Words by: thabisodesigner
I recently took a trip down to Cape Town, and let me tell you, it was one of the most unforgettable experiences! From attending the BIRKENSTOCK A/W23 seasonal preview, the Lemkus x BROKE party, to hitting the beach and trying out some new food joints—there were so many gems to capture and share on my Instagram. But then, how do I summarize all of these moments in one post without overwhelming my followers with too many individual uploads? This is where the magic of the ‘Instagram photo dump‘ comes in! Plus, I don’t even have to spend hours editing and perfecting each photo.
A photo dump—for those who are unfamiliar—is just a bunch of photos put together in one Instagram post that are not-so-perfect, unfiltered—more like a highlight of what you recently got up to, which could be a recent vacation, event, or an experience. It’s a convenient way to share a quick snap of that fire cocktail, or perhaps you were out at a festival, or perhaps you stumbled upon a simple work of art that caught your attention and was worth snapping, all without overwhelming your followers with too many individual uploads.
And while the concept of sharing multiple photos in one post is not new, Instagram’s 2017 update took things to the next level by allowing users to upload up a max of 10 photos or videos, making photo dumps more popular than ever before.
But what’s the deal with photo dumps, and why are they currently the-it thing on Instagram? One reason could be that they easily allow users to share not-so-professional photos that capture the raw and authentic moments of their lives. In a world where a lot of people have been curating their Insta feeds to perfection, photo dumps provide a refreshing glimpse into the unfiltered and un-aesthetic aspects of life while not forgetting the appeal of authenticity.
In a nutshell, dumps are all about that effortless flex. It’s more like you don’t care about your feed, but you’re still coming across as cool and low-key maintaining your online presence.
As social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram keep shifting, people are striving for more authentic and genuine content from the accounts they follow. Photo dumps, with their raw and unpolished nature, allow users to connect with their audience in a more personal and relatable way.
And let’s not forget the influence of the new generation—Gen Z, always on the move, whether checking out a new food joint, copping a fresh pair of kicks, or just getting a fresh set of nails. They can’t wait to share it all in a photo dump, and that’s how they’ve totally disrupted the way Instagram is typically used.
Gone are those days where you had to ask your friend, ‘Which filter should I use?‘ or ‘I don’t know which photo to post!‘
Like a wave crashing onto the shore, some celebrities rode the photo dump trend early, while others were slow to catch up. Off the top of my head on my timeline, I can easily recall stumbling upon the late Virgil Abloh’s Instagram posts, where he would round up his day or trip in a “playful” carousel post featuring a photo series that includes unfiltered and blurry shots straight from the camera roll, topped off with a meme. I can definitely certify him as one of the true dump masters.
Nonetheless, even those who lagged behind managed to ride the crest and join the surge of memories flooding social media. Now we see it all over from Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez, among others.
But what makes a good photo dump? First and foremost, it’s important to curate a selection of photos that flow nicely together and convey a story, but even if they don’t tell a story, that’s still fine! It’s also essential to mix up your photos, including candid shots, scenery, selfies, blurry, and why not throw-in a meme? It does’t end there video’s as well can be included on the carousel.
Regardless of this photo dump craze, there are still a bunch of Instagram users who are not shaken by it and still opt for a polished and professional feed with carefully curated photos. Of course, that could be some of the people that believe that dumps are simply a passing trend.
However, given their growing popularity and the continued emphasis on authenticity and relatability in online content, it seems like photo dumps are here to stay for a while, especially considering their ease of creation with just a phone and minimal effort.
And there you have it, folks. I hope by now the idea of a photo dump excites you and takes away the pressure for perfection.
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