• ABOUT
  • Shop
    • Shop Our Amazon Favorites
    • Shop Our Presets
  • Contact
    • Sponsorships
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Oak + Oats

A Colorado Lifestyle Blog

  • Motherhood
    • Oh Baby
    • Mama Buys
    • Pregnancy
  • Marriage
    • Date Night
    • Wedding Anniversary
  • Lifestyle
    • Family
    • Friends
    • Holidays
    • Photography
  • Home
    • Before & After
    • Yard & Garden
    • Recipes
    • Hosting
  • Travel
    • Travel Tips
    • Snapshots
    • Disney
    • Colorado
    • Colorado Springs
  • Ask Elizabeth

September 15, 2017
Ask Elizabeth, Blogging & Business, Photography

How I schedule, plan, and organize my Instagram

How I schedule, plan, and organize my InstagramASK ELIZABETH

Question: I know you’ve posted about Instagram, and you mentioned using DSLR photos. I want it to work for my blog; it seems like something I should do, but I don’t want to take iPhone (extra) photos. I want to be able to use photos that I already have. I can’t find a really good explanation on how to upload these to Instagram. Instagram doesn’t seem to want to make that easy.

We find ourselves talking about Instagram again! It really is a great tool and while it isn’t perfect, it is still a great way to connect with our readers. This question came in a couple weeks ago and I wanted to answer it because we can often feel like we need to do everything. Even little steps (like posting a photo on Instagram) can turn into overwhelming tasks. I can so relate to the feeling of needing to figure out everything on my own. I often find myself searching for answers on Google & Pinterest to come up with a solution to my problem. There are some great resources out there and I want to share with you the one that I use for Instagram! We’ll be talking about scheduling, planning, uploading photos, and all that jazz.

But first, if you missed any of our previous Instagram posts or wanted to learn more about Instagram, here they are:

How to Convert Instagram Followers into Blog Readers

Real Talk about Instagram and Why we need to Care a Little Less

How I edit my Photos for my Blog & Instagram

How to Create Your Instagram Bio

LATER

I use a program called Later. There are others out there and I have tried some of them but this is the one I love. It is a website and not an app which is a huge winner for me. This means that I can upload, plan, and schedule my Instagram all from my computer (I’ll share soon why that is so important) but to best be able to answer the initial question I am going to go through step by step why I love this program.

UPLOADING PHOTOS

The majority of the images I post on Instagram are taken from my DSLR. I use images that I have taken for blog posts and use them on Instagram. I also post a lot of fun photos I’ve taken on my camera and have not made it into a post. SO instead of taking MORE photos for Instagram, I often reuse content I have taken for blog posts or photography sessions. I do take photos with the idea of Instagram in mind but I have a large bank of photos to pull from as well.

Since this is a website, I use my desktop to schedule all my Instagram. I can upload images into my “bank” straight from my computer! I can then drag them into the time slot I want for the post and I’ll get a handy little notification when I need to post it on Instagram. It opens the app, copies the text, and does everything so that I only have to click post. This is the easiest way I have found to get my photos to my Instagram.

*If you don’t want to get Later, you could email yourselves the photos you want to use, download them to your phone, and upload them to Instagram that way.

How I schedule, plan, and organize my Instagram using Later.

PLANNING AHEAD

One of the reasons I love Later so much is that I can plan my Instagram a week or two out (even father for my shop!) I can sit down, write captions (much faster than on my phone), and schedule out my content. I can also preview how it will look like in my feed and drag & drop photos to fit where I want them! SCORE. I also love that I can sit down and plan my content in 30 minutes and then have stuff scheduled the rest of the week! There is room to add things or switch things up but I’m never stressed about what to post next AND I don’t spend too much time on my phone when I could be doing other stuff.

How I schedule, plan, and organize my Instagram using Later.

PRICE

If you want to schedule 30 images or less a month, it is FREE. I have two Instagram accounts that I schedule on – @shopoakandoats & @oakandoats so I pay for a yearly membership. But it is SO worth it for me. You can also refer your friends and get 10 more free photos. I already have more photos than I need so it isn’t super helpful for me but if you want to stay of the free program, this could be a huge help!

I hope this helped answer your question! I use Later so that I don’t have to take separate photos for everything. I also love to schedule and preview my posts before they go live! It is such a helpful tool! Do you use Later? Or anything like it?

ASK ELIZABETH

Do you have any questions you have been wanting to ask?! Click on the button below to submit your question and it may be the next “Ask Elizabeth” question featured next Friday!

Related

Previous Post: « Yobel Market Brand Photography
Next Post: Honey Orange Margaritas »

Primary Sidebar

Hello + Welcome!

