In a world dominated by short-form video content, integrating your still images into this new trend can seem challenging. However, there is an easier way to bridge this gap.
Instagram has been pushing short-form video content for quite a while, and it’s clear that this aspect of the platform is here to stay. As photographers, it can feel overwhelming trying to fit still images into video-based content. However, there is an easier way to manage this transition, and that's where Social Templates comes into play.
The Role of Social Templates
Social Templates is a service designed to offer a variety of templates that help users quickly create engaging and impactful Instagram Reels. These templates allow you to combine video clips and still images, perfectly synchronized to the beat of the music. The best part? This service is integrated into the Instagram app, eliminating the need for cumbersome exporting and importing processes or additional software and apps.
The ease of use and the seamless integration make Social Templates a valuable tool for photographers looking to maintain a dynamic presence on Instagram without the need to allocate too much time to the process. The ability to create high-quality content quickly means photographers can spend more time on other aspects of their business while still maintaining a presence online.
Access and Features
Once you subscribe to Social Templates, you gain access to a private account filled with hundreds of templates, with new ones added weekly. These templates feature trending audio tracks, ensuring that your Reels have maximum impact within the Instagram algorithm. Additionally, if you have a specific song in mind that isn't already available, you can request it. In my experience, they’ve turned around such requests within a couple of days, although this may vary depending on their workload and the number of requests.
Having access to a constantly updated library of templates and music means your content will always be fresh and relevant, giving you an edge in engaging with your audience. This feature alone makes Social Templates stand out, as it allows for a high degree of customization and personalization while also keeping up with trends.
Creating a Reel With Social Templates
Before diving into the process of making a Reel, it’s important to understand why this service is particularly useful. For me, I often create simple BTS (Behind The Scenes) videos that transition into the final image. But this can be done fairly easily within the Instagram app. Where Social Templates comes to play, for me, is when I need to post something but don't necessarily have a specific video or image in mind.
In these situations, I browse through the Social Templates account until I find a template that inspires me. This inspiration can come from the music, Reel prompts (which I’ll talk about later), or the placeholder images used in the templates. Once I find a template I like, I click “Use Template” to see what types of media are needed and how many pieces. Next, I head to my Google Drive, where I store all my share-worthy content, and start gathering the assets I want to use. I feel like it's important to have an idea of what assets you'll need for the reel in order to save unwanted time jumping back and forth and having to stop in the middle of building the reel to download more images or videos.
Adding Media and Finalizing Your Reel
Once everything is downloaded, I click “Add Media” in the template and start selecting the images and video clips. A useful feature here is that I can see the template populate as I select the images, allowing me to choose the best options if I’ve downloaded more media than needed.
For video clips, the template automatically selects a section of the video, but you can easily adjust this by clicking the section and then dragging the section to the exact segment you want to use. This means you don’t have to pre-trim your videos before adding them to the template. This level of control ensures that your Reel will flow seamlessly, with each clip perfectly timed to the music, rather than pre-trimming the video and it ending up too short.
After selecting all the media, you click done, and the template processes everything. From here, you proceed to the regular posting process where you add your description, tags, and collaborations. Social Templates also assists with this step through their Reel prompts.
Leveraging Reel Prompts
Reel prompts are a fantastic feature found in the story highlights of the Social Templates account. These prompts provide ideas for what to post and can be used to inspire both the content of the Reel and the accompanying descriptions. This is particularly helpful when you know you need to post but are unsure what to share or talk about.
The prompts, shared as stories, also serve as a timely reminder to post, often sparking immediate ideas. This constant source of inspiration ensures that you never run out of content ideas, keeping your audience engaged and your feed interesting.
Pricing and Value
Social Templates costs $29 per month, or you can save by opting for the yearly rate of $297. This pricing may not be for everyone. If social media is not a central focus of your marketing strategy, or if you have ample time to create Reels manually, this service might not be what you are looking for. However, if social media is crucial to your business but you lack the time to create engaging content, Social Templates is definitely worth trying. Plus, they offer the first month free, giving you a risk-free opportunity to explore its benefits.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C738-Y-RuNN/
The service as a whole is designed to cater to professionals who understand the value of time and the impact of high-quality content on their business. Investing in a service like Social Templates can streamline your workflow, allowing you to focus more on your craft and less on the technicalities of social media content creation.
Conclusion
In summary, Social Templates simplifies the process of creating Instagram Reels, allowing photographers to maintain a strong social media presence with minimal effort. The integrated features and user-friendly design make it an invaluable tool for busy professionals looking to maximize their impact on the platform.
Whether you’re an established photographer looking to enhance your social media strategy or a newcomer trying to build a following, Social Templates provides the tools you need to create captivating content efficiently. By leveraging this service, you can ensure that your Instagram Reels are not only visually stunning but also optimized for engagement and growth.
I'm struggling to create reels in between the busy photoshoot agenda, and I checked some apps out there but just don't have what I need. I checked this one out, used your code... And I have to say that it's incredible, fast and so easy to use! The only con I would say is the price, $29 a month is a bit on the high side but I'm very tempted to do a year because it works perfectly for photographers/videographers.