How to Have the Best Instagrammable Moments in the Maldives – A guide to capturing once-in-a-lifetime shots

 The Maldives is a treasure trove of insta-worthy spots. The options are endless, from pearl-white beaches and turquoise-green waters to colourful marine life and food and idyllic sunsets. Instagram makes it easy to permanently store all your holiday memories and cherished moments. Yet, how do you ensure your photos are insta-worthy and genuinely capture the quintessence of that moment? Here are some practical tips on how to have the best instagrammable moments in the Maldives.

Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Adaaran Club Rannalhi, CC BY-SA 3.0

Get the lighting correct 

A truly instagrammable moment involves ideal lighting conditions. If your aim is to capture faces or portraits during the day, ensure the sun is at your back before taking the shot. This will guarantee equal lighting upon your subject and no shadows. In a tropical setting such as the Maldives, where the sun shines bright, it is vital that you check the sun’s position before capturing your shots. This is to avoid your moments being marred with reflections from the sun. Researching which type of lighting goes well with which photo category is key to capturing that insta-worthy moment. For example, lighting differs for sunrise/sunset photos, portraits, landscapes, and silhouettes. While daytime is best to capture those Maldivian azure waters, a little after/before sunrise/sunset is ideal for portraits.

Select your background thoughtfully

Choosing a good background to enhance your shot goes hand in hand with ideal lighting conditions. This is especially true for selfies. To be genuinely considered insta-worthy, the backdrop of your photo should be impressively simple or humbly glorious. Simply standing in front of the beach or water doesn’t cut it. The background should be visually pleasing. For example, if you are staying at a Maldivian resort offering ocean villas with pools, the likes of Finolhu Maldives, your backdrop could be your villa’s infinity pool. Likewise, your background could include the ocean with a lone palm tree or a scrumptious floating breakfast in Maldives. The purpose of a visually-pleasing background is to contrast with your subject.

Accessorise your shots

An instagrammable shot stands out with the accessories you utilise to enhance your images. Your attire is vital as it accentuates the pictures, particularly the colour of your clothing. Bring out those magical Maldivian blue waters by wearing bright-coloured swim/beachwear. It certainly makes for an eye-catching photo.

The use of props in your photos is equally important. As with the background, props help to add colour and vitality to your shots. Use your imagination. Your options are limitless, from jewellery, beach hats, umbrellas and sunglasses to inflatable pool toys, balloons, surfboards, sand drawings and cocktails.

Pose on purpose

How you pose makes all the difference between an average photo and a truly instagrammable moment. Whether or not you are blessed with photogenic skills, knowing how to pose can make a difference. It's tempting to stand straight with your hands hanging loosely by your side. However, it also makes for a dull, flat, spiritless photo. Take some time to figure out your ‘good’ side, which angle brings out your best features. Then utilise your hands, legs and hips to experiment and find what you are comfortable with. This can be one foot forward, standing at a slight angle with your head titled or looking over your shoulder or with your hands on your hip. Whatever the pose, pick one that’s fun and comfortable for you. You can also move your limbs by throwing your hands up, sitting on different heights, twirling, or jumping.

Pick the best shots

Truly instagrammable moments also depend mainly on the type of moments you capture. Remember, your ultimate goal is to cherish and revisit these memories for years to come. Snap fun-filled moments and activities with your family/friends, capture gorgeous portraits of your enthralling Maldivian resort or that romantic Maldivian sunset with its vibrant red, orange, and pink hues. You would have noticed a plethora of Maldivian photos on Instagram, but make yours equally jaw-dropping yet different using the above tips.

Incorporate some technical aspects into your shots

You can also familiarise yourself with some technical tools to incorporate when taking your shots. Most of these technical aspects are Instagram-specific and would be helpful when creating that instagrammable moment. If using Instagram filters, ensure you keep them to a minimum and adopt a wide-angle lens for close-up shots. Experiment with shutter speed, effect, angle, background, and lighting features. It is vital that your Instagram photos are captured in 1:1 crop mode, or they have ample room on the sides for cropping.