Instagram and I have a rocky relationship. I can happily spend hours just scrolling through all the pretty squares that give a glimpse into the lives of, mainly, strangers. I love that you can feel such a lot much from a photo, if it speaks to you. So much power in one little square.
Our relationship is rocky as I have struggled (still do!) with what I want my pictures to say to people, when the arrive at my feed. I initially used Instagram as a photo diary. I wanted to show life as it happens and I was happy to snap away, upload images, without much thought. I didn’t like the thought of an image being ‘set up’ for Instagram, it seemed fake.
Then I started to think about all the things I like about other feeds and what might put me off following someone. I also had the pleasure of listening to two fab bloggers talk about Instagram, Annie and Annie, both talks gave me even more food for thought. I like it when the pictures fit together, when they are telling a similar story, when there is some continuity in the feeling of the images.
This was not the case with my feed. I would post pictures that probably should be on Facebook or Twitter, not interrupting my Instragram feed. I wanted it to be real and spontaneous, but I was not giving myself a chance to shine. I didn’t want my feed to be too contrived, but Lucy told me, I should think of my feed as curated not contrived.
So I have changed my ways and I am now being more careful and considered with the pictures I post. These pictures will also not be pictures that I will post on another social media platform (thanks Lucy for that one!).
I wanted to share with you some of the feeds that I love and feel inspired by; I hope you love them too. I could have picked hundreds, but I stopped myself at ten.
anniemorris_
I love Annie’s photos, they have such a magical quality. I am so surprised her following isn’t masses more than it is.
beatrice and finch
Another magical feed with real soul in every picture. I immediately feel as if I know the story she is telling when I glimpse at each shot.
childhood unplugged
This is a collective feed that repost images tagged with #childhoodunplugged. I love scrolling through these wonderful images and discovering more fantastic feeds to follow.
lauries_little_ones
I love the warmth that pours from each of Laurie’s images. Real special family moments, which always make me happy.
happysleepyfolks
Kristen undeniably takes great pictures, but it is the accompanying caption that is so wonderful with this feed. Each image is like a short story, written with so much love and her words never fail to make me think.
enfantsterriblesmag
Stunning, sometimes theatrical images that really fire my imagination.
bellakeej
Amanda’s photos are just as she hopes in her bio, photos with meaning. I also think the light she captures is incredible. Again I am shocked her follower numbers aren’t so much higher.
Meg_nlo
Meg’s feed is just beautiful, meaningful, warm and full of love.
amberfillerup
The most followed feed I have shared with you today, but a million people can’t be wrong, huh! Amber’s feed is so pretty and I have serious hair envy. Her little boy Atticus is adorable and I was see why she is a power player on IG.
jesssoper
This feed has so much feeling, oozing out of each picture, all of which feel natural and unstaged.
So there are ten feeds that I love. Do you love Instagram? Do you have any favourite accounts to follow? Leave their names in the comments so we can all have a look and a cheeky follow.
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Comments 45
Some amazing choices there, I can see why you would love looking at these images
I see exactly why you love these feeds. Some amazing photography. Love @childhoodunplugged account big fan!
Wow can’t over how amazing some of the photos in these are! Wish I had more time to take beautiful photos like those x
What beautiful instagram feeds you’ve chosen to make your top 10 list! I love them, so pretty & detailed.
Thank you so much for including us in this marvellous selection. We’re proud to be fatured a longside so many talented people and you helped us find our way to a few new ones as well! Big Love
Søs @thegirllikesrainbows,
Editor in Chief, Enfants Terribles Magazine
Author
Completely my pleasure, you have such an inspirational feed x
Those are some amazing feeds! I need to follow some of them! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I have been following Amber Fillerup for a couple of years now – just need long hair to try all of the hairstyles haha. I’ll have a look at the others you mentioned – they look great. I also like @caraloren and @taza x
Author
I know Taza, I will look up @caraloren x
Ooh love this I will be sure to add them! x
They are beautiful pictures and you can see how each have created their own brand of image. My feed is hit and miss, due to working full time a lot of the time I am just trying to get a picture on a day to keep my social media moving and my Klout score up! Which is totally the wrong reason for doing it. I will think about how I frame pictures but until I have a)more time or b) more established I think it will continue to be hit and miss!! 🙁 xx
Wow these feeds are stunning, like you I am surprised that they do not have more followers. It is criminal really considering feeds that I have seen with so many followers but poor quality pictures
Author
I totally agree x
Gorgeous accounts, I haven’t seen them before, but will have to get following. I must admit I’ve never thought about what I post on Instgram, it’s my favourite social media account and I seem to constantly be posting on there! xx
Lovely choices- have added them all! I also love@ myteddylife @littlekinjournal @theloopfactory
Love, love, love Instagram
Author
Oh will have a look at those thanks for sharing them x
Some stunning photos there! I love looking at pretty photos on Instagram, but I use my own account mostly for comping. 🙂
Thanks for this Aby, I’m really trying hard with my Instagram so followed these. I read somewhere that none wants to see streams of photos of your kids so was putting less on of mine but this proves otherwise so I’m going back to sharing photos of my boys l! #thelist
Some fab feeds there, I have honestly never seen, but will be following now that’s for sure! Thanks for the recommendations and for hosting X #thelist
I’m not very good when it comes to Instagram. I do have an account and share the odd photo but I need to use to more than I do
I’ve only been using Instagram and admit that I haven’t been very selective with my photos that I have uploaded. After seeing these. I feel that I need to a) improve my photography and b) be more selective. Thank you for these – I am going to go and follow them.
