How to Combine Photos on Instagram

Combining multiple photos into a single Instagram post is one of the best ways to tell a richer story, show off a product, or share a step-by-step guide. This article breaks down every way to combine photos on Instagram, from simple feed carousels and story collages to creative reels using static images. We'll give you clear, easy-to-follow steps for each method and show you how to use them to get more engagement.

The Easiest Method: Creating a Carousel Post (Multi-Photo Feed Post)

The built-in carousel feature is the most straightforward way to share multiple photos (or videos) in one feed post. Viewers can swipe left to see everything you've included, up to 10 slides. This format is perfect for step-by-step tutorials, before-and-after reveals, or recapping an event.

How to Create a Carousel Post (Step-by-Step)

1. Open Instagram and tap the "+" icon at the bottom of the screen, just like you would for a regular post.
2. Select "Post" from the options.
3. Tap the "Select Multiple" icon. This looks like a square layered on top of another square and is located on the right side of your gallery preview.
4. Choose your photos and videos from your camera roll. You can select up to 10 files. A small number will appear on each thumbnail, indicating the order they will appear in your carousel. You can tap a selected photo again to deselect it.
5. Press and hold to reorder. If you want to change the sequence, just press and hold on a thumbnail and drag it to a new position. This makes it easy to structure your narrative perfectly before moving on.
6. Tap "Next" in the top right corner.
7. Edit your photos. Now you can apply a single filter to all the photos in your carousel by selecting one at the bottom, or you can tap on an individual photo to bring up the editing tools just for that slide. This gives you granular control over the look of each image.
8. Tap "Next" again when you're done editing.
9. Write your caption, tag people, and add a location. This screen works exactly the same as it does for a single photo post. Your caption will apply to the entire carousel, so make sure it sets the context for anyone swiping through.
10. Tap "Share" and your new carousel will be on your feed!

Creative Ideas for Carousel Posts:

• Tell a story: Use the first slide as a "cover page" with a hook, then unfold the story through the following photos.
• Show a process: Break down a recipe, workout, or DIY project into simple, visual steps.
• Product showcase: Display a product from every angle, highlight its features, and show it in different user contexts.
• Before and After: A super engaging format for transformations in fitness, home decor, design, or beauty.
• Recap an event: Bundle your favorite moments from a conference, party, or trip into one comprehensive post instead of flooding your followers' feeds.

Combining Photos in Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories offer a few dynamic and fun ways to combine photos. These methods are more casual and temporary than a feed post, making them great for daily updates, quick polls, or behind-the-scenes content.

Method 1: Using the "Layout" Feature

The Layout feature allows you to create a grid-style collage directly inside the Stories editor.

How to use Story Layouts:

1. Open the Instagram Stories camera by swiping right from your feed or tapping your profile picture.
2. Look for the "Layout" icon on the left-hand menu. It looks like a