How to Add Pictures to Your Instagram Story
Instagram Stories have become a popular way to share photo and video content that disappears after 24 hours. Unlike regular Instagram posts, Stories enable you to be creative and post more candid, in-the-moment visuals without worrying about curating a perfect feed.
But if you‘re new to Stories, uploading photos can be confusing at first. In this beginner‘s guide, I‘ll walk you through how to easily add pictures to your Instagram Story, step-by-step.
Uploading a Single Photo
Adding a single photo to your Story is simple. Just follow these instructions:
Open the Instagram app and tap the plus (+) icon in the top left.
Select “Story” from the bottom tray.
- Snap a photo with the in-app camera or tap the bottom left icon to upload one from your camera roll.
Edit with filters, text, drawings or stickers from the tray at the top.
Tap “Your Story” to share it publicly or “Close Friends” to limit views.
Hit the arrow icon to post!
And that‘s all there is to it. All of your friends and followers will now be able to view your photo for the next 24 hours.
Adding Multiple Photos
You can also stitch together multiple shots into one Story. There are a couple ways to go about this:
Use Layout Templates
Instagram has built-in collage templates that let you combine 2-6 pictures:
Tap the layout icon (a square with lines inside it) when uploading to Story.
Select your desired layout from the bottom tray.
Tap the empty boxes to insert photos from your camera roll.
Rearrange or edit photos as needed.
Share as usual.
Layer Stickers
For more freedom, use the “Create” mode to layer photos on top of each other:
Tap the “Aa” icon when starting a new Story.
Tap the sticker icon and select a photo from your camera roll.
Drag, resize or rotate the image sticker wherever you‘d like.
Keep adding stickers to layer multiple shots.
Share as usual.
This sticker method allows you to fully customize your layout. Feel free to get creative!
You can also create collages ahead of time with an external app (like Pic Stitch or Layout) and upload the final image to Instagram Stories.
Editing Your Photos
Instagram gives you lots of options for sprucing up your Story photos before posting:
- Filters – Swipe left/right to try different presets.
- Text – Jazz up your pics with text captions, headers or fun phrases.
- GIFs – Search for reaction GIFs to overlay on your photos.
- Drawings – Get creative with markers, brushes and neon pens.
- Stickers – Flags, locations, hashtag stickers & more.
Feel free to mix and match elements to find your desired aesthetic. And don‘t hesitate to undo or restart if you make a mistake!
Once you finish editing, tap “Your Story” or “Close Friends” to share.
Sharing Your Instagram Story
You have a couple options when posting a new Story:
Your Story – Share publicly with all followers.
Close Friends – Limit views to your closest friends list.
Direct – You can also send individual photos from your story via DM by pressing and holding down on the preview.
By default, Stories disappear after 24 hours. But you can save highlight reels for long-term public viewing on your profile by tapping the bookmark icon on your own Story.
Extra Tips
Here are some final best practices for eye-catching Instagram Stories:
- Use high-res images for clarity.
- Add locations and geotags to tie posts to specific places.
- Mention friends by tagging their handle.
- Use hashtags to increase discoverability.
- Keep it candid and behind-the-scenes feeling.
Remember, Stories are meant to be informal, fun and in-the-moment. So don‘t overthink it!
Add Photos to Your Story With Ease
And there you have it! You‘re now equipped to easily upload pictures to your Instagram Story, whether single shots, creative collages or edited visuals.
Feel free to mix up captions, locations, tags and interactive stickers to make your content uniquely yours. Most importantly, have fun with it!
Let your personality shine through in your Instagram Stories. Your followers want to see glimpses of your everyday moments, travels, friends and interests.
