How to Add a Photo and Video to a Facebook Post

Adding a photo or video to your Facebook post can dramatically increase its reach and engagement. This guide walks you through the exact steps, from a single image post to more advanced visual storytelling, helping you create content that captures attention. We'll cover the process on both desktop and mobile, along with expert tips to make your visuals truly stand out.

The Fundamentals: How to Post a Single Photo or Video

Let's start with the most common task: sharing one picture or video clip. The process is straightforward whether you're on a computer or your phone, but the interface looks slightly different.

On a Desktop Computer

Using a desktop gives you a larger screen to work with and easy access to files saved on your computer or an external hard drive.

1. Open the Post Creator: Go to your Facebook News Feed, Page, or Group where you want to post. Click inside the box at the top that says, "What's on your mind, [Your Name]?"
2. Select Photo/Video: An expanded window will pop up. Click the green icon labeled "Photo/Video."
3. Choose Your File: A file explorer window (Finder on Mac, Windows Explorer on PC) will open. Navigate to the photo or video you want to upload and select it. Click "Open."
4. Add Your Caption: Your visual will appear in the post preview. Now, you can write your caption in the text box. Tag friends, add your location, or include hashtags if you like.
5. Post It: Once you're happy with your post, click the blue "Post" button at the bottom right. That's it! Your visually rich post is now live.

On the Facebook Mobile App (iOS and Android)

Posting from your phone is perfect for sharing moments as they happen. The steps are almost identical for both iPhone and Android devices.

1. Tap to Create: Open the Facebook app. Tap the "What's on your mind?" field right at the top of your News Feed.
2. Choose "Photo/Video": On the next screen, tap the "Photo/Video" option, which usually has a green landscape icon next to it.
3. Grant Permissions (If prompted): The first time you do this, your phone may ask for permission for the Facebook app to access your photos. Make sure to allow it.
4. Select Your Media: Your phone's camera roll will appear. Tap the photo or video you want to share. A checkmark or number will appear on the thumbnail. Tap "Next" or "Done" at the top right.
5. Finalize Your Post: You'll be taken to the post editor where you can see your chosen image or video. Type in your caption, use the icons at the bottom to tag people or add a location, and when you're ready, tap the blue "Post" button.

Creating More Dynamic Posts: Adding Multiple Photos and Videos

Sharing a single visual is great, but combining multiple photos or even a mix of photos and videos can tell a more complete story. It's an excellent way to showcase an event, a product from different angles, or a step-by-step process.

How to Post a Photo Collage or Gallery

Facebook makes creating a gallery or collage from multiple images incredibly simple. It automatically arranges them into an attractive layout.

• Select Multiple Files: Follow the same initial steps as for a single photo. When your file explorer or camera roll opens, instead of selecting just one file, select several. On a desktop, you can hold down the Ctrl (PC) or Command (Mac) key while clicking to select multiple files. On mobile, just tap on each photo or video you want to include.
• Arrange Your Visuals: Once uploaded, Facebook will show a preview of the layout. You can drag and drop the thumbnails to change their order. The first image will often be displayed largest, so place your most important visual there. Facebook will show you options like "Collage" or "Classic" layouts to choose from.
• Edit in Bulk or Individually: You have the option to add filters to all photos at once or click on an individual photo to crop, tag, or add an effect to just that one.
• Post as an Album (Optional): If you're uploading a lot of photos from an event, Facebook might prompt you to create a new album. This is a great way to group related photos together. You can give the album a title, description, and location, which helps keep your Page's photo section clean and organized.

Combining Photos and Videos in the Same Post

Yes, you can do this! Mixing static images with video clips can create a dynamic and attention-grabbing post. The process is identical to creating a photo gallery - just select both photo and video files during a single upload. Facebook will arrange them in a grid, and users can click to view each one individually. This is perfect for something like a restaurant sharing a beautiful photo of a dish, followed by a short video of the chef preparing it.

Pro Tips for Visually Engaging Facebook Posts

Knowing how to upload is the first step. Knowing what to upload - and how to optimize it - is what sets successful brands and creators apart. Here are a few strategies to elevate your visual content.

1. Optimize Your Image and Video Specs

Blurry or poorly cropped visuals look unprofessional. To keep your content sharp, pay attention to size and shape.

• Aspect Ratio is Important: While Facebook accepts almost any size, visuals formatted for the mobile feed perform best. Aim for a square (1:1 aspect ratio) or vertical (4:5 aspect ratio) format. Most people are scrolling on their phones, and vertical visuals take up more screen space, making them harder to ignore.
• High Resolution, Not High File Size: Upload the highest resolution photos and videos you have. Facebook will compress them, but starting with a high-quality file results in a much better final product. At the same time, gigantic files can take forever to upload, so find a balance. Exporting photos at 2048 pixels wide is a safe bet for quality.

2. Tell a Story with Your Visuals

Don't just post pictures, share a narrative. Carousels (a sequence of images) are incredibly effective for storytelling.

• Behind-the-Scenes: Show your audience how your product is made or introduce them to your team.
• How-To Guides: Use a series of photos or short video clips to teach something. A fitness trainer could show four images demonstrating each step of an exercise.
• Product Showcase: A single product photo is good. Multiple photos showing features, different colors, and the product in use is much better.

Example: A local coffee shop posts a three-photo carousel. The first image is a beautiful latte. The second is a smiling barista handing it to a customer. The third is a shot of the shop's cozy interior. Together, these images tell a story about quality, service, and atmosphere.

3. Increase Reach with Tagging

Tagging is one of the most underutilized organic growth tools on Facebook.

• Tag People: When you post a photo with friends or colleagues, tag them (with their permission). The post may then appear on their timelines, exposing your content to their network.
• Tag Products: If you have a Facebook Shop (which is free to set up), you can tag your products directly in a photo or video. Users can then tap the tag and shop right from your post.
• Add a Location: Adding a location (geotagging) to your post can also increase its visibility, especially for local businesses. People searching for that location may discover your post.

4. Don't Forget Alt Text

Alternative text (alt text) is a written description of your photo. It serves two main purposes:

• Accessibility: It allows visually impaired users who use screen readers to understand the content of your image.
• SEO: It gives Facebook's algorithm more context about your image, which can help it appear in searches. Facebook automatically generates alt text, but it's often generic. You can edit it to be more descriptive. Click "Edit" on your photo, and you'll find the "Alternative Text" option.

5. Use Video For What It's Best At: Motion

Generic video posts often fall flat. The best video content makes use of what the format offers: movement, sound, and a timeline. Post short, punchy videos that grab attention within the first three seconds. Use Facebook Reels for short-form, trending content, and longer videos for in-depth tutorials or storytelling. Adding captions to your video is also fundamental, as many people watch with the sound off.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to add photos and videos to your Facebook posts is a foundational skill for anyone looking to build a brand, connect with a community, or share their story online. From a simple photo upload to creating a mixed-media gallery, the tools are right there to help you create content that stops the scroll and gets people talking.

We know that managing content - especially visuals - across multiple social platforms can quickly become overwhelming. Consistency is tough when you're jumping between apps. That's why we at Postbase built a social media tool for today's visual world. Our visual calendar lets you see your entire content plan at a glance, and we prioritized support for video formats like Reels so you can schedule everything reliably in one place. It's what you need to organize your visual strategy without the chaos.