How to use the new Instagram Repost tool as a photographer

Recently, Instagram rolled out another new feature: the repost button. Not new as in never done before, revolutionary, but definitely new on their platform.

It reminds me of the retweet function on Twitter and reposting on so many other platforms. And that’s precisely what it is on Instagram, too.

Although it doesn’t post directly to your profile.

The Instagram Repost explained 

Limited sharing options on Instagram, until now

If you wanted to show a cool post or reel to your friends or followers, you had to either send it via DM directly, post it into your stories, or (like many of those hub accounts) steal it from their profile and repost it on yours.

Luckily, Instagram now has a solution to this with the repost button.

How the repost button works on Instagram.

Under public posts and reels, you can spot the ‘recycle’ wheel. Pressing this allows you to repost that post to your followers. You can even add a note if you’d like.

However, the post won’t appear on your personal profile, at least not between your own posts. It will be added under a new tab, ‘reposts’, next to your reels tab.

It will also be shared on your followers’ feeds. It will state that you have reposted it, but all likes and comments will still go to the original creator. Your followers can see the note you added to the repost, though.

In your notifications, you can also see the likes your repost has caused.

The benefits of reposting on Instagram

Reposting or being reposted has several benefits. It boosts the reach of a post or reel, giving it a bigger audience and introducing it to new audiences.

It can also show your commitment to a community or cause. Reposting others to boost and amplify their messages. And of ofcourse, it can help you get new ideas to your followers without necessarily having to do the content creation yourself.

Using the Instagram repost function to your advantage as a photographer

Now, ofcourse, you can ask for reposts, but you can also hand them out yourself. Why would you do that? Here are just a few ideas.

Show the posts of clients with your work in them.

If you do photography as a service, chances are that you have clients posting your work on their profiles. Now you can easily repost their use of your photos to your audience. See it as a way to social proof your services.

Repost what inspires you

Finding posts that are an inspiration to you? You can reshare them to your audience, adding a note on why you think this post or reel is fascinating. These photos can spark more conversations with your followers, too.

Show off your values as a photographer.

Maybe you have specific values as a photographer —religious, ecological, moral… Instead of constantly having to talk about them yourself, you can also repost posts and reels aligned with your morals.

For example, reposting your local wildlife conservatory if you find ecology necessary. This way, you can showcase your values without having the burden of extra content creation.

Help out other creators.

You can also use it purely altruistically: boost the posts of creators you enjoy; Maybe a small local restaurant, another small photography creator (hint, hint), or just anything you like and think deserves more eyeballs.

Showcase all the angles from a photowalk

If you’re out with other photographers, it can be hard to post everything that’s happening. You want to provide your followers with a full view of the event while enjoying it yourself. By posting a bit and reposting all the other participants, you can show your followers a 360-degree view of the photowalk or other event.

Repost your own post after a day or two to give it a second life

You can also use it to provide yourself with a slight boost. A few days after posting something, repost it yourself too. This way, it can get picked up again by the feed to find those extra followers the post hadn’t reached yet.