Snap Melbourne: Photographer Josie Hayden demonstrates how to get the most from Insta pics

MOST of us love sharing our lives with our Instagram followers, but only some people have an eye for what makes a ripper pic.

MOST of us love sharing our lives with our Instagram followers, but only some people have an eye for what makes a ripper pic.

Ahead of #SnapMelbourne on November 22, we followed Leader photographer Josie Hayden’s Insta-journey over a day to see what she snapped across our beautiful city and why.

Check out her tips and tricks below and find some inspiration.

SHARE YOURS: Hashtag #SnapMelbourne on Instagram and Facebook

Happy snapping!

And remember, you don’t need to have fancy equipment — the best camera is the one you have on you.

My Day on Instagram. Bourke Street, Melbourne. When photographing a street scene wait until a person walks past, they can add an extra layer to the scene. Black and white can give photos a timeless quality. Picture: Josie Hayden

1. Bourke St, Melbourne. When photographing a street scene wait until a person walks past, as they can add an extra layer to the scene. Black and white can give photos a timeless quality.

My Day on Instagram. Rathdowne Street, Carlton. Shapes in modern buildings can be used to create block patterns. Picture: Josie Hayden

2. Rathdowne St, Carlton. Shapes in modern buildings like this one can be used to create eye-catching block patterns.

My Day on Instagram. Exhibition Street, Melbourne. Look for reflections on some of the glass buildings in Melbourne. They can create interesting patterns and trick the eye. Picture: Josie Hayden

3. Exhibition St, Melbourne. Look for reflections on some of the glass buildings around Melbourne; it can create interesting patterns and trick the eye.

My Day on Instagram. High Street, Prahran. I love the old buildings in Melbourne. I look for shapes and patterns in the windows and ornate details. Picture: Josie Hayden

4. High St, Prahran. I love the old buildings in Melbourne! I look for shapes and patterns in the windows and ornate details. Besides, grey is so Melbourne!

My Day on Instagram. Graffiti, Prahran. There is amazing graffiti in Melbourne! Try and be creative with how you shoot it by getting in some other aspects around the artwork like surrounding buildings and plants. Picture: Josie Hayden

5. Graffiti, Prahran . There is amazing graffiti art in Melbourne, but try and be creative with how you shoot it by getting in some other aspects around the artwork like surrounding buildings and plants.

My Day on Instagram. Plants are great for colour, patterns and shapes. I used a small depth of field and got in close. Picture: Josie Hayden

6. Plants. Flowers and foliage are great for colour, patterns and shapes. I used a small depth of field and got in really close for this snap.

My Day on Instagram. Taking photos of kids is much easier when they are having fun. On a hot day I pulled out the sprinkler. The spray of water with a fast shutter speed freezes every drop. I used a small depth of field so the main subject would stand out while still including the suburban backyard and his brother watching. Picture: Josie Hayden

7. Children. Taking photos of kids is much easier when they are having fun. On a hot day I pulled out the sprinkler. The spray of water with a fast shutter-speed freezes every drop. I used a small depth of field so the main subject would stand out while still including the suburban backyard (and his brother watching).

My Day on Instagram. Brighton Beach Boxes. Using bright colours in photos is fun and attracts the eye. Having the sun behind me meant the colour of the beach boxes and sky would be really bright. A large depth of field means the focal point and the beach boxes are sharp. Picture: Josie Hayden

8. Brighton Beach Boxes. Using bright colours in photos is fun and attracts the eye. Having the sun behind me meant the colour of the beach boxes and sky would be really bright. A large depth of field and fast shutter speed means the focal point and the beach boxes are sharp.

My Day on Instagram. Silhouette of palm tree fronds at St Kilda Beach. Having the sun behind the focus of the picture can create extra drama. Picture: Josie Hayden

9. St Kilda Beach. Having the sun behind the focus of the picture can create extra drama and make a really striking picture of something people have seen a million times before.

My Day on Instagram. Mini Schnauzers (L-R) Seba and Charlise at West Beach, St Kilda. A simple background and sunlight facing the dogs makes them stand out. Treats are always handy when photographing dogs. Picture: Josie Hayden

10. Animals. It's always good to have treats on hand when photographing dogs! A simple background and sunlight facing the dogs makes mini schnauzers Seba and Charlise stand out during their play time on St Kilda’s West Beach.

SHOW US YOUR SNAPS

We want to see and celebrate how Melburnians are eating, playing and living — brush up on your photography skills ahead of Snap Melbourne next Wednesday, when Melburnians are invited to post photographs to social media to build a living gallery of a day in the life of our wonderful city.

Tag @SnapMelbourne in your Instagram snaps, and use the #SnapMelbourne tag on Facebook.

Don’t forget to tag your local Leader, and keep your profile public so we can see your fantastic pictures.