking your Instagram photo reels to the next level:
- Use 15-30 photos for best length.
- Mix up photo orientations for interest.
- Incorporate “photo bursts” – short sequences of action.
- Use transitions between each photo.
- Feature yourself or collab with friends.
- Leverage trends like outfit changes or transformations.
- Add some photos with text overlays.
- Use subtle sound effects for a boost.
- Make reels part of a series.
- Promote your reels across social channels.
Finding Inspiration for Photo Reels
One of the best ways to get inspiration for your own reels is by checking out what’s already popular on Instagram.
Here are some accounts that consistently have top-notch photo reels to follow:
- @voguemagazine – Fashion and style reels.
- @natgeo – Beautiful travel scenery.
- @buzzfeedtasty – Fun food recipes.
- @garyvee – Business and entrepreneur reels.
- @lonelyplanet – Reels from gorgeous destinations.
Look at how these accounts use music, editing, captions and trends to make compelling reels. See what you can recreate with your own photos. Let popular reels spark new ideas.
You can also check out the Explore tab on Instagram and browse popular reels by hashtags like #photoreel, #reelitfeelit, #reelkarofeelkaro, #trendingreel and others.
Using Reels to Grow Your Instagram
Posting great photo reels is a proven way to grow your Instagram profile. Reels have high visibility in the app, so more people will discover your content.
To maximize growth, be sure to:
- Use relevant hashtags in captions.
- Tag any featured people or brands.
- Engage with your audience in comments.
- Share your reels across social media.
- Post reels consistently.
- Keep an eye on Instagram trends.
Measure your growth and see which types of reels perform best. Offer a variety and keep your audience excited for your next reel!
Troubleshooting Instagram Reels
Here are some common issues when making reels and how to fix them:
- No music – Update the Instagram app and check your device volume.
- Photos blurry – Use high-res photos. Adjust cropping.
- Reel not saving – Close and re-open the app. Check your internet.
- Can’t upload photos – Allow Instagram access to your photos.
- Choppy playback – Reduce reel length or number of effects.
If issues persist, contact Instagram support directly in the app. They can help troubleshoot technical problems.
Conclusion
Creating stunning photo reels is easy with Instagram’s Reels tool. All it takes is selecting your best photos, editing with transitions and music, and posting for the world to see.
Use this guide to start making photo reels that engage your followers. Let your profile visually tell a compelling story. With creativity and consistency, your reels can entertain people and take your Instagram presence to new heights.