The Instagram Photography Tip Almost Everyone Ignores

When people are trying to grow on Instagram, they usually think about the same things.

Better photos.

Better captions.

Better Reels.

Better hashtags.

But there’s one simple feature that gets overlooked by a huge number of creators:

Alt text.

If you run a photography account, travel account, school photography page or business such as PicTours, adding custom alt text to your Instagram photos takes only a few seconds — and it is worth making part of your posting routine.

Most importantly, it makes your content more accessible to people who use screen readers. It also gives Instagram additional written context about what your image actually contains.

What Is Instagram Alt Text?

Alt text is a written description of an image.

It is designed primarily to help people who cannot see the image clearly understand what is being shown.

Instagram can automatically generate alt text for images, but you can also write your own description and edit it after publishing.

For example, imagine you’ve posted a photograph of Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge.

Automatic description might simply identify a bridge, water and buildings.

A more useful description could be:

“Ha’penny Bridge crossing the River Liffey in Dublin city centre on a bright afternoon.”

The second description gives much more useful information about the photograph.

Why Is This Useful for Photography Accounts?

Photography accounts have an interesting advantage when it comes to alt text.

Your image is doing most of the communication, but the words you add can provide additional context.

Think about the questions someone might ask about your photograph:

What is in the image?

Where was it taken?

What makes the image interesting?

What is the main subject?

You don’t need to answer every question.

A short, natural description is enough.

For example:

“A colourful row of Georgian doors on a Dublin street photographed in soft morning light.”

That’s much more informative than:

“Dublin photography.”

It Isn’t Just About Accessibility

Accessibility should be the main reason you use alt text.

However, written descriptions also give Instagram additional information about your content. Current Instagram SEO guidance recommends using relevant keywords naturally in captions, bios and alt text rather than relying entirely on hashtags.

That means a photographer posting a picture of Dublin shouldn’t necessarily write:

“Amazing photo!”

A more descriptive approach might be:

“Sunset over Dublin Bay with the Poolbeg Lighthouse visible across the water.”

It tells both people and platforms what the photograph is actually about.

Don’t Turn Alt Text Into a Keyword List

There’s an important mistake to avoid.

Once people hear that alt text can provide additional context for search, they sometimes try to fill it with keywords.

Don’t.

Alt text should describe the photograph naturally.

You don’t need:

“Dublin photography Ireland photographer Dublin travel photos Poolbeg Lighthouse Dublin city photography.”

That isn’t useful to someone using a screen reader, and it doesn’t sound natural.

Instead, write one clear sentence.

“Poolbeg Lighthouse and the Dublin coastline photographed at sunset from Sandymount Strand.”

Simple is better.

A Great Formula for Writing Alt Text

Here’s an easy formula to remember:

Subject + Location + Important Detail

For example:

Subject: Poolbeg Lighthouse
Location: Sandymount Strand
Detail: Sunset and Dublin Bay

Your finished alt text becomes:

“Poolbeg Lighthouse at sunset, photographed from Sandymount Strand overlooking Dublin Bay.”

You don’t need to include every detail in the photograph.

Concentrate on the things that actually matter.

How to Add Alt Text on Instagram

Adding it is straightforward.

When creating an Instagram post, go through the normal posting process and look for the Accessibility options. Instagram allows you to select Write Alt Text and enter your own description.

You can also edit alt text on an existing Instagram post, meaning you don’t necessarily have to go back and repost your old photographs.

That makes this particularly useful if you already have hundreds of photographs on your account.

Give Your Old Instagram Posts a Second Look

Here’s the really practical part.

Go back through some of your older posts.

Pick photographs that represent your best work.

Then start adding useful alt text to them.

You don’t have to edit your entire Instagram account in one afternoon.

Even doing five or ten older posts at a time can gradually improve the descriptions across your library.

And because photography accounts often have large archives, it’s an easy piece of housekeeping that can otherwise be forgotten.

Use Alt Text to Describe What Makes Your Photo Special

Don’t just describe the obvious subject.

Think about why you took the photograph in the first place.

Maybe it’s the light.

Maybe it’s the unusual perspective.

Maybe there’s a particular landmark.

Maybe you’re showing a photography technique.

For example:

Basic:

“Person standing beside a building.”

Better:

“Person photographed from beneath a stone archway in Dublin, creating a natural frame around the subject.”

The second description tells us much more about the photograph and how it was composed.

And that’s particularly relevant for a photography-focused account.

Make This Part of Your Posting Routine

The best Instagram tips aren’t always complicated.

Sometimes they’re the tiny things that you remember to do every single time you post.

Before publishing your next photograph, check:

Is my caption useful?

Is the photograph properly described?

Have I added alt text?

That final question takes seconds.

Once it becomes a habit, you probably won’t even think about it.

The Best Instagram Photography Tips Are Often the Simplest

Instagram is becoming increasingly search-driven, so creators should think beyond hashtags and likes and consider how clearly their content communicates what it is about.

For photography accounts, that means your image, caption and supporting text should all work together.

A great photograph gets someone’s attention.

A useful caption gives it context.

Good alt text makes sure the photograph can be understood by more people — while also giving Instagram clearer information about the image.

It’s a tiny step, but it’s one that far too many Instagram users still skip.

Try It on Your Next Post

Before you publish your next photograph, take an extra ten seconds.

Open the Accessibility settings.

Write a short description.

Then post.

It might be one of the simplest Instagram photography improvements you make this year.

And unlike buying a new camera, it doesn’t cost a thing.