The Best Compliments to Leave on a Photographer’s Instagram

Show a photographer you love their pics with these thoughtful compliments

Co-authored by Annie Tao and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: August 19, 2024 Fact Checked

A beautiful sunset. A happy newlywed couple. An incredible scenic landscape. No matter what the photographer just posted on Instagram, giving them a compliment is a great way to support their work. While there are a lot of things you could mention about a pic you love, some things you say are more meaningful to a photographer than others. We’ve got a ton of positive and unique ideas for comments to leave on Instagram, so keep reading to find the perfect compliment to give!

Things You Should Know

Compliment the photographer on the time and effort they spent to make the picture look perfect.
Mention something specific that you loved in their pic, like the lighting, composition, or perspective.
Comment about how much you enjoyed working with the photographer if the pics are of you. Or, tell them that you’d love to work with them in the future.

1

“Wow, these look beautiful!”

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A short and sweet comment is sure to make the photographer smile. If you want to make a photographer feel good about their work, quickly mention what you love about it. Be honest about how the picture makes you feel so your compliment sounds really genuine. A photographer will love to hear your instant reaction to how their pic made you feel.^{[1]
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- “This pic is stunning!”
- “You really know how to capture the perfect moment.”
- “I’m blown away by how these look!
- “Breathtaking! No other words can describe it!”

2

“All your hard work paid off for this shot!”

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A photographer will appreciate that you recognized the effort they put in. A picture may look effortless, but the person behind the camera has spent a lot of time practicing and honing their skills. Don’t let all the energy they put in go unnoticed. Rather than complimenting the photo directly, mention how much they’ve grown as a photographer and compliment the work it took to get there.^{[2]
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- “It really shows how long you planned to get the perfect shot.”
- “You’ve only gotten better with each new pic. Great work!”
- “This is why you’re a professional, wow!”
- “This shot really shows off all your skills! Love it!”

3

“You have such a neat perspective!”

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Show appreciation for the unique view they captured in the shot. Does the picture make you think a little differently about the subject? Maybe it’s a closeup pic of something small, or a bird’s-eye view of a larger scene. Either way, take a moment to really appreciate the unique perspective the picture gives you and mention it in their comments.
- “I never would have thought to look at that in this way!”
- “I love the angle you got on this pic!”
- “It’s so inspiring seeing a different view of this subject!”
- “This is such an intriguing viewpoint! How did you think to capture it like this?”

4

“This has such a clean composition.”

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Photographers want recognition for how well they composed a shot. Composition is how the elements in the foreground and background interact with each other. Since photographers take a bit of time to figure out the perfect way to balance the picture, they’ll love hearing that you took the time to notice their hard work lining up the shot.
- “I love how you arranged this pic so your eyes are drawn to their faces.”
- “This really draws my focus to the flowers in the foreground! Love it!”
- “The background in this shot is so interesting, but it doesn’t distract from the subject!”
- “It really shows how much you considered how this shot was laid out.”

5

“The lighting in this pic is stunning!”

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Photographers will love that you noticed the time it took to like their pic. It takes a keen eye to pick a light source for a photo, and the photographer probably experimented with a few different options before deciding. Look at how the lights and shadows balance each other out and how they affect the overall composition of the picture so you can give a more thoughtful compliment. Mention a specific detail about the lighting that you noticed to make your compliment sound more thoughtful.
- “The way the sunset makes those tree branches stand out is so gorgeous.”
- “I love the highlights on her face! It really adds to the drama.”
- “The deep shadows really set this pic apart from the rest.”
- “Amazing job lighting this! I can tell you took your time getting it just right!”

6

“I love the mood you captured here.”

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Photographers love to know how their pics made you feel. As you’re looking at the picture the photographer posted, try to gauge how it makes you feel. Does it make you sad? Happy? Angry? Consider the emotion that the photographer was trying to capture and praise them for being able to create a moody, dramatic image. Be creative with how you describe the mood and try to compare it to other things.^{[3]
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- “I love how warm and inviting you made this feel!”
- “You caught such an ominous look with this shot. It’s like it’s straight out of a horror movie!”
- “You really captured a lot of emotion with this one!”
- “I can’t help but smile every time I see this pic.”

