I want to show you an iOS app called SCRL that I use to easily create those fun, swipe-able panoramic posts on Instagram using an iPhone.
I know, I know. You’re probably rolling your eyes, thinking that this is yet another post to help you game the Instagram algorithms and get you “all the likes” or something along those lines. Fortunately, there will be no gaming of any algorithms or a listicle of vapid tactics that you need to follow to grow your follower count.
Side note: unfortunately, the developer only makes iOS apps. However, I’d be shocked if there isn’t an Android equivalent app that can do the same thing. Still, I apologize for not being able to showcase an Android workflow in this tutorial video.
It is well-understood that the currency we all deal with when sharing anything on social media is attention. If your photo can get someone to stop their thumb from scrolling, you’ve jumped the first—and arguably toughest—hurdle. While a surefire way to accomplish this is to share a visually fetching photo, I enjoy taking it a step further by leveraging the IG carousel post to immerse the viewer a bit more. By getting a viewer to swipe left and right, you’re breaking their pattern of mindlessly scrolling through photos by having them engage with your post in a more significant way.
You can take the swiping action a step further by methodically placing the primary subject in a subsequent frame within your carousel. On one hand, it is a bit simplistic, right? However, I’d argue that when you pair this swiping technique with the right kind of image—where the viewer discovers something in the next frame—it could be a delightful experience for them. Let’s use this post as an example. Initially, the photo is pretty bland. But, when you swipe over, you’re greeted with a bee mid flight. That sort of whimsy can resonate with a lot of viewers. And you can always lead your post caption with a nudge to have them swipe over so that they know to take the action.
URL to IG POST: https://www.instagram.com/p/CW9cb7zvcOh/ (You can grab the embed code from there. Or, let me know if you can’t get it and I’ll send it to you)
Again, this technique isn’t meant to game the system and you shouldn’t have any notions about going viral by using it. I just wanted to share a process I use with some of my photos to make them a bit more fun and interactive for my viewers, and I hope you enjoy it, too!
About the author: Brian Matiash is a photo educator and published author based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. His passion is to serve other photographers by helping them grow their own visual pursuits. Be sure to subscribe to Brian’s YouTube channel for weekly photo tutorials and gear reviews.
