Holiday festivities are huge on Instagram, mainly because we the people just love to romanticize food and family (even if neither is very good). But you can't just slap any old filter on your shots of feasts and decorations. Some, like Kelvin and Toaster, are completely inappropriate. They're great for outdoor summer scenes, but don't fit the vibe of a cozy Christmas—too much orange. Other images need more than one effect to get up to snuff—we're talking double filters and contrast/blur effects. Check out our Instagram holiday photo filter tips and wait for the likes to roll in.
Add clarity with Lux
Lux is one of Instagram's best effects, and it's not even a filter. Tap the small sun icon above the app's filter options to apply Lux to your photos. The effect heightens the image's contrast, which is really useful when you're trying to capture a daytime cityscape or the holiday decorations on your block. You can use Lux with any filter, but a personal favorite is Amaro—the combination gives your photos clarity, especially those cheerful red holiday decorations.
Dreamy scenes with Sierra
To create a dreamy, wintry scene, don't use Lux. Instead, choose a filter like Sierra, which is perfect for landscapes and outdoor shots, and tap the teardrop icon to create a tilt-shift effect (the soft glow that surrounds the red door in this shot). Tilt-shift lets you bring objects into the foreground with horizontal or vertical blurring in the rest of the photo.
Nashville's old-timey feel
To give family photos a little old-fashioned drama, use Nashville and its frame. Your kids/nieces/nephews/cousins will thank you for making their childhoods look appropriately nostalgic.
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