When it comes to sharing a moment on your Instagram story, sometimes one photo just isn’t enough. All of a sudden, you need to know how to add multiple photos to an Instagram story.
And this is where photo collages for Instagram Stories come to the rescue.
3 Basic Ways to Add Multiple Photos to an Instagram Story (or Make a Collage)
Combining multiple photos allows you to provide maximum visual information in one powerful Instagram Story moment.
This is true for fashion brands as well as the owner/manager of a canine influencer who wants to share the best memories of Mr. Chonk’s Lai Mitzvah.
No matter what your business or industry is, you should use Instagram Story Photo Collages. There are actually three different ways to do this:
- using layout template in Instagram Story creation mode
- photo overlay using Instagram Story creation mode
- uploading a custom collage created by you with a third party app or photo editing software
We’ll introduce you to all three because we’re so cute. (Maybe keep this in mind when you make the guest list for Mr. Chonk’s next big event?)
How to Make an Instagram Story Collage: The Easy Way
Since you are here looking for the answer to the question “how to make a collage in Instagram Stories”, we assume that you did not know that Instagram offers a way to do this built into the platform.
But we don’t blame you for not noticing this feature: it’s strangely hidden.
Here’s how to find it and use it to share multiple photos in one nice full screen Story design.
1. Open the Instagram app and tap the + icon at the top of the screen. Select History.
2. This will open your camera roll. But don’t get distracted by all your beautiful photos! First we need to activate the create mode. Click on the camera icon to do so.
3. On the left side of the screen, you will see a list of icons. Touch the third one from the top: the square with the lines inside. This is the Layout icon.
4. Touching the Layout icon will open the layout quadrant on the screen. From here, you can fill in each segment with either a fresh photo or something from your camera roll.
Option 1: Take a photo! To take a photo, simply press the photo button: the white circle at the bottom center of the screen.
Once you take a photo, it will fill the top left corner of the frame. Continue taking three more photos.
To delete something and take a new photo, tap the photo and then tap the delete icon.
Option 2: Select from film. Tap the square Camera Roll preview icon in the lower left corner of the screen to access the Camera Roll.
Tap the photo you want to place in the top left corner of the quadrant. Repeat until four photos appear on the screen.
To delete something and take a new photo, tap the photo and then tap the delete icon.
5. Happy with the collage? Click the checkmark to confirm and proceed to add stickers, text or effects. Or, if you’d like to try a different layout, skip to step 6.
6. To select a different layout, enter Layout Mode and tap the rectangular grid icon directly below the Layout Mode icon. This will open a selection menu where you can select an alternate grid style. Tap your preferred style, then fill each segment with either a photo or a film image as described above.
7. Touch the checkmark to approve your design. You can then add stickers, text, or effects. Click the arrow in the lower right corner when you’re ready to post.
8. Choose your preferred audience for your masterpiece and hit share!
How to Make a Collage in an Instagram Story: The Layering Method
Feeling limited by the Instagram layout grid? This alternative method gives you the opportunity to become a scammer.
Images can be enlarged, reduced, skewed, or overlapped. Freestyle time!
1. Open the Instagram app and tap the + icon at the top of the screen. Select History.
2. This will open your camera roll. But don’t get distracted by all your beautiful photos! First we need to activate the create mode. Click on the camera icon to do so.
3. Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen (a square with a smiley face). Scroll through the list of stickers to find the Camera Roll sticker: it will be a circle showing your latest photo, with the mountain and sun logo superimposed on top. (We know this sounds confusing, but we honestly don’t know how to describe it more clearly? I hope this photo below helps clarify.)
4. Select a photo and it will be added to your story. Drag it anywhere on the screen, or use your fingers to resize and skew the image. Then tap the sticker icon again to add another photo.
Repeat until all your photos appear on the screen. Move them and customize as you wish.
5. To change the background color, touch the colored circle at the top of the screen. (You’ll also find tools to add text or extra stickers if you like!)
You can also change the shape of your images by clicking on them – circles tickle your fancy, for example.
6. Ready to publish? Tap the arrow icon to access sharing settings. Select your audience and then click Share.
How to Make an Instagram Story Collage: The Most Customizable Way
If creating a collage in the Instagram Story creation mode doesn’t give you the results you want, there’s good news: there are dozens of apps to help you set up a graphic with multiple images of your dreams.
1. Download the Instagram collage app of your choice and create graphics using your photos, cool templates and other design details. (Alternatively, download one of our 72 free Instagram Story templates, open it in Photoshop, and make your own.)
In this example, we will use Unfold.
2. Export the image to your camera roll if you are using the app. (Using the Photoshop method? Send the final file to your phone…use it to save it as a. jpg or. png!)
3. Create a new Instagram story, select collage image from your camera roll and post. Below are more detailed instructions if you need them!
How to Post a Collage to an Instagram Story
Okay, you’ve got a collage saved on your phone that you’re ready to share with the world. All you have to do is post it to your Instagram story just like any other photo.
Need to refresh? No sweat. Here’s how to use the Instagram Story creation mode to post an image from your camera roll.
1. Open the Instagram app and tap the + icon at the top of the screen. Select History. This will open your camera roll. Tap your collage to download it.
2. Add text, stickers or effects as you like. When you’re done, click on the arrow in the lower right corner.
3. Choose where to share your Instagram story (in a public story, in your close friends list, or send it as a private message). Click “Share”when you’re ready to post.
Now that you’ve become an expert at creating beautiful collages for your Instagram story, it looks like you have some free time. Maybe this is a good opportunity to brush up on other hot tips for using your Instagram stories for business?