What are Instagram Stories?
Instagram Stories has got to be the most eye-catching feature on Instagram. It lets you create a single story by posting multiple photos and videos onto it. The story appears just like a slideshow, and the content disappears after 24 hours.
You’re basically free to come up with any story you want. You could create one of a big night out with friends, mixing up photos and videos, or you could share an evening spent trying to create a culinary classic in the kitchen. Even if you don’t get it right, it could still be worth posting – we all love a failed attempt at a Bake Off classic.
If you feel like you still need some inspiration (or should that insta-ration?), there’s only one thing for it. Let’s see what your friends are up to…
How to view other Instagram Stories
Go into Instagram, and you’ll see some of your friends’ profile photos running along the top of your freed. That’s their Instagram Stories. Tap one, and you’ll be treated to a full-screen story of what they’ve posted in the last 24 hours.
You can’t hit an Instagram Story with any hearts, as much as you love it. But there’s a ‘send message’ box at the bottom if you feel like commenting. Or hit the camera icon and snap a selfie as a reply.
How to create your own Instagram Stories
Okay. The time has come. You’ve had a look at your friends’ Instagram Stories and to be quite frank, you’re a little disappointed. You know you can do much better.
Go to your profile pic on the top left of the screen and give the ‘+’ icon a tap. This opens up your story camera, and you’re now all set to take photos or record videos.
It’s worth exploring all the features and options in the story camera, because they’re lots of fun. Our favourites are ‘Boomerang’, which creates three second GIFs, and ‘Rewind’, which films a video in reverse – it’s made for holiday shots of someone jumping into a swimming pool.
And the fun doesn’t end there, because you can also add Snapchat-style face filters. Tap the face icon on the bottom right of the screen and get scrolling until you find a filter you like. Big eyes and bunny ears is a well-known classic, but we prefer this far-out space filter.
When you get the look you want, tap the ‘+’ icon with ‘Your Story’ underneath it. Your photo or video will be added to your Instagram Story for 24 hours. After that, it’s history. So make it memorable.
Are you an Instagram Stories master? Got any tip and tricks up your sleeve? If you wouldn’t mind sharing, go ahead and post a comment below.