no more square on Instagram

FINALLY  – no more square on Instagram  !

Today Instagram announced that they will allow its users to upload pics that are in Landscape and Portrait modes and no longer need to be cropped into awkward square shapes. With this new update, when you access your photos there will be a button above the camera roll that allows you to switch between the usual square format or the new full image. You will still be able to crop, zoom and move around the image until it is perfect for you loving audience. Of course the filters are still there for your images and the ability to edit hasn’t changed.

What does it look like ?

If I want to upload this image:

Before this update, it would look like this:

But with the new option (the two “arrows” on the left side” it will look like this:

This new format will also help images look “normal” as they are being shared across multiple social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook.

In their post Instagram said:

It turns out that nearly one in five photos or videos people post aren’t in the square format, and we know that it hasn’t been easy to share this type of content on Instagram: friends get cut out of group shots, the subject of your video feels cramped and you can’t capture the Golden Gate Bridge from end to end

They go on to say that:

We’re especially excited about what this update means for video on Instagram, which in widescreen can be more cinematic than ever. While we’ve historically had separate filters for photos and for videos, all filters will now work on all types of moments. You can also adjust the intensity of filters on videos, too.

The news is very welcomed by the Instagramming community who have already taken to Social Media to show their support:

The new format will also means that brand who use Instagram to reach their audience have more freedom to showcase their products without the “square restriction”.

I have mixed feelings about this. I like the fact that as a photographer you have to think differently about your Instagram shots verses every other platform which will accept virtually anything. But at least the Square is still there by default but does feel like an an end of an era…

This new feature is available with the new update for both iOS at the iTunes store and Android at the Play Store