If you’re still stressing over maintaining a cohesive photography feed, it might be time to rethink your strategy. For years, creatives have been told their Instagram grid needs to be perfectly polished, same tones, same lighting, same poses. But while it may look pretty, it’s often hiding the full depth of your work.
This isn’t just a hot take. It’s a shift we need to talk about.
The Problem With an Overly Curated Photography Feed
A clean, consistent aesthetic can absolutely build trust with potential clients. But when your pursuit of a cohesive feed keeps you from sharing 75% of your portfolio because it doesn’t “match” you’re hiding the very work that proves your range and reliability.
You’re not just a golden hour photographer.
You’re not just natural light and neutral tones.
Your clients need to see that you can handle:
- Indoor lighting
- Flash photography
- Black and white edits
- Motion blur
- Reception details
- Harsh light or unpredictable weather
If you’re afraid to mix in these moments because they don’t “fit” your grid… you’re doing a disservice to both your work and your clients.
Depth Is Not Chaos, it’s Confidence
One of my clients asked if mixing in trendy or less conventional work would mess up her clean, classic feed. My answer?
Do it.
Because depth doesn’t mess it up, depth makes it stronger.
Your feed should feel like a true portfolio. One that builds trust and showcases the full spectrum of your skill, not just the highlight reel that fits a certain color palette.
You’re Not Just Selling Aesthetic. You’re Selling Trust.
If you want clients to fully trust you, they need to see how you show up in every situation. Not just golden hour or the one pose you’ve mastered.
Because while consistency matters, predictability kills the wow factor.
We’re not saying your feed should feel chaotic or cluttered. But when you lean too hard on “cohesion,” you risk becoming predictable and predictable isn’t exciting.
The Right Kind of Feed Strategy
Here’s what actually makes a feed trustworthy and engaging:
✔️ Your editing is consistent
✔️ Your galleries are dialed in
✔️ Your client experience is repeatable
✔️ Your images tell a full story
If your backend process is tight, your feed can be versatile. You don’t need to hide images five slides deep in a carousel because they don’t fit a certain vibe. Let them lead. Let them shine.
Mix, Mingle, and Show the Full Picture
Stop boxing yourself in.
Stop burying your favorite shots because they don’t “match.”
When your process is sound and your vision is clear, your work is cohesive even when it varies in color, light, or energy.
And when future clients land on your feed, they should be wowed, not scrolling through five posts trying to piece together your full potential.
Want to connect with other photographers who are scaling their businesses and pricing confidently?
Join my free Facebook group Scale Your Photo Biz – Abby Waller Insiders Group for exclusive tips, live trainings, and a supportive community of like-minded creatives.
