The Shot Before That Perfect Instagram Shot…

The Edge of Seventeen follows 17-year-old Nadine in a coming of age comedy about first love and friendships. In cinemas 30th November.

Real life and social media are so intertwined, they’re virtually indistinguishable. And as we edge closer and closer to that dystopian future so carefully plotted out by Charlie Brooker in Black Mirror, we spoke to five prolific Instagrammers to find out just how much planning goes into that carefully edited pic - and asked them to share the pictures that didn’t make it into the public domain.

Here are Chessie, Alya, Abidemi, Eimear and Gabriella’s shots before the perfect shot...

Chessie King, Missfits Nutrition Ambassador

@missfitsnutrition / @chessiekingg

Tell us a bit about this picture.

This was a photo from a recent shoot with MissFits Nutrition. I'm mid shoulder press so have my eyes closed and obviously concentrating reaaaaallly hard!

How many pictures does it normally take before you find the ‘perfect’ shot?

It depends if it's food or me! Maybe three to four photos but out of those I always pick the most natural one, normally one that shows movement or mostly laughing at myself. It needs to reflect the real me!

As you’ve spent more time on Instagram, have you got more fussy about what you share, or less so?

Less so. I used to really care about how my page looked but now I just share my real life and that's mostly just smiling, eating and sweating - all with my best friend @healthychefsteph.

How has your attitude towards how you use Instagram changed?

I have developed my Instagram into a support platform for younger people. I try to inspire them to live a full and happy life. It might be fun ways to keep fit and active, or tasty, nutritious meals and treats I come across. But it’s all about having fun, surrounding yourself with likeminded people, celebrating your achievements and empowering those around you!

Have you ever accidentally put the ‘wrong’ picture up?

I once put up a photo of me looking ridiculous & one of my friends looking like a goddess after a spin class. People absolutely loved it because I was just being me and showing people how I really look after exercising! Having the confidence to just be YOU is so important.

Is it important to you that your followers know this is an edited picture, not just one that you took on a whim?

People see the real me, be it through Instagram or on my snapchat, they know I'm as honest with my photos I can be. The most I do to edit is brightening or adding saturation.

Abidemi Sanusi

@abidemitv

Tell us a bit about this picture

The picture was taken in my hallway, during a particularly 'rough' period in my life. My self-confidence had taken a battering. I knew something had to change, but I didn't know what. I'd always been interested in photography, so I figured I would turn the camera on myself - a creative study of self, so to speak, to help me recover my self-confidence. The project was simple - take a picture of myself every day for 30 days, share it with friends or family only, then at the end of the 30 days, pursue the photography and choose to live a more fulfilling life.

**How many pictures does it take before you find the ‘perfect’ shot? **

I'm a hobbying photographer, so I probably cheat a little. It all depends on the equipment and what the subject is. If I'm using my DSLR camera, I take quite a few shots, probably about ten or so. If I'm using my iPhone, probably about five. But that's because I know I can edit the pics in about two minutes using the photography apps.

As you’ve spent more time on Instagram, have you got more fussy about what you share, or less so?

Yes, I've gotten quite fussy about what I put up, because as a writer, I'm aware that even though Instagram is visually-driven, I'm still communicating with people. So, it's all about my message. I run a platform (www.abidemi.tv)) for writers, and I also cook freefrom food, so my feed is for the most part, focused on those two things. I've also decided to start talking more about mental health issues. There's a sense that it's okay for creative people to suffer from this, because it'comes with the territory of being a creative.' I've decided to challenge this view, because it's plain wrong.

Is it important to you that your followers know this is an edited picture, not just one that you took on a whim?

I think the followers know that there is an element of editing involved when you put up pictures on Instagram. However, I've always gone by the adage 'less is more', and I have put up unedited pics.

Gabriella Lungdren

@gabriella_lundgren

Tell us a bit about this picture

This picture is me on a shot for an outfit post, I was doing a walking picture to see the movement in the clothes and those pictures often comes out natural and not to over posed. This one didn't make it due to the fact that my face doesn't look relaxed and my posture is not the most flattering. Also my leg is on it's way to take a step but it's just taken in the wrong moment if the walk.

**How many pictures, on average, does it take before you find the ‘perfect’ shot? **

I would say in average three to five pictures on each look. The more you get used to being in front of the camera the more you get used to be photographed and the less bad angles you get on the photo, so with time the shoots goes quicker and quicker.

As you’ve spent more time on Instagram, have you got more fussy about what you share or less so?

In a way yes, I spend more time thinking and planning what photos I will post. But it also has to do with the fact that it more of a business now rather than a picture diary. On the other hand I post more photos now on Instagram than I ever did, so if I'm not happy with a picture it only takes a week or so before it's further down in the feed and not so visible anymore, so in that sense it's not a big deal and I'm not so fussy about it being perfect.

