Instagram is one of the most popular apps: it has 1 billion accounts active every month. These numbers are astonishing, as they give an opportunity for photographers to become prominent without spending too much money and effort on promotion. But there’s also a question of how to make your works noticed among that vast amount of visuals posted daily.
With Instagram, you get a range of effective and free ways to do that: collaborations, paid ads, suggestions, viral content, geolocations and, of course, hashtags. Although some people may think hashtags look messy and outdated, professionals know the true power of the tool. To succeed, you need to know some basic rules and keep our list of the best hashtags for photographers handy.
Why you should use hashtags
Instagram refers your account to a special niche according to the hashtags you use. For instance, our Depositphotos Instagram account features stock photos by our contributors, and our account is probably classified under ‘photography’ and ‘minimalist photography’ because of the content and hashtags.
Instagram is also a good opportunity for free advertising, as many pages feature photographers they like. There are thousands of such pages and they are devoted to different topics, so if you have an aim to be featured, keep working and they will post your images and mention your page in the description.
Instagram hashtag best practices
To see results, plan hashtags carefully, from their number to how often do you post. Industry hashtags, location hashtags, brand hashtags, niche hashtags are the things you definitely need to include but before, read our complete guide to Instagram hashtags.
At the stage of planning, find similar accounts and see what hashtags do they use. Recently Instagram introduced a new inspiring function and now you can follow hashtags you like and, thus, track competitors. You can also use tools to search for hashtags (directly in Instagram search or at Displaypurposes). It is no less important to mix and change hashtags to make sure your photos are seen by different people and your reach is constantly expanded.
How to get featured on a popular Instagram account
First, create a list of the accounts that feature photographers. Then start taking photos that fit the style of these pages, add hashtags they use and tag their accounts. Don’t give up if it doesn’t work on the first try, keep going, be consistent and your pictures would definitely be featured.
Here are several accounts that feature photographers:
1. Street Photography
- @streetdreamsmag – 272k followers, hashtag – #streetdreamsmag
- @bestcitybreaks – 373k followers, hashtag – #bestcitybreaks
- @theprettycities – 366k followers, hashtag – #theprettycities
2. Travel photography
- @travelanddestinations – 557k followers, hashtag – #travelanddestinations
- @igshotz – 76k followers, hashtag – #igshotz
- @worldplaces – 261k followers, hashtag – #worldplaces
- @instagood – 843k followers, hashtag – #instagoodmyphoto
- @travelandlife – 297k followers, hashtag – #travelandlife
3. Wedding photography
- @inspiredbythis – 291k followers, hashtag – #everydayIBT
- @dreamweddingshots – 10k followers, hashtag – #dreamweddingshots
- @stylemepretty – 1.1m followers, hashtag – #SMPShareYourStory
4. Black and white
- @blackandwhiteisworththefight – 18k followers, hashtag – #blackandwhiteisworththefight
- @bnw_planet – 250k followers, hashtag – #bnw_planet
- @flair_bw – 101k followers, hashtag – #flair_bw
Most popular Instagram hashtags for photographers
You can use online tools to find the right hashtags, such as Displaypurposes, Hashtagify or Hashtags.org. However, we decided to help you and selected the hashtags you can use depending on the photography style.
