Posting DSLR pictures to Instagram

[Tim Hall]

Being all modern and trendy I've got an Instagram account. I'm finding posting photos I've taken with my DSLR to be a pain, mainly as Instagram is made with the phone-as-camera model in mind.

I've got two possible work flows

Down load photos to PC, catalogue and edit as necessary
Open Instagram in Chrome on PC
Change user agent in Chrome so it thinks it's a phone
Select individual photos
Post.

This option doesn't allow me to put multiple photos into one post.

Down load photos to PC, catalogue and edit as necessary
Upload to selected photos Dropbox
Open Dropbox on phone
Download photos to phone
Open Instagram on phone
Select multiple photos as required
Post

This option doesn't allow me resize/change aspect ratio of the photos. This might be a feature of Instagram rather than my workflow, but I'm not a fan of their 1:1 aspect ratio.

Any pointers/other ways of doing things?

[fuaran]

Try the Instagram app in an emulator on your PC?
https://www.bluestacks.com/apps/social/instagram-on-pc.html

[Tim Hall]

Ah, that would have been a good call, except I should have written "Ubuntu machine" in place of "PC".

(goes off to look at suitable emulators)

[philip]

Use a USB OTG cable to connect your camera to your phone, then use the phone to upload to instagram from the camera.

[BrianI]

I need to check this myself. It's Linux Mint i use (based on Ubuntu).

[BrianI]

Might work? An unofficial Instagram app for linux? https://vitux.com/upload-photos-to-instagram-directly-from-your-ubuntu-desktop/

[Tim Hall]

Prompted by fuaran's post, I went looking and found Ramme last night Brian.

Installed it. It crashes when I try to run it, segmentation fault.   Which is annoying, as it looked like an answer.

I see it hsn't been maintained for several years now, which is a shame.

[mike]

does your DSLR talk to your phone?  I can wifi / Bluetooth / magic connect my newer camera to my phone, chose which ones to copy across and then edit and post from my phone. 

Either that or I download and edit on my laptop, airdrop (or android equivalent) across and then post from my phone.  Pretty sure you can crop / zoom / edit within instagram on your phone, and 8:10 (or 10: works equally well as 1:1, I think.

[BrianI]

This may work? https://snapcraft.io/install/instagraph/ubuntu

[citoyen]

Ah, that would have been a good call, except I should have written "Ubuntu machine" in place of "PC".

I don't know if this works on Ubuntu, but you can use the Developer Tools in Chrome to trick your browser to thinking it's a mobile platform, then you get the mobile interface when you visit Instagram on your desktop.

[Tim Hall]

Ah, that would have been a good call, except I should have written "Ubuntu machine" in place of "PC".

I don't know if this works on Ubuntu, but you can use the Developer Tools in Chrome to trick your browser to thinking it's a mobile platform, then you get the mobile interface when you visit Instagram on your desktop.

Yes, I've used that trick. However (possibly due to user error) it only lets me post single images. There are times I feel the need to inflict multiple pictures on my hordes of followers from a single post.

[Tim Hall]

This may work? https://snapcraft.io/install/instagraph/ubuntu

Ooh, I'll take a look. Thanks Brian.

[Tim Hall]

Right, putting this one to bed.

mike, my work flow is functionally similar to

Either that or I download and edit on my laptop, airdrop (or android equivalent) across and then post from my phone.

I use Dropbox in place of airdrop.

Brian, instagraph seems to be aimed at Ubuntu phone users, a thing I wasn't aware existed.

However <drumroll>, I've sorted the main bone of contention, which was not being able to change aspect ratio when posting multiple images I've transferred to the phone by Dropbox.  Turns out it was mostly user error and not realising the correct sequence of button pushes.
For anyone else (unlikely) to be stuck in the same position:
Select first photo
Change aspect ratio using the opposing arrows button
THEN click "Select multiple"
Select subsequent photos. These will all be at the same aspect ratio as the first. (I've yet to try it with landscape and portrait mixed in one post)
Post

[Kim]

This thread confirms my prejudice that if you're old enough to own a real computer and a proper camera, you're probably too old for Instagram.

[citoyen]

This thread confirms my prejudice that if you're old enough to own a real computer and a proper camera, you're probably too old for Instagram.

Although a lot of 'proper' cameras come with social media connectivity built in these days. Especially popular in the 'influencer' market.

[Kim]

This thread confirms my prejudice that if you're old enough to own a real computer and a proper camera, you're probably too old for Instagram.

Although a lot of 'proper' cameras come with social media connectivity built in these days. Especially popular in the 'influencer' market.

Well yes, but so do fridges.

[phil653]

I'm not very clever with tech so no messing around with resizing or aspect ratios etc, but this simple bodge works:

Upload image from camera's memory card to WhatsApp Web on my laptop by sending it to my wife or any other WhatsApp account.  Image is now accessible on my phone. Resend image to Instagram. Delete message from WhatsApp. Final step is not necessary, and only possible if the message is unread.

It helps that I live in Spain where WhatsApp is ubiquitous (and text messaging is dead).

[citoyen]

Yes, I've used that trick.

Just realised that's exactly what you said in your first post... Doh!

(Note to self: read before replying)