Wow. Stunning photographs. Will be following all of them. #The List
I don’t actually follow any of these on Instagram, but they’re all gorgeous. I need to go and check them out! #thelist
These feeds are so stunning – they really provide food for thought and have made me think about my own feed, which to be honest I haven’t really approached in a very creative way in the past. Thanks for providing this light bulb moment! #TheList
Love these I will be adding a few to my feed. X
Wow these instagram are all so beautiful. I love how all of them play around with the lighting. I really, really need to work on my instagram and am trying to play around with my own style at the moment. I’m just really bad at letting go of the original picture and adding filters. But it’s good to experiment. xx #thelist
Oh my, those are just gorgeous feeds… have so much to learn. But that’s exciting, too. Will have to follow all of those (there goes the little spare time I had left). Thank you for this post and for hosting #TheList
Nadia – ScandiMummy x
Oh wow they really are beautiful I kind of jut use my instagram as an extension of my blog – guess I am doing it all wrong! #thelist
Those pictures are makong feel quite ashamed on my instsgram which is fullnof pics of food, cars and crochet hats!! #Thelist
Gorgeous post. I’m always on the lookout for inspiring people to follow on Instagram, and I’ve just added a few more! One of my absolute faves is @ali_dover – a photographer I worked with for some Connecta shots who just captures childhood so beautifully. I just wish I had the time (and the talent) to create my own inspirational feed 🙂 xx
I love Instagram, I have never heard of any of these! I am off for a further nosey! Thank you for sharing! Kaz x
I wasn’t following ANY of these people! And now I am, and my IG feed is going to be SPLENDID. Thanks for the recommendations, Aby!
They are truly beautiful feeds – I love instagram, but struggle with making it so pretty, my life just isn’t like that :/ #TheList
Ive never been on instagram – looks like people have some gorgeous pictures. #thelist
Oh wow! I can tell why you love those 10 instagrammers you’ve shared! The photos are beautiful. x
Oh isn’t Instagram pretty. Some gorgeous ones here #thelist xx
What absolutely beautiful choices – I wish I had the skill (am camera!) to take photos like the above instagrammers. I actually don’t even remember to take pics for me, let alone to post on Instagram, I’m USELESS! These are inspiring though, thank you for sharing! Mim x #TheList
What a brilliant list, I am going start following all these right away. I really need to work on my photography, my instagram is mostly just pictures of Leo or badly decorated cakes! Lots of work is needed on framing and lighting but hopefully these amazing feeds will inspire me..also need to follow your account too aby! xx#TheList
Oh my goodness, these are all SUCH beautiful feeds and I wasn’t following any of them (I am now!) – thanks for sharing them. I had noticed your photos had been looking particularly lovely on Instagram recently 🙂 xx
I am new to instagram…feeling a little out of my depth…such beautiful photos!!! Note to self; must work harder at photos!!
#TheList
Ohhhhh beautiful feeds! have started following all of them at once! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Author
Hope you enjoy x
You know I’m a huge Instagram fan! LOL I love what you’ve worked on and how you came to make decisions for your brand and blog. Sometimes we aren’t ready to change, it will come when it does, and I love what you’ve done. All those accounts are gorgeous, incredible inspiration!
These are all so beautiful and I can see why they have inspired you. You’re one of my favourite IG feeds between you and Amy I’ve changed how I look at the way I use IG.
Annie’s photos are gorgeous I am surprised she has not got more followers. Your feed is great too!