Guide · Instagram Reels
How to make an Instagram Reel from project photos
You already have the images: renders, site photos, exhibition views, artworks. Here is how to turn them into a 10-second Reel that makes people want to see the whole project, without any editing software.
Why a Reel, even without video
Instagram shows Reels to people who don't follow you yet far more often than photos or carousels. For architects, designers, photographers and artists, it is the format that gets the work discovered. The good news: a Reel doesn't need to be filmed. A few well-chosen images, a slow camera move and a title are enough.
1. Pick 4 to 8 images
- A strong opening image: the overall view, the one people recognise in a second.
- Two or three details: material, light, joinery. They hold attention.
- A closing image: a wide shot, a night view, someone using the space.
- Avoid images that are too similar: in the edit, they feel repetitive.
2. The format: vertical, 9:16
A Reel is 1080 × 1920 pixels. Landscape images get cropped: keep the subject centred, or use a "gallery" edit that shows the whole image on a blurred background. Slow edits (gentle zoom, tracking) flatter 3D renders and architectural photography; rhythmic cuts suit events and products better.
3. A readable title, not a poster
The project name is enough, with one line below: your name or your field. It must read in one second on a phone: a bold, upper-case font on the first image. Let the caption tell the rest (client, place, team, credits).
4. The music
Match the music to the project's mood: soft piano for an interior, elegant pads for luxury, an electronic pulse for automotive. Be careful with well-known tracks added outside Instagram: your Reel may be muted. Original, royalty-free music avoids the problem.
5. Ten seconds, looping
A short Reel gets replayed, and every replay counts. Aim for 8 to 12 seconds, with an ending that flows back into the start.
Try it on one of your projects
Paste the address of a project page on your website: Foliocast picks up its images and edits a 10-second Reel with a title and original music. Free, instant download.
And for every new project?
If your portfolio runs on WordPress, the Foliocast plugin prepares the Instagram posts for each project (images in the right format, caption with credits, hashtags) and publishes them on time. With the Studio plan, it also makes a Reel for each project, with 15 different edits so your feed never repeats itself. See also: posting your WordPress portfolio to Instagram.