How has your attitude towards how you use Instagram changed?

It’s more business now than before, and I take in more about what other people post, to get inspired, finding new brands to work with, get connected with other people in the same profession. I do more sourcing then I ever did, and my friends who post pictures oftheir family for example gets lost in my feed due to the number of people you follow.

**Have you ever accidentally put the ‘wrong’ picture up? **

No never, I only took it down once cause I wasn't happy with how I edited the picture, but I took it down seconds after I posted it, re-edit it and posted it again.

Is it important to you that your followers know this is an edited picture, not just one that you got on a whim?

Who ever follows me know that it's not a photo on the go, it's just the way my Instagram is built up. I want to deliver high quality fashion photos to inspire my followers so it's hard to do that on the go. I did stop putting filters on my photos since a couple of weeks ago (I only light them up) because I want to give them a photos that is as true as reality as possible, so even if they weren't taken in that very moment, it did look like that when they were taken. It's a balance!

Alya****Mooro

@moorizzla

**Tell **us a bit about this picture

This picture was taken while I was on holiday in Miami last year with some of my girlfriends. I love being in a bikini on the beach and wanted to capture my glee. Triangl, the bikini I was wearing, had sent me some stuff, so I wanted to get a photo wearing thebikini so I could tag them and express my gratitude too.

**How ****many pictures, on average, does it take before you find the ‘perfect’ shot? **

It really depends on what the shot is. Here, as it was an action shot, it required a few more photos than a stationary shot would have done, as it’s harder to time the capture to be in a flattering / not totally random and in awkward position. I don’t have muchpatience though and prefer laughing at myself to getting too worked up about trying to get a ‘perfect’ shot so I won’t really ever take more than 10 in an attempt. VSCO filters always improve the picture anyway!

**As **you’ve spent more time on Instagram, have you got more fussy about what you share, or less so?

Ooh good question! I think a few months ago I reached peak caring, and have now chilled out a bit more. It’s a really tricky situation because as much as you know you’re being ridiculous and it’s just a photo, because it so often really is a huge part of our jobsand etc these days, it IS important to get it right. But I think, like with everything, it’s important to be balanced and look at it in a relative way.

**Is **it important to you that your followers know this is an edited picture, not just one that you took on a whim

I think all social media users know now that what is being posted, by themselves, by others, by the people they admire, is an edited image. That said, it’s very easy to compare yourself to a stranger on Instagram, and ultimately feel bad about yourself whencomparing your nuanced life to the perfectly curated one you scroll through. With that in mind yes I think it is important that there is a transparency here.

Eimear****Varian Barry

@eimearvarianbarry

**Tell **us a bit about this picture

This is me posing in a carpark, near where I live in Surrey, on a Sunday. I collaborated with Debenhams and was photographing their Henry Holland jeans. I scoured the store on Oxford Street for a good fit and was so happy when I found them. I live in them. So Iwaited until I could afford these RayBans because I wanted to shoot them with a 90's vibe. I posted on my Instagram a few days later.

**How ****many pictures, on average, does it take before you find the ‘perfect’ shot? **

Myphotographer @thebubblecollective (Sarah Blake) is the most patient girl on the planet! She thinks we always overshoot, but I don't! I always want to get a tonne of options because I'm so picky about my photos and want to get the best one possible. I wouldsay it would take me about 30 to get the perfect shot, but it really depends on the lighting. If it's perfect, we can get it in five. Lighting is everything!

As you’ve spent more time on Instagram, have you got more fussy about what you put up, or less so?

It's extremely important for me to be fussy about what I post. I style, creatively direct and model. It's what brands pay me to do. I don't want to be "Insta-famous" and I am not a blogger. I am doing this to get noticed for my photo work and my eye. To be able to build relationships in an industry which is now open to outsourcing their staff and giving people like me the opportunity to create content for them. People are on Instagram for different reasons. Some use it for personal use, some for professional use. I look at both. My friends pages and other profiles which I like to get lost in. I like to treat mine like an edit of my life and kind of like a magazine.

Have you ever accidentally put the ‘wrong’ picture up?

No, but my daughter Saoirse has taken many snapchats without me knowing and I've left them up!

Is it important to you that your followers know this is an edited picture, not just one that you got on a whim?

I post everything raw on my IG Stories and Snapchat. I have average 9k views for those and my followers know that I do fly on the wall for those and then my profile is more curated and edited. Taking photos is so ingrained in me, but it's really important for me to show my personality too! I have a LOT to say!! I take my work seriously but I'm always taking the piss out of myself. What would life be if you can't have the craic??!

Catch The Edge of Seventeen in cinemas from 30th November.

This article originally appeared on The Debrief.