This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. The author is solely responsible for this publication (communication) and the Commission accepts no responsibility for any use may be made of the information contained therein. In compliance of the new GDPR framework, please note that the Partnership will only process your personal data in the sole interest and purpose of the project and without any prejudice to your rights.

Instagram is a popular social media platform that focuses on sharing photos and videos. Users can create personal profiles, follow other users, and engage with content by liking, commenting, and sharing posts. It is known for its visually-driven format, where people can post images and short videos, apply various filters and editing effects, and add captions and hashtags to their posts.

Tool Website https://help.instagram.com/424737657584573

Tool Categories

Ideation/brainstorming
Fact checking
Writing/scripting/text creation/editing/proofing
Audio creation/editing/recording
Graphic/image design creation
Animated graphic/image design creation
Photography – tools to take and edit.
Video – shoot/edit videos.
Development/SEO/monetization
Publishing

What Makes Instagram a Great Storytelling Tool

Instagram can be a powerful storytelling tool for several reasons:

  1. Visual Appeal: Instagram is primarily a visual platform, making it ideal for storytelling through compelling images and videos.
  2. Story Features: Instagram offers various storytelling features, such as Stories, which are short-lived, ephemeral posts that disappear after 24 hours.
  3. Captions and Hashtags: Captions provide an opportunity to add context, emotions, and storytelling elements to your visual content.
  4. Carousel Posts: Instagram allows users to create carousel posts, which can include multiple images or videos in a single post.
  5. Highlights: Stories can be saved as Highlights on your profile, allowing you to curate and organize your ongoing narratives or thematic content for long-term storytelling.
  6. Engagement: Instagram's interactive features, such as polls, questions, and sliders, enable direct engagement with your audience.
  7. Insights: Instagram provides analytics tools that offer valuable insights into your audience's behaviour and preferences.
  8. Collaboration: Instagram's tagging and mention features make it easy to collaborate with other users, whether it's co-authoring a story or featuring user-generated content as part of your narrative.
  9. Cross-Promotion: Instagram integrates with other social media platforms, making it convenient to share your stories across multiple channels and reach a broader audience.
  10. Branding: Instagram's customizable profile allows storytellers to create a visually consistent brand identity, reinforcing the narrative theme and style.
  11. Diverse Content Formats: In addition to photos and videos, Instagram supports various content formats like Reels, IGTV, and Live video, providing storytellers with flexibility in how they share their narratives.

Website Link

https://help.instagram.com/424737657584573

Example Use of Instagram

Instagram also offers features like Stories, IGTV for longer videos, and direct messaging, making it a versatile platform for both personal and business use. Owned by Facebook, Instagram has a large and diverse user base and is widely used for sharing moments, promoting brands, and connecting with others through visual content. Overall, Instagram's visual nature, storytelling features, and engagement tools make it a versatile platform for conveying stories, building connections, and reaching a wide and engaged audience.

Step by Step How to Make a Storyboard

Scenario: Imagine you're a filmmaker planning a short movie, and you want to create a storyboard to visualize the scenes and shots. You can use Instagram to storyboard the key moments of your film:

  1. Create a Private Instagram Account: Start by creating a private Instagram account specifically for your project. This will keep your storyboard separate from your personal account.
  2. Profile Setup: Set up your profile with a name and bio that reflect the project's title and purpose. You can also add a profile picture related to the project.
  3. Post Sequence Shots:
    1. Begin by posting the first shot or scene you want to storyboard. This could be a picture or a sketch of the initial frame.
    2. In the caption, describe the scene, including details like location, characters, camera angles, and any specific instructions or notes for the crew.
    3. Use relevant hashtags to categorize your posts or make them searchable.
  4. Continue Posting: Continue posting individual shots or scenes in chronological order, adding captions and relevant hashtags for each. Be as descriptive as possible in your captions to convey the narrative and shot details.
  5. Highlight Reels: use Instagram Highlights to organise your storyboard. Create Highlights for different acts or sections of your film. Each highlight can contain the storyboard posts related to that section.
  6. Engage Collaborators: if you're working with a team, invite them to follow the project's Instagram account. They can comment on posts, ask questions, or provide feedback, facilitating collaboration and communication.
  7. Feedback and Iteration: encourage feedback from your followers. Instagram's commenting and direct messaging features allow for easy communication and idea sharing.
  8. Updates and Revisions: as your project progresses, you can update your storyboard by editing or adding new posts. This dynamic aspect of Instagram allows for flexibility in your storytelling.
  9. Privacy Settings: since you're using a private account, you have control over who can follow and view your storyboard. This ensures that your project details are only accessible to the people you want to share them with.
  10. Export and Share: once your storyboard is finalised and you've incorporated feedback, you can use Instagram's download feature to save your storyboard as an image or series of images. These can be used for further planning.

Learn More About Instagram

Want to Give Instagram a Try

To see a demo sample of Instagram, we would recommend visiting the official Instagram website (https://help.instagram.com/424737657584573) or checking out their official YouTube channel. These sources often provide tutorials, demo videos, and examples of animations created using the platform, which can give you a better idea of what Instagram is capable of. Additionally, you can sign up for a free Instagram account to explore the platform and its features firsthand. Using Instagram in this way can make the storyboarding process more interactive, collaborative, and visually engaging. It also allows you to keep all your storyboard content in one place while maintaining control over its accessibility and privacy.

Instagram is a free social media app for sharing photos and videos with friends and followers. Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom created it for iOS in 2010, with releases for Android in 2012 and Windows in 2016. Facebook acquired the application in 2012 and has been adding new features since then: https://instagram.en.softonic.com/

© 2024 Young European Storytellers for Social Change. All rights reserved.
menuchevron-down