How to Create a Cohesive Instagram Feed: A Guide to Visual Harmony

Example of a consistent colour palette. The colours have the same hue and white balance across all photographs

In the visually-driven world of Instagram, having a cohesive feed is like having your own personal brand on display. A well-put-together feed not only grabs attention but also gives your profile a polished, professional look. If you want to make your Instagram feed stand out and look amazing, here’s a simple guide to help you get there!

Cohesive Instagram Feed: Colour Palette and Presets

One of the easiest ways to make your feed look cohesive is by sticking to a consistent color palette. Basically, you want to keep the same hues and color temperatures across all your photos to create a unified look. Pick a set of colors that work well together and stick with them. Presets are super handy for this—just apply them to your photos to keep the color tones and moods consistent without spending too much time editing.

Example of a Cohesive look created by photographing the same topic. Notice how the blue sky is featured only in the photos across from each other.

Maintain Consistent Depth of Blacks, Contrast, and Saturation

Consistency is key when it comes to editing. Make sure the depth of blacks, contrast, and saturation are similar in all your photos. Presets can help here too, giving you a uniform starting point and helping keep your style consistent. For example, if you love high contrast and deep blacks, apply those settings to all your photos so they all blend smoothly together.

Organise Photos using a Layout

Setting up a layout for your feed can really bring some structure and flow to your Instagram. If you're shooting only subjects with similar tones—like all snowy landscapes—it’s pretty easy to keep your colours consistent. But be careful; sticking to one tone can limit your options and make it tricky to mix in other types of photos without disrupting the vibe.

There are a few layout tricks you can try. For example, you can match photos by using the same temperature, colors, patterns, or compositions. One popular and easy approach is the alternating style layout, where every second photo follows a particular style or theme, just like a chess board of photos. This technique not only keeps your feed looking cohesive but also allows for variety. Organising your photos around a specific layout gives your feed a curated look and makes it visually engaging.

Example of a layout in which every second photo matches each other by composition and pattern.

Eliminate Distractions

Keep your feed looking clean by removing distractions. Watch out for things like cables, water spills, or random trash in your shots. A clutter-free photo helps keep the focus on what really matters and makes your feed look more professional. Try to avoid messy background when taking the picture and edit out the things which stand out too much later in Photoshop.

Keep It Simple

Sometimes, less really is more. Simple, clean photos are easier to maintain and look great. Use negative space to keep your subject in the spotlight and reduce background noise. A shallow depth of field can help by blurring out distracting elements and making your main subject pop. Simple, focused photos often look the best and help create a cohesive feed.

Final Thoughts

Creating a cohesive Instagram feed doesn’t have to be complicated. With a consistent colour palette, uniform editing, a thoughtful layout, clean images, and a bit of minimalism, you can easily curate a feed that looks both polished and engaging. Just remember, the goal is to make sure all your photos work together and create a seamless visual experience for your audience.