Apple’s Live Photos are a fantastic way to capture moments with a hint of motion, going beyond the traditional still image. They bring your memories to life, making sharing them even more exciting. You might be wondering how to get these dynamic photos onto Instagram, the go-to platform for sharing visual content. While Instagram doesn’t directly support Live Photos, don’t worry! There’s an easy workaround to share your favorite moving pictures.
Let’s dive into how you can post your Live Photos on Instagram.
Understanding Live Photos and Instagram Compatibility
Live Photos, a feature on iPhones, capture a short video clip alongside your still image, specifically 1.5 seconds before and after you press the shutter button. Taking a Live Photo is just as simple as taking a regular photo – you just need to ensure the feature is enabled.
To check if Live Photos is active, open your iPhone’s Camera app and look for the Live Photos icon, usually located at the top right of your screen. If the icon has a line through it, tap it to turn Live Photos on. When active, the icon will be highlighted, indicating that your photos will now be captured with motion.
Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t natively support the Live Photo format. If you try to upload a Live Photo directly, it will be posted as a static image. This is where the Boomerang feature comes to the rescue, offering a clever solution to share your moving memories.
The Boomerang Workaround: Your Solution
Instagram’s Boomerang feature takes a burst of photos and combines them into a short, looping video. This is the key to sharing your Live Photos, as you can convert them into Boomerangs within the Instagram app. Effectively, Instagram uses the still frame from your Live Photo and loops it in a Boomerang format, allowing you to share the essence of your Live Photo’s motion.
Step-by-Step Guide: Posting Live Photos as Boomerangs
Here’s how to easily post your Live Photos on Instagram using the Boomerang workaround:
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Open Instagram Story: Start by opening the Instagram app and swiping left on your feed. This will bring you to the Instagram Story capture screen. Make sure you are on the “Story” setting, which is usually at the bottom of the screen.
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Access the Boomerang Feature: Look for the infinity symbol icon (∞) within the Story options. Tap this icon to switch to the Boomerang creation mode.
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Select Your Live Photo from Camera Roll: Once you are in the Boomerang creation screen, you’ll see a Camera Roll icon, typically located at the bottom left corner of your screen. Tap this icon to access your phone’s photo library.
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Choose Your Live Photo: Navigate through your Camera Roll and select the Live Photo you wish to post. Instagram will recognize Live Photos and allow you to use them to create a Boomerang.
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Choose Boomerang Effects (Optional): After selecting your Live Photo, you can enhance your Boomerang with different effects. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see options like “Classic,” “SlowMo,” “Echo,” and “Duo.”
- Classic: The standard Boomerang effect, looping back and forth.
- SlowMo: Slows down the Boomerang to half speed for a slow-motion effect.
- Echo: Adds a motion blur or echo trail effect to your Boomerang.
- Duo: Speeds up the Boomerang and adds a glitch or rewind effect.
Tap each option to preview the effect on your Live Photo Boomerang.
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Post Your Boomerang: Once you are satisfied with your Boomerang and any chosen effects, tap the arrow icon usually located at the bottom right of the screen. This will take you to the sharing options where you can post your Live Photo Boomerang to your Instagram Story.
Share Your Live Moments on Instagram
While Instagram doesn’t directly support Live Photos, using the Boomerang workaround is a simple and effective way to share these dynamic images with your followers. Now you can bring your captured moments to life on Instagram, adding an extra layer of fun and engagement to your posts. Experiment with different Boomerang effects to make your Live Photos even more creative and engaging!
