When it comes to marketing your photography businesses online, Instagram is typically the first platform the photographers I coach reach for, and I don’t blame ‘em.
For me, Instagram is queen, and teaching my coaching clients how to market themselves on this platform is one of my favorite parts of what I do.
In my biz, I’ve seen amazing results from using the platform such as:
– building an amazing, engaged community
– connecting with photographers from all over the world
– creating relationships with my ideal clients from sharing my work
– landing and booking clients, and much, much more!
Plus, it’s a free way to market yourself! All you have to do is show up, right?
You’d think it’d be as simple as that, but what “showing up” really means is:
– Curating and editing content
– Batching that content
– Scheduling the content
– Oh, and …. writing the caption (my client’s least favorite)
And, as I photographer, I completely get it. We’re amazing at what we do – taking photos – not necessarily writing.
Psst, that’s OKAY! You don’t have to be amazing at everything just to show up and put your biz out there. So, if writing captions has been stopping you from showing up and sharing your amazing work on the ‘gram, I’m here to help ya out.
Keep scrollin’.
My top 3 Instagram Caption Formulas for Your Photography Biz
Here’s a little secret about me: I actually love to write, but I don’t always have the time for it. So, if that’s you, too, then these formulas are about to save you all the time in the world. If you loathe writing captions, then you’re going to love these formulas even more. Either way, it’s a win-win.
And just in case you’re wondering if these formulas “really work”, they were recommended by a StoryBrand Certified Guide. So, if you’re a fan of all things StoryBrand, you know you’re in great hands. I’ve seen amazing results by using them, too! Just go take a peek over on ‘the gram so you can trust me when I say they’re tried, tested, and true.
Alright, let’s dive into the formulas so you can start writing engaging captions for your photography biz!
Instagram Caption Formula #1
[Make a scroll-stopping statement.] [Present a counter-intuitive way of thinking or new information.] [Engage them in the solution.] [Present the call-to-action.]
I actually used this formula in one of my most recent IG posts and it blew up, literally. I had more engagement and shares on this post than on previous posts with the same “look” when it comes to the photo content.
Take a look at how I opened the caption using the formula above.
Scroll stopping statement = I almost didn’t post this photo because…
Counterintuitive way of thinking = But I did, because…
And the formula flows on beautifully from there. Catch my drift?
We see a lot of these on Instagram, and it’s because it works! Grabbing your reader’s attention with a bold statement and following the formula produces great results. Give this one a try soon, and let me know how it goes!
Instagram Caption Formula #2
[Make a statement of a commonly held belief/thought/experience.] [Intrigue with a solution.] [Provide a call-to-action to get it.]
Before we dive in, here’s another example of how I used this formula in real life:
This caption formula is definitely one of my favorites because it presents such a beautiful paradigm shift for your readers and shakes up their mentality.
For my “make a statement of a commonly held belief or thought”, I used: Think you don’t have anywhere to take awesome photos for your brand or business…?
I went with this particularly because this is what so many of my clients struggle with no matter if they’re booking a session or on the other side of the lens as an actual photographer.
My “intrigue with a solution” started with a slightly snarky little “Think again ?.”,… and into the solution we went.
Tell me you wouldn’t want to keep reading that?!
Instagram Caption Formula #3:
PAS (Problem + Agitate + Solution [Concisely present the problem or pain point with empathy.] [Remind them of how painful that problem really is.] [Provide your solution.]
This formula is my go-to because it’s an “oldie but a goodie” that gets the job done. Ya know what I mean? If all else fails and you need to get a caption up ASAP, this formula is your bread and butter, got it?
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: You present the problem.
Step 2: You agitate it by talking about how that problem makes them feel.
Step 3: Present your solution and save the day!
Boom. Here is it in action:
Now let’s break it down.
Problem: There’s a difference between work and productivity – did you know what?
Agitate: How many times have you busted your but allll day long… only to feel like you accomplished 1 of 10 things you were working on? (Oof, tell me that doesn’t hit you in the feels?!)
I even dig a little deeper into the next paragraph about unsent emails and unpaid invoices.
Solution: My entire productivity system!
I’m tellin ya, it’s a piece of cake and it works every single time!
Put the Formulas to Work
Now that you have my top 3 IG caption formulas, I encourage you to put them to work asap.
If you post 3 or 4 days a week, rinse and repeat them through a cycle! The best part? No one will know! Formulas are amazing, friend. I hope this makes your caption-writing so much easier and more enjoyable!
Ya gotta send me a DM and let me know if it works, too, okay?
Wanna work with me 1:1 to get my eyes on your photography business, and help you fuse your faith into your biz?
You got it, friend! Click the link below to schedule a discovery call to see if we’d be a good fit to work together! I’ll start prepping your strategy in a Google doc now! ??
Looking for more helpful photography tips? Feel free to binge on these blog posts, or pin ’em on Pinterest for later! ??
If you’re short on time, follow me on Pinterest – and you’ll get these kinda tips delivered straight to your feed! You know… when you’re scrollin’ through Pinterest with coffee in hand, ready to take on the day… or, procrastinate.
Whatevs. Pinterest biz sesh, anybody!? ??
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