Lights, Camera, Action: How To Make a Reel on Instagram

There’s nothing more satisfying (and addicting!) than binge-watching Instagram Reels. They account for 50% of the time people spend on Instagram. It’s like once you pop, you can’t stop! But while these short-form videos only take a few seconds to watch, it takes hours to produce and edit Reels. 

Want to know the creative process behind them? Here’s the ultimate guide on how to make a Reel on Instagram.

How To Make a Reel on Instagram With Photos and Videos in Your Camera Roll

Finally gathered enough photos and video clips for the awesome Reel you pictured in your head? If so, here’s how to create a Reel on Instagram using the media in your gallery:

1. Open your Instagram app.
2. Create a new post by tapping the plus icon at the bottom of the page and choosing Reel.
3. Instead of hitting the record button, swipe up to open your camera roll.

4. Tick the circles on the media you want to add. They should appear in the order you select them at the bottom. When you’ve selected all of them, tap the arrow.

5. Instagram will recommend songs for your Reel. You can use one of those or skip it for now if you want to use your clips’ original audio.

6. Click Edit video.
7. Select any photo or video. Then, use the trim handles to cut them down to their desired length. You can also drag the clips to rearrange them however you want.

8. Click Tap to add text to create text overlays in your video.

9. Tap Add audio at the bottom of the screen to open the Reels music library.

10. Utilize the search bar or look through the song recommendations. Select the music or sound effects you want to use.

11. Drag the sliding bar to choose which part of the audio clip to add to the Reel. Then, click Done.

12. Preview your Reel. When you’re happy with it, click the blue arrow at the top of the screen.
13. Tap Edit cover.

14. Drag the Reel’s progress bar to choose a frame for your cover photo. Then, tap Done.

15. Write a creative caption and add the final details.

16. Finally, click Share.

How To Make a Reel With Live Photos on Instagram

Making a Reel with photos and videos is pretty straightforward. Some clips are static, while others are in motion. But you get more versatility than that when you’re working with live photos. With those, you can choose whether you want them to be static images, video clips, or even boomerangs.

So, how do you make an Instagram Reel using live photos? It’s super simple. You can add live photos to your Reel in these easy steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and make a new Reel.
2. Swipe up to open your phone gallery.
3. Tap the drop-down menu labeled Recents.
4. Select All albums.

5. Scroll through the media types and choose Live Photos.

6. Choose a live photo to add to your Reel.
7. Select the format you want it uploaded in—a photo or a “live” video. You can also change its speed and background audio. Then, tap Next.

8. Tap Edit video to add music, trim your clips, create text overlays, and more.
9. When you’re happy with your Reel, set its cover photo and tap Share.

How To Make a Looping Reel on Instagram

Have you ever seen a Reel that seems to play on a loop? The ones that blur the lines between the end of the video and the beginning of its second run? And then you feel like you’re stuck watching the video again and again with no end in sight? These are called looping videos, and they make for engaging Reels. But you may be thinking, “How do I make a Reel that loops?”

Looping Reels seem complex and intimidating, but they’re actually pretty simple to do. The trick is to plan how the end of your video seamlessly transitions into the start of it. Here’s how to make Instagram Reels that seem to loop forever:

1. Create a storyboard of how your Reel will look. Plan it so that the start and end of the video are in a similar scene or position.
2. Record the videos you need for your Reel.
3. Open Instagram and create a new Reel.
4. Import the clips you need to include in your video.
5. Have the clip you want your video to loop at both the start and end of the timeline.
6. Trim the first and last clips so that they transition seamlessly when the video is replayed.
7. Record a voiceover that makes sense when looped for another seamless transition.
8. Add other creative elements, from text overlays to sound effects.
9. When you’re happy with your Reel, hit Share.

How To Make a Slideshow Reel on Instagram

Slideshow Reels are among the easiest and quickest types of Reels to create. Instead of stressing about videos, you just gather your fave snapshots and put them together. Think of slideshow Reels as carousel posts in motion.

All you have to do is import as many pictures as you want and choose the transitions per photo. Then, add engaging background music that fits the vibe of your slideshow. Et voila! Now, you have a slideshow to share with your followers.

Max Length of Instagram Reel: How Long Can IG Reels Be?

When Reels first came about, they could only go for a maximum of 15 seconds. That obviously isn’t enough, given how people love watching these clips. So, Meta made some fixes to a Reel’s max length. Today, these videos can be as long as 90 seconds.

A minute and a half is more than enough for creators to make entertaining videos. But if you need more time, you can just break up a long video into several parts. Turn it into a series that you roll out slowly to keep your audience on the edge of their seats!

More Tips on How To Make Reels Go Viral

It’s one thing to know how to create Reels on Instagram. But that’s only one part of the equation. You must also set them up for success. Here are tips to give your videos a better shot at raking in views and going viral:

• Post when your followers are online: The best time to post Reels is when your fans are active on the platform. That way, people see your content as soon as it’s up, allowing them to instantly interact with it. The more engagement you receive, the more the Instagram algorithm pushes it up on the feed.
• Use hashtags designed to help Reels grow: The most popular engagement-driving hashtags on Instagram include the likes of #likeforlike and #followforfollowback. But there are also tags that help boost video views, like #trendingreels and #reelsviral.
• Share your Reel on your Instagram Story: Repost your Reel on Stories to make sure your followers don’t miss them. Less engaging Reels end up at the bottom of the feed, and many people don’t see them. So, make sure the Reel is up on your Story, too.
• Experiment with third-party editing tools: Want to play around with advanced video effects or techniques like chroma key and more seamless transitions? Use third-party Reel editing apps! These creative tools will help you make the perfect videos with a more professional feel.
• Include captions and text overlays for easier reading: Captions and in-video text make it easy for people to absorb your videos even when they watch them on mute. It’s also terrific for audiences with hearing impairments.

And That’s How To Make a Reel for Instagram!

Impactful, scroll-stopping, entertaining videos are the secret to getting more attention on Instagram. With engaging video content, you can show off your creativity and brand personality while showing up more on the platform. And it is worth it, because Reels are becoming even more popular than TikTok videos.

Now that you know how to make a Reel on Instagram, it’s time for the next step. You need to do everything you can to make sure people see it. If you’re having trouble getting your content out there, Path Social can help.

We use organic promotional strategies to lead more potential fans to your page. This quickly gets you more followers and engagement on the Reels you work so hard on. We’ve helped pages like Pushing the Project gain over 17,000 fans, and you can experience the same immense growth, too. Hit up Path Social and get more Instagram followers today!

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