I’m Elizabeth, a Colorado photographer and blogger. I’m also a wife, mama, sister, daughter, and friend! Welcome to Oak + Oats! Here we look for the remarkable in the every day. We love photographing our daily moments, making memories, and sharing our favorite places here in this space.

Our happiest days are spent together – many of those with a camera in hand! My free time (ie: Nap Time) is spent behind my computer screen sharing our tips and stories with you! I’m glad you’re here!

stay up to date

READ MORE ABOUT

  • Motherhood
  • Marriage
  • Home
  • Colorado
  • Travel
  • Holidays
  • Ask Elizabeth

OLDER POSTS

Looking back on 2020

Christmas Eve

Oh Christmas Tree

The North Pole

A Christmas Tour Of Our House

The Family Holiday Gift Guide

Creating Christmas Family Traditions & Being okay when they Change

New Mama Holiday Gift Guide

Unique Bible Verses to include in your Christmas Cards

Christmas Outfits for baby + Toddler Girl

Our Christmas Tree

BuybuyBABY Toy Gift Guide

Millennial Mom Holiday Gift Guide

The Entryway

Giving Thanks in 2020

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

We put @photowall_sweden wallpaper up in our dinni We put @photowall_sweden wallpaper up in our dinning room and now everything looks like a still life painting. I don't hate it.
About as cake smashy as our cake smash got! Big si About as cake smashy as our cake smash got! Big sis ate more off the tray than #OurMillieBea did! Only one finger got in her mouth and an essence of icing made her smell like a piece of cake the rest of the night 😍😂
Happy Birthday my littlest 🎉 One year old, my h Happy Birthday my littlest 🎉 One year old, my how the time flies! Beyond grateful for the gift you are to our family! You bring both your parents and your big sister so much JOY! Spent most of my day with my family and this little birthday girl not getting birthday posts edited + written + posted but that's the way it should be! Good thing I like to celebrate birthdays all month long because lots more of #OurMillieBea coming soon!
Happy Birthday Eve my sweet #OurMillieBea 🎉 Happy Birthday Eve my sweet #OurMillieBea 🎉
This week has been a hard week and I just wanted t This week has been a hard week and I just wanted to remind you that no amount of instagram scrolling is going to soothe your heart. The headlines, inspirational quotes, and commentary only pales in comparison to Truth. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Go there. Read your Bible. Don't know where to start? Google a reading plan and open your Bible up. We need to be a people who hide the Word of the Lord in our hearts, who know Jesus Christ personally (who is the way, the Truth, and the life John 14: 6), and shine His light. The world needs hope, let's know it and let's share it! 

#faithfilledfridays with 
@nurseryrhymeville @atwinkleintheireyes @bethanykimsey @steph.pollock  @3littlelambshomestead @shannacrowell @thecashells 
@devoted_Motherhood_ @lifes.a.jess @jenniferpepito @anndunagan @_kindletogetherness @oakandoats @littlemindscreative @mobilizermom @cedar_hills_kids_homeschool
Happy Epiphany! ⁠👑 ⁠ We're very new to the Happy Epiphany! ⁠👑
⁠
We're very new to the church calendar and the rhythms set up but I'm so thankful for them. Especially in this season of motherhood + C0vid when each day blends right into the next one. The readings, reminders, and patterns set up in the church calendar allow for reflection, education, and direction. It's always good to be encouraged to read scripture and fill our hearts with the Living Word. ⁠
⁠
Today is the first day in Epiphany which will go until February 16th when we enter the season of Lent. Today is also called Three Kings day and after a little research, we decided to celebrate by opening up a gift (these dresses!) and learning about the Magi who traveled from afar to meet Jesus to pay Him homage and honor Him as King & Lord. With a 2 -year-old and an almost 1-year-old, the comprehension isn't the most academic, but I wanted them (mostly Hilde) to recognize that she got a gift like the Wise Men brought gifts to Baby Jesus. And we can give gifts to Jesus too - like our praise! ⁠
⁠
Hilde wanted to wear crowns just like the three kings but we only have one crown so she picked these gold Minnie ears for Millie! Then we twirled while we danced and sang to worship songs together to give a gift back to Jesus. ⁠
⁠
As the girls grow, we will probably add in crafts and more activities, but it's also always okay to keep things simple. It is the heart that matters, not the presentation. ⁠
⁠
"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land." - Psalm 95:1-5⁠
⁠
Do you celebrate Epiphany? Or follow the church calendar? 👇🏼👇🏼

Footer

MOTHERHOOD

Oh Baby
Mama Buys
Pregnancy

COLORADO
Colorado Springs

HOME
Recipes
Hosting
Before & After

MARRIAGE
Date Night
Anniversaries

TRAVEL
Travel Tips
Snapshots
Disney

SHOP
Shop our Amazon List
Shop our Presets

Copyright © 2021 · OAK + OATS