Smash Your 2026 Instagram Goals by Learning These Photography Tricks

In this story:

Lighting is everything
Choose natural light over flash
The rule of thirds
Discover the importance of depth in photography
Use your eyes
Any weather is good weather
Don't be afraid of a cheeky edit
Plan ahead, aesthetically
Forget about the likes
Get started at a beginner's photography workshop in your local neighbourhood

Ready to get that Instagram-worthy pic? Photography courses in Melbourne are designed to get you familiar with your DSLR camera or smartphone and ready to take good photos in just a few short hours! Say farewell to out-of-focus faces, blurry backgrounds and smudged-up smiles, with these Melbourne activities you’ll become confident with your snapping skills.

Learn photography with some of the most passionate and experienced photographers in Melbourne and capture the CBD perfectly for all your social channels. If you’re keen to flip your photography game on its lens then these helpful tips are sure to get you posting like a pro in 2026!

Lighting is everything

The right lighting can make or break any photo. It’s the most crucial element of photography training and one that must be mastered in order to take a good image. A well-lit space is important in creating a good photo, so make sure you can identify your light source and work with it as opposed to manipulating the photo in a way that doesn’t compliment the use of light.

To really master lighting basics, try your hand at a night photography course in Melbourne CBD.

Choose natural light over flash

Unless you’re specifically looking at capturing the washed-out, overexposed style that accompanies heavy flash photography, try and work with natural light instead. Due to it being a softer light, natural light has the capacity to flatter a captured image much more than an aggressive, unnatural light coming from your phone or camera. Besides, a darkened photo can always be lightened up with a cheeky edit. An overexposed image can’t ever really be fixed.

Don’t be disillusioned by the inconsistency of Melbourne weather, either! Different days offer different lighting options and a colourful laneway mural can look quite dashing under a dreary, Brunswick cloud.

The rule of thirds

Ah yes, the fabled photography rule of thirds. Any photography course in Melbourne will place a heavy emphasis on this rule. The rule of thirds is a principle of image composition that balances shapes, textures and colours into a 3x3 grid to help capture a balanced image. Nearly every smartphone has this feature, and it’s a trusted aid in making sure your images are centred, well-focused and most importantly, nice to look at.

Discover the importance of depth in photography

You want your photos to have as much depth as you do. That doesn’t necessarily mean always taking photos of heavy subjects, surroundings or events, but looking at the composition and layering of your image. You want the focus of your image to be the focus, sure, but what’s going on behind it? What’s happening on either side? Don’t forsake the background and environment for the sake of your focal point as they can really add a unique feel to the image you’re capturing.

Use your eyes

Don’t just take 500 photos and pick the best one. Your eyes were capturing images long before you even knew what a phone was, so utilise them! Train your eyes to look for the image before taking it. Envision the rule of thirds, find the source of light and observe the background composition before snapping up. You have to find the photo before you take it, after all.

Any weather is good weather

Bad weather is no such thing. Although photography classes will primarily run when the weather’s good, if your equipment is protected, any weather is good weather for snapping up some pics. Use the environment to your advantage. If it’s raining, play with focal points and composition. Grey and cloudy outside? The soft light might be perfect for capturing portrait imagery. Snowing like crazy? A touch of white can really free up your Instagram feed, visually speaking. Besides, the weather’s always changing in Melbourne anyway, so you best get used to it.

Don't be afraid of a cheeky edit

dslr camera photo editing

One of the benefits of smartphone photography is what they lack in DSLR quality imagery is the ability to edit and enhance the images you capture very quickly. Instagram’s editing tools are small in comparison to the sheer array of photo editing apps available to you. Although there are several mistakes you can make that can’t be fixed with an edit, there are small ones that can be corrected in a matter of seconds. Although most quality photo editing apps require a subscription, most of their prices are very reasonable for what you get out of them. Plus, you can even attend photography classes in Melbourne that help you learn how to edit your photos and come away with newfound skills!

Plan ahead, aesthetically

All the photography courses in Melbourne can’t give you your plan, you must decide that for yourself. It’s important to keep your Instagram aesthetically consistent so your homepage is visually engaging. This doesn’t require much, just think three photos ahead! Or don’t, and go for complete chaos. After all, that’s also a look. The world’s your oyster; take a selfie of you shucking it.

Forget about the likes

This isn’t a photography trick per se but it’s always important to remember to take images of people and things that are engaging to you. Trying to take what you think will be popular as opposed to what you actually find interesting could be satisfying in the short term but you’ll end up blending into every influencer on the site, and lose likes and followers over time. Be yourself, capture what you want to capture and grow your followers organically. Photography courses are so popular now that it’s important to bring your own uniqueness to the skills you pick up.

Get started at a beginner's photography workshop in your local neighbourhood

taking nature photography with dslr camera

The best way to learn photography is by getting hands-on experience with it. A photography class will teach you the skills you need but once you’ve got a grasp on the basics, get out and start practising! The only way to improve your photo game is by putting the skills you’re learning into practice over and over again until they become second nature.

Photography classes are also a great way to meet like-minded people in your area and specialise in your chosen skill set. There are plenty of photography courses in Melbourne for you to try out, whether you’re looking for a course specifically on portrait or landscape photography, or if you’re looking for something a little broader that can fit into your schedule as it moves.

There’s a multitude of ways to enhance your photography game for 2026, and utilising these tips will ensure you’re off to a unique start. If you want to truly take your game to the next level, however, check out our range of photography courses in Melbourne. This city is just brimming with inspiration, from its ever-changing weather to its beautiful urban scenery and truly colourful characters. So no matter if you're wandering through Footscray or exploring Box Hill, Melbourne offers the perfect backdrop to help you nail those 2026 Instagram goals.