Photo Layouts

FUN FREE PHOTO LAYOUTS FOR INSTAGRAM

Here are two of my favorite free photography apps for Instagram and your photo album.

InstaCollage:

InstaCollage is very easy to use.  Simply download the free app from iTunes onto your mobile device.  On the side bar, you choose how many photos you want to use from your photo album.
There are various ways to make those photos (even it is just one) into fun and fast collages.
On the top bar you can choose which effect you would like to use.  You can then add backgrounds, borders, effects, text, and stickers.
This app is very easy to use and self explanatory.

After creating your collage, you press the save button and can either just keep it in your photo gallery of your phone OR post it directly to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or email it out.

Here is one demonstrating the Pinboard effect adding a background and text with two photos.

This one desmonstrates one of the Art 3D
backgrounds.









This one shows a 'Poster' effect.

Instablend:

Instablend is also a free app from iTunes.  This one has a lot of ads and asks to purchase the upgraded version though quite regularly.  There is a lot you can do without the upgrade.

Instablend takes two photos and superimposes them onto each other.  Cool!

You choose two photos from your photo gallery (one for the forfront one for the background, and Instablend puts them together.  As with other apps, you can add borders, text and effects.

Have fun and don't forget to #jennXsocialmedia so I can see what you have created.

As always, please leave a comment to let me know what you would like to see and don't forget to follow this Blog for more fun techniques.

Follow jennb001 in Instagram and see which apps I have been playing with.

Social Media Part 2

SOCIAL MEDIA
 2.0

As promised, here is part two of of Social Media 101.
What is Etsy, Tumblr and Pintrest and who uses them?

Etsy:

Etsy is an online shopping resource centre for crafters and consumers.  Anyone is eligible to sell, buy or just look around. Popular brands are usually not sold on this website but can sometimes be found.

Items that are sold on Etsy are usually high quality handmade products that are unique and fun.  They vary from jewelry, home decor (such as pillows, rugs, wall decorations), cell phone cases, to clothing and toys.

Very easy to purchase items as well as make wish lists to save and email for later use.
You do not need to sign up for this site.

One competition to Etsy is Amazon.

Check it out here: Etsy

Pintrest:

Pintrest is a virtual cork/pin board.  You can like, re-post, create and learn from each post.  There are various categories: Popular, Gifts, Animals and pets, Architecture, Design, Food and drink, Gardening and Humor to list just a few.

Pintrest is similar to looking through a magazine or catalog rather than a social network, though you can have followers and create specific boards.
Pintrest posts can inspire people either through motivational quotes (if that is what you are looking for) or specifically how to do a specific thing: set the perfect fall table for a dinner party or bake a pumpkin spice pull apart bread (I tired it and it was delicious!).
  

You can scroll through the photos like a magazine but if there is a photo that captures your interest (example a great photo of a decorative cupcake), you click on it, it will take you to the site that shows you how to make it or the catering company that can bring it!  If there is a garden you click on, it will take you to the landscaping website that designed it or tell you what the plants are.

Pintrest can automatically link your photo to your website.

It is a great way to relax, laugh, advertise or learn from.
You need to sign in to this account.

Check it out here: Pintrest

Tumblr:

Tumblr is similar to Pintrest in that it is a way to collect photos, gifs (short videos) and post them in one place.  Similar to Instagram, you can use hashtags (#).  Here the content you would like to post needs to be uploaded manually and you can write about it like a blog.  This is called "microblogging". Tumblr does not create the direct links like Pintrest does.

Check out Tumblr here:  Tumblr

So why use one over another?  or use them all?

It is not a question of which is better, but the more exposure you have, the chances are you will reach a larger audience.


Next Blog:  Fun free websites that support Instagram.


Leave me a message in comments letting me know what topics you would like me to cover in coming blogs or if you have any questions.
If you would like me to help you with your social media, contact me through comments or email me at jenn@jennxsocialmedia.com or via my website: JennX Social Media