Rebrand Your Instagram Profile With This Cool Inspiration

It’s embarrassing to admit, but Instagram brings out a nitpicky perfectionism in me that feels misaligned from my typically laid-back nature. If my grid feels off in terms of color or composition, it nags away at me until I eventually just delete the bad apple in the bunch. Though I wouldn’t encourage this type of impulsive behavior in others (hold onto those memories!), I suspect that many in the fashion industry can, in some way, relate. After all, if you’re a brand, blogger, or something cut from a similar cloth, social media plays a substantial role in how you present yourself to the “world.” It’s a visual representation of what you think is cool and how you want to be viewed.

So this got me thinking: What better way to give that old Instagram feed a boost than by turning to places I think are cool for inspiration? But instead of just replicating ideas from existing accounts, I consulted a handful of brands’ blogs and journals for ideas. What I found was a treasure trove of cool camera angles, flat-lay ideas, and even a sexy pose here or there (why not, right?).

See below for what I found, but because we’re all different here, don’t forget to share your Instagram account with me in the comments so I can have a look.

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The Artsy Location Instagram
(Image credit: Bird)

Whether you’re like me and live in a metropolitan city or you reside somewhere a bit more rural, there are inspiring locations to behold just about everywhere. Take a photo anytime you see something you like, and hold onto it for a rainy day.

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The Interesting Lighting Instagram
(Image credit: J. Hannah)

Everything looks better at golden hour—even a sliver of your hands and feet.

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The Ordinary-Things Instagram
(Image credit: La Garconne)

Sometimes it’s all about staging your favorite things in cool ways. Glossier has practically built its social media presence around the idea!

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The Civilian-Backdrop Instagram
(Image credit: Los Feliz)

You don’t need to frolic around a field to get a cool shot. Sometimes the most civilian backdrops feel the coolest.

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The Accessory Instagram
(Image credit: Lisa Says Gah)

People love a good accessory shot, so think of fresh ways to show off your latest finds.

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The Cool Crop Instagram
(Image credit: Uber Den Wolken)

Even if you’re standing next to a set of plastic chairs, if you’ve got a cute outfit and an interesting crop going on, it’s Instagram magic.

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The Non-Selfie Selfie Instagram
(Image credit: Maryam Nassir Zadeh)

Selfies can sometimes feel a little self-indulgent. Try a less studied version by letting the wind catch hold of your locks.

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The Badass Instagram
(Image credit: Monogram)

Show off your super-rad interests whenever possible—it’s what makes you you.

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The Dangling-Shoe Instagram
(Image credit: Na Nin)

Consider this the cooler version of holding an ice cream cone in front of a brick wall.

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The "I'm Traveling" Instagram
(Image credit: Need Supply Co.)

Your Instagram feed is like a scrapbook, so why not document your travels along the way?

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The Depth-of-Field Instagram
(Image credit: Passenger)

iPhone cameras are super high-tech these days; get creative with the foreground for more dynamic dimensions.

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The Rooftop Instagram
(Image credit: Petra Von Kant)

You can't take a bad shot on a roof, it's just the way it is.

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The Home-Goods Instagram
(Image credit: Steven Alan)

No, you don’t need to Instagram your sausage ragù, but there are still ways to showcase a beautiful piece of fruit or an interesting plate without feeling passé. Same goes for the plants that you’re totally not going to kill this time around.

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The Behind-the-Scenes Instagram
(Image credit: The Dreslyn)

Are you an artist? A jewelry designer? Photographer? Whatever it is that you do, why not give your viewers a sneak peek at what it’s like to do your job for a day? It’s humanizing!

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The Beautiful Textures Instagram
(Image credit: The Line)

This world comprises some pretty stellar textures, so skip the shyness and take a photo of anything that strikes your fancy. They make for good iPhone backgrounds, too.

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The Shadows Instagram
(Image credit: Veda)

Similar to the interesting-lighting Instagram, playing with shadows can really up the ante.

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The Good Outfit Instagram
(Image credit: Mixed Business)

Like what you’re wearing? Share it on Instagram!

Share your Instagram account with me in the comments, and then shop these iPhone cases to make the experience stylish through and through.

Nicole Kliest
Freelance Contributor

Nicole Kliest is a freelance writer and editor based in New York City who focuses on fashion, travel, food, wine, and pretty much anything else that's amusing to write about. After graduating from Pepperdine University with a bachelor's in journalism and creative writing, she started her career back in 2010 as Who What Wear's photo editor and throughout the last decade has contributed to publications including Fashionista, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, The Zoe Report, PopSugar, Fodor's Travel, and several others. She also copywrites and has worked with clients such as Frame, Sea, 3x1, Intelligentsia, and others to develop brand voices through storytelling and creative marketing. She's very passionate about the ways we can improve our sustainability efforts in the fashion industry as well as cultivating content that's diverse and inclusive of all people. When she's not checking out the latest restaurant opening in her West Village neighborhood or riding her bicycle along the West Side Highway, she can be found scheming her next trip somewhere around the world. (Up next is Vienna.)