A beautiful sunset. A happy newlywed couple. An incredible scenic landscape.

No
matter what the photographer just posted on Instagram, giving them a compliment is
a great way to support their work. While there are a lot of things you could
mention about a pic you love, some things you say are more meaningful to a
photographer than others. We’ve got a ton of positive and unique ideas for comments
to leave on Instagram, so keep reading to find the perfect compliment to give!

Things You Should Know

Compliment the photographer on the time and effort they spent to make the picture
look perfect.
Mention something specific that you loved in their pic, like the lighting,
composition, or perspective.
Comment about how much you enjoyed working with the photographer if the pics are of
you. Or, tell them that you’d love to work with them in the future.
1
“Wow, these look beautiful!”
Image titled Compliment a Photographer on Instagram Step 1
A short and sweet comment is sure to make the photographer smile. If you want to
make a photographer feel good about their work, quickly mention what you love about
it. Be honest about how the picture makes you feel so your compliment sounds really
genuine. A photographer will love to hear your instant reaction to how their pic
made you feel.[1]
“This pic is stunning!”
“You really know how to capture the perfect moment.”
“I’m blown away by how these look!
“Breathtaking! No other words can describe it!”
2
“All your hard work paid off for this shot!”
Image titled Compliment a Photographer on Instagram Step 2
A photographer will appreciate that you recognized the effort they put in. A
picture may look effortless, but the person behind the camera has spent a lot of
time practicing and honing their skills. Don’t let all the energy they put in go
unnoticed. Rather than complimenting the photo directly, mention how much they’ve
grown as a photographer and compliment the work it took to get there.[2]
“It really shows how long you planned to get the perfect shot.”
“You’ve only gotten better with each new pic. Great work!”
“This is why you’re a professional, wow!”
“This shot really shows off all your skills! Love it!”
3
“You have such a neat perspective!”
Image titled Compliment a Photographer on Instagram Step 3
Show appreciation for the unique view they captured in the shot. Does the picture
make you think a little differently about the subject? Maybe it’s a closeup pic of
something small, or a bird’s-eye view of a larger scene. Either way, take a moment
to really appreciate the unique perspective the picture gives you and mention it in
their comments.
“I never would have thought to look at that in this way!”
“I love the angle you got on this pic!”
“It’s so inspiring seeing a different view of this subject!”
“This is such an intriguing viewpoint! How did you think to capture it like this?”
4
“This has such a clean composition.”
Image titled Compliment a Photographer on Instagram Step 4
Photographers want recognition for how well they composed a shot. Composition is
how the elements in the foreground and background interact with each other. Since
photographers take a bit of time to figure out the perfect way to balance the
picture, they’ll love hearing that you took the time to notice their hard work
lining up the shot.
“I love how you arranged this pic so your eyes are drawn to their faces.”
“This really draws my focus to the flowers in the foreground! Love it!”
“The background in this shot is so interesting, but it doesn’t distract from the
subject!”
“It really shows how much you considered how this shot was laid out.”
5
“The lighting in this pic is stunning!”
Image titled Compliment a Photographer on Instagram Step 5
Photographers will love that you noticed the time it took to like their pic. It
takes a keen eye to pick a light source for a photo, and the photographer probably
experimented with a few different options before deciding. Look at how the lights
and shadows balance each other out and how they affect the overall composition of
the picture so you can give a more thoughtful compliment. Mention a specific detail
about the lighting that you noticed to make your compliment sound more thoughtful.
“The way the sunset makes those tree branches stand out is so gorgeous.”
“I love the highlights on her face! It really adds to the drama.”
“The deep shadows really set this pic apart from the rest.”
“Amazing job lighting this! I can tell you took your time getting it just right!”
6
“I love the mood you captured here.”
Image titled Compliment a Photographer on Instagram Step 6
Photographers love to know how their pics made you feel. As you’re looking at the
picture the photographer posted, try to gauge how it makes you feel. Does it make
you sad? Happy? Angry? Consider the emotion that the photographer was trying to
capture and praise them for being able to create a moody, dramatic image. Be
creative with how you describe the mood and try to compare it to other things.[3]
“I love how warm and inviting you made this feel!”
“You caught such an ominous look with this shot. It’s like it’s straight out of a
horror movie!”
“You really captured a lot of emotion with this one!”
“I can’t help but smile every time I see this pic.”
7
“You really caught their personality in this shot.”
Image titled Compliment a Photographer on Instagram Step 7
A portrait photographer will love to hear that their subject stands out. If people
are the main subject of the pic, spend a little time focusing on their pose, facial
expression, and mood they’re conveying so you can make your compliment specific and
unique. If you can get a sense that you know the person just by looking at the
post, then tell the photographer that they did a great job shooting their pics.
“I can feel how happy everyone is feeling in this pic!”
“You captured the intensity in their eyes. It makes them stand out!”
“I love how it looks like everyone is having a great time posing for this!”
“I can get a real sense of who this person is in real life just by how you shot
them!”
8
“My friends are going to think this looks amazing.”
Image titled Compliment a Photographer on Instagram Step 8
Sharing the pic helps the photographer get more engagement. Tag your friends in
comments or share the pic to your Instagram story to get more eyes on it. The
photographer will love that you’re bringing more people to their page who will
leave compliments of their own.
“@itskatie OMG look at this pic. Isn’t it gorgeous?”
“Everyone must see this! Sharing to my story now!”
“I showed your pics to my friends and they’re so excited to see your next post!”
9
“I can’t wait to see what you photograph next.”
Image titled Compliment a Photographer on Instagram Step 9
Looking forward to the next pic inspires photographers to shoot more. If you’re
always checking to see when they post on Insta, mention how excited you are to help
motivate them. Compliment their picture with how much you love their work, and
don’t forget to mention that you keep coming back to their page to see the new
things they share.[4]
“I’m so excited to see the other things you’ve shot!”
“Amazing as always! I’m looking forward to seeing what you post next!”
“I hope I get to see more pics from this shoot soon!”
“WOW! Your pics just keep getting better!”