General Instagram hashtags for photographers
#photographyislife #photography #photographyeveryday #nikonphoto #photographyoftheday #agameoftones #photographyislifee #photographer #justgoshoot #ig_myshot #photographylover #master_shots #photographysouls #iglobal_photographers #photographyaddict #canon_photos #cpcollectives #ig_masterpiece #photography #worldbestgram #worldshotz #icatching #main_vision #wanderlust #shotwithlove
Best Instagram hashtags for nature photographers
#outdoors #hiking #trees #naturelover #wildlife #instanature #skyporn #cloudporn #landscapephotography #mothernature #landscape_lovers #nature_shooters #beautifulplaces #landscapelovers #welivetoexplore #awesome_earthpix #nature_seekers #landscapehunter #nature_shooters #nationalgeographic #nature #landscape_lovers #natureporn #thegreatoutdoors #getoutside #earthvisuals #ourplanetdaily
Popular hashtags for animal photographers
#petsofinstagram #petstagram #instapet #weeklyfluff #petscorner #petoftheday #ilovemydog #puppylove #animalsofinstagram #dogsofig #catstagram #petsofig #cutepetclub #puppies #instapets #furbaby #instacat #animals #dogsofinstaworld #bestwoof #kitten #dog_features #catoftheday #animals_in_world #majestic_wildlife #animalelite
Portrait hashtags
#portraitphotography #portraitmood #portraits_ig #portraitphotographer #makeportraits #portraitoftheday #portraitpage #rsa_portraits #bestportraits #portraitstyles_gf #ig_portrait #top_portraits #postmoreportraits #life_portraits #bestphotogram_portraits #pursuitofportraits #instagram_faces #profile_vision #featurepalette #discoverportrait #portraits_universe #ftmedd #2instagoodportraitlove #majestic_people #makeportrait #tangledinfilm
Instagram hashtags for street photographers
#streetart #building #streetphoto #buildings #town #graffiti #architecturelovers #cities #architexture #lines #urbanart #archidaily #skyscraper #citylife #composition #archilovers #geometry #arts #streetlife #architectureporn #abstract #perspective #people #minimal #bnw #lookingup #road #geometric #photos #picture #everybodystreet #streetphoto_bw #lensculture #lensculturestreets #streetlife_award #urbanphotography #ig_street #streetview #street_photo_club #streets #streetphotography_bw #streetshot #SPiCollective #street_photography #magnumphotos #documentary #wearethestreet #streetportrait #beststreets #monochrome #hikaricreative #blackandwhitephotography #documentaryphotography #streetbwcolor #bnw_life #bnw
Popular hashtags for travel photographers
#worldbestgram #hello_worldpics #wonderful_places #aroundtheworld #getaway #travelwithme #neverstopexploring #bbctravel #beautifuldestinations #places_wow #splendid_shotz #fantastic_earth #travelgram #instatravel #awesomeglobe #keepitwild #theprettycities #travelphotography #travelblogger #travelphotographer #theglobewanderer #LetsGoEverywhere #postcardplaces #travelholic #getlost #traveltheworld #globetrotter #InstaPassport #lonelyplanet #travelphoto #travel #igworldclub #letsgosomewhere #sharetravelpics #igtravel #postcardsfromtheworld
Hashtags for astrophotography
#astrophotography #milkyway #astro_photography_ #nightscaper #astronomy #nightsky #nightscape #milkywaychasers #starrynight #natgeospace #astrophoto #stars #universetoday #milkywaygalaxy #longexposure #nightphotography #nightimages #nightshooters #ig_astrophotography #skymasters #space #stargazing #longexposure_shots #fs_longexpo #galaxy #longexpo #nightpics #rsa_night #longexpoelite #night_shooterz
Best Instagram hashtags for wedding photographers
#weddingphotography #weddingplanner #weddinginspiration #weddingideas #greenweddingshoes #instawedding #theknot #bridal #destinationwedding #bridetobe #engaged #prewedding #junebugweddings #dugunfotografcisi #weddingplanning #brideandgroom #engagement #weddinginspo #instabride #destinationweddingphotographer #weddingstyle #stylemepretty #ido
Black and white photography hashtags
#bnw #bw #blackandwhitephotography #monochrome #bnw_society #bnw_captures #bnw_life #bw_lover #blackandwhitephoto #bnw_planet #monoart #blancoynegro #bw_photooftheday #noir #bw_society #instablackandwhite #igersbnw #monochromatic #bnw_demand #insta_bw #bnw_rose #bnw_globe #white #bw_crew #bnwmood #bwstyles_gf #noiretblanc #irox_bw #monotone #rsa_bnw
Most popular hashtags for #fashion on Instagram
#fashionshoot #fashionstudy #fashionoftheday #fashioneditorial #fashionphotographer #fashiontrends #fashionforward #fashions #fashionkilla #fashioninspiration #fashionkilla #fashionworld #fashioninspiration #editorialshoot #fashiontrends
These hashtags will help you with more reach, attract new followers and get featured on other accounts. However, don’t limit yourself only to these tags. Add location hashtags, geotag places, follow popular photographers and learn their ways of self-promotion.
Get more inspiration and ideas from some of the top photographers on Instagram, and dig into the ins and outs of social media and digital marketing for photographers.
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