A top tier Instagram photo takes more than just a random snap on a phone screen. It needs considerations for lighting, angles, subject (object of focus).

“There are countless basic compositional techniques of photography out there. The goal for Instagram is to post something that can capture people’s attention and how you do that is by ensuring that the pictures are just that appealing,” says Qurious Media founder and photographer Quwayne Rose.

Rose shared with Our Today photography techniques used in the industry.

“There’s a difference between a good photo, a photo that makes someone stop scrolling, and a photo that someone takes the time to give a like,” he continued.

Even though most phones can do a lot of the work now, it’s the techniques that a photographer applies or the perspectives they take that really makes the difference.

One of the more popular techniques is the Rule of thirds, as Quwayne explains it, when you open a modern smart phone camera, two horizontal and two vertical lines will appear. Any of the four points where the lines intersect can be considered a good spot to place your subject.

Another is leading lines.

“It’s basically framing the shot in a way that it draws your attention towards the subject as if you’re leading the person’s eyes along. Picture in art class when someone would draw a road leading to a horizon,” said the 25-year-old.

Manipulating foreground and background subjects, which is blurring out one of the two in a way to make your subject pop more.

There’s the golden ratio or the golden spiral, it’s difficult to explain, but basically it’s a mathematical method for placing the subject in the shot in a way most pleasing to the eye.

“There’s a lot of overlap in between the techniques, there’s nothing uncommon about using something with Leading lines plus Rule of thirds with foreground focus,” noted Rose.

There’s also lighting and colour theory, those involve using different lighting and colours to alter the subject, different colours have different effects on mood and combining that with light can add a lot of depth to the story the picture is telling.

Quwayne spent two years as president of the UWI Camera Club and recently started his Qurious Media.

You can follow his journey on Instagram @Quriousmedia