7

“You really caught their personality in this shot.”

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A portrait photographer will love to hear that their subject stands out. If people are the main subject of the pic, spend a little time focusing on their pose, facial expression, and mood they’re conveying so you can make your compliment specific and unique. If you can get a sense that you know the person just by looking at the post, then tell the photographer that they did a great job shooting their pics.
- “I can feel how happy everyone is feeling in this pic!”
- “You captured the intensity in their eyes. It makes them stand out!”
- “I love how it looks like everyone is having a great time posing for this!”
- “I can get a real sense of who this person is in real life just by how you shot them!”

8

“My friends are going to think this looks amazing.”

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Sharing the pic helps the photographer get more engagement. Tag your friends in comments or share the pic to your Instagram story to get more eyes on it. The photographer will love that you’re bringing more people to their page who will leave compliments of their own.
- “@itskatie OMG look at this pic. Isn’t it gorgeous?”
- “Everyone must see this! Sharing to my story now!”
- “I showed your pics to my friends and they’re so excited to see your next post!”

9

“I can’t wait to see what you photograph next.”

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Looking forward to the next pic inspires photographers to shoot more. If you’re always checking to see when they post on Insta, mention how excited you are to help motivate them. Compliment their picture with how much you love their work, and don’t forget to mention that you keep coming back to their page to see the new things they share.^{[4]
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- “I’m so excited to see the other things you’ve shot!”
- “Amazing as always! I’m looking forward to seeing what you post next!”
- “I hope I get to see more pics from this shoot soon!”
- “WOW! Your pics just keep getting better!”

10

“Is there somewhere I can buy a print?”

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Wanting to buy their pictures shows that you value their work. If you’re so drawn to the picture that you want a copy of your own, let the photographer know! Find out if they have a shop where you can purchase prints of the pictures, and offer to buy a copy. The photographer will be so excited that you’re interested in their work and be driven to take more pics.^{[5]
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- “This would look amazing on my wall. How can I order a copy?”
- “I’d love to hang your work up. Do you have any pieces for sale?”
- “I definitely need a copy of this pic! Where can I go to support you?”

11

“I would love to work with you someday!”

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Let the photographer know you’re interested in shooting with them. If the person takes portraits or modeling photos, don’t be afraid to ask them about their availability. Let the photographer know that you’re interested in doing a shoot with them and see if there’s an easy way that you can reach out. The photographer will appreciate your interest and can help you find a time when they can shoot some pics for you.
- “Your headshots are amazing! How can I book a session with you?”
- “I’ve been looking for a wedding photographer! What’s the best way to connect?”
- “I love your style for family photos. I’m gonna send you an email ASAP!”
- “I’ve wanted to try modeling for a while. Do you have any openings coming up?”

12

“I had so much fun during this shoot!”

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Talking about your experience helps the photographer find new clients. If the photographer posted pics from a shoot you did with them, be sure to mention how it went. You could talk about how easy the photo session went, how professional the photographer was, or how much you love the images they took. Other people will see your comments and potentially reach out to the photographer to hire them.^{[6]
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- “You really got my best angles! Thanks so much for making me look so stunning!”
- “These turned out so incredible!! I’m definitely reaching out again the next time I need pics!”
- “Thank you for making me feel so comfortable in front of a camera! I barely even knew it was there!”
- “This was such a great experience with you! Definitely looking forward to the next time we shoot together!”

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Tips

Even if you don’t leave a comment, like the picture for a quick way to let the photographer know you want to see more.

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Don’t forget to follow their account so you can see all the new pics they upload on your main feed.

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Warnings

Avoid using the word “but” to add criticism to your compliment. Even if you have good intentions, the photographer may only focus on the negatives instead of the actual nice thing you said. Just mention something that the photographer did well or what you liked most in your compliment.^{[7]
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