How to Be an Instagram Hipster

Are you trying to get that Instagram hipster vibe, but you don't know how? Learn how to nail the basics of being an Instagram hipster and soon you'll have a well-curated feed of beautiful, inspiring photos.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Setting Up an Account

1
Choose a username. Try to pick a variation of your own name, like your first initial and your last name ("jsmith" for John Smith) or your first and last name joined with an underscore (john_smith). You can also try eliminating the vowels (JHNSMTH) or replacing them with V's (jvhnsmvth).
- Use your nickname, or pair your name with a passion or hobby. If you love to bake and plan to post lot's of food pictures, something like "SmithBaker" will work.
- Choose a name that rhymes or uses alliteration so it sticks in people's minds.
- Avoid overly cutesy or childish names, like "unicorn_xoxoxo".
2
Write a bio. Try to describe yourself or your account in just a few words. List a few things that are important to you. For example: "Coffee/Photography/My Dog Charlie" or "Explorer, Dreamer, and Writer." Add a link if you have a blog, Twitter, Tumblr, or other website you want people to check out.
- Many Instagram hipsters identify their city or country in their bio: "Ceramic artist based in Austin, TX." You may simply wish to state where you're from and nothing more.
- Try to think of a quote that inspires you or sums up your personality. It can be funny or insightful. Think about a line from a movie, book, or song that you relate to, or post a silly pun.
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3
Choose your profile picture. Choose either a portrait-style picture or one that shows you in your element or a beautiful location. If you have a photo of yourself standing in front of a lake in the mountains, that's the one you want to use. Desaturate the picture to give it a vintage feel.
- If you're a girl, style yourself wearing a beanie or a floppy hat. Wear your regular glasses or sunglasses (bonus if the frames are round). You want your hair to be loose and wavy if possible, or opt for a popular top-knot and forget the hats. Makes sure your makeup is on point — consider a bold lip color.
- If you're a guy, you may want to rock the beanie look as well. Glasses and a beard are a must. Wear a flannel or a vintage t-shirt.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

The Basics

1
Know the Instagram hipster uniform. The essential hipster clothing items include: a beanie, Herschel backpack, Pendleton blanket, flannels, hiking boots with wool socks and, of course, skinny jeans.
- Don't forget eyewear. Try over-sized plastic frame glasses, Buddy Holly glasses, Ray-Ban Wayfarers, and round sunglasses. Pick vintage items over mainstream labels, and layer with cardigans, sweaters, and jackets.
- Women should also invest in leggings, cute vintage dresses, and sun hats or "floppy hats."
2
Use hashtags and emojis thoughtfully. Going crazy with the hashtags can help you get more followers at first, but once you've started building a following, try to dial it back. Popular hipster hashtags include #liveauthentic #livefolk #exploremore #fromwhereistand #wildernessculture and #kinfolk. These are hashtags that are used and searched for by other hipsters, and can also get the attention of hipster publications like Folk Magazine and Kinfolk.
- See if you can come up with your own hashtags that other people might use, like the #chasinglight hashtag.
- Try using a combination of emojis instead of a text caption.
3
Elevate your selfies. Never, ever, ever do the "duck lips" pose. It's unflattering and definitely not hipster. Get someone else to take your photo whenever possible, as selfies can come off a little narcissistic or desperate.
- If you do post a selfie, make sure it's interesting. Try only showing a portion of your face, or using a dramatic filter.
4
Post once a day. You don't want to overwhelm your followers with 15 pictures one after the other, but you also want to have a presence in their feed. Choose your best, most striking photos, edit them carefully, and post only one or two each day.
- Stretching out posting photos from a short trip has the added bonus of making it appear you are taking a much longer vacation. People will wonder how you pull off traveling all the time –don't you work or have school?
- Use a free service Iconosquare or SimplyMeasured to find out the optimal time to post for the most likes, comments, and views.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Choosing What to Post

1
Get out into nature and visit national parks. Many hipster photos show people outside, enjoying the majesty of the outdoors. Brewing coffee at your campsite, wrapped in a Pendleton blanket; standing on a foggy mountain top; hanging your legs over a precipice; or standing in front of a waterfall, your back to the camera — these are all photos that will inspire FOMO in your followers.
- Search for scenic hikes in your area, or check out nearby locations tagged by other Instagram users.
2
Take portraits in front of colorful walls or murals. Have a friend strike a pose in front of some street art, like a brightly painted wall. Center the photo, capturing your friend either from the waist-up or full-body. Make the color pop by adjusting the temperature (or warmth) and increasing the saturation. Skip the filter.
- Look for crazy wallpapers to use as the background for portraits, too.
- Take a photo of just a hand holding something in front of the wall, such as an ice cream cone or a pineapple.
3
Curate some minimalist shots. Visit a coffee shop with great lighting and take a photo of your latte art, your croissant, and the dog-eared paperback you're reading (make sure you shoot this from directly above the items). Or take a photo of your collection of succulents, carefully moved into a pleasing arrangement.
- Try the "all white shot." Place something in front of or on a white wall. If you don't have great lighting, lower the temperature or warmth and increase the exposure.
- Arrange a collection of similarly colored flowers, or fall leaves that gradually transition from red to yellow. Place them in a line or a grid, then snap and edit so the colors really pop.
4
Make it your own. These are all ideas to get you started, but if you are taking picture of things you love and care about, people will respond. Use these suggestions as a springboard for your own amazing photos.
- If you're new to photography, sign up for a class and learn about the essentials of taking a good photo, like framing and lighting.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Filters and Apps

1
Download the VSCO app immediately. VSCO is the essential editing app for hipster photos. With tons of filters and different ways to tinker, you can get professional-grade images. VSCO also offers their own platform, the VSCO grid, to share your photos.
- Use the #vscocam hashtag whenever you post a photo you edited using VSCO. Many people search using that hashtag, and it will guarantee you get at least a couple likes from strangers.
You can select different frames that allow you to fit multiple photos into one picture. You can also use it to whiten teeth or remove blemishes for that flawless selfie.
Have you ever wanted to do one of those time-lapse photos that shows your face changing over time? Everyday is the perfect app for that. Take a selfie every day and Everyday will line them up, then turn them into a gif. If you can stick with it, this could be a year- or even years-long project that is sure to get tons of likes.
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