Everyone loves a little Instagram, right? And the Stories feature (the ability for users to create a daily slideshow of images that you can use to tell others about your day before it disappears after 24 hours) has been a huge hit. Now with over 150 million users, Instagram Stories clearly has few fans.
But the app’s functionality isn’t always easy to grasp. Here are a set of tips and tricks, along with step-by-step guides, to help you enjoy using Instagram Stories to the fullest.
In this issue of the Tips & Tricks series, we take a look at: How to Use Existing Images or Videos in Your Camera Roll.
Instagram Stories: How to Use Existing Images or Videos in Your Camera Roll
When you look back from your camera, I’m sure you’re looking at a photo or two of you looking sexy. I’m smoking. Good enough to eat.
We’re all a little narcissistic (it’s Instagram, after all, right?) so we really want to show the world the photos we look our best. It’s just natural!
But here lies the problem. Instagram Stories only allow you to upload photos and videos you’ve taken in the last 24 hours! Well, you can bypass this problem altogether with our helpful little trick.
First of all, we will quickly upload photos taken within the last 24 hours in case you are confused.
· Select the “Your Story” icon with the little blue tick next to it.
· You will now be greeted with the usual screen that offers the options “Live”, “Normal” and “Boomerang” among others. But don’t click on anything!
· You can access all the videos or photos you have taken in the last 24 hours by just swiping up. Select them and voila, you’re done.
Alternatively, you can click the middle icon, the “+” symbol in the bottom menu bar of your feed, and the contents of your phone’s camera will appear.
take screenshot
This is the easiest way to trick Instagram into thinking your photo is more than 24 hours old.
Basically, all you have to do is select an image and then take a screenshot. But before uploading you will need to do some editing, otherwise everyone will understand that this is a screenshot. How embarrassing.
Apply
Apps like Photo Efix Editor for Android or Metatrixter for iPhone allow users to edit a photo’s metadata. Although it may sound technical and difficult to understand, it is actually quite easy.
Metadata is a payload that gives additional information about other data (in this case, a photo is data) to which it is attached. Photo metadata includes when the photo was taken (bingo!), the camera it was taken from, the location, etc. can tell.
Through these apps you can select any old photo and edit various parts of its data. With any of these apps you will:
· Select the photo you want to edit.
· Edit the time it was taken. IMPORTANT: Make sure you set it up within 24 hours for Instagram Stories to accept it.
· Upload to Instagram Stories as you would any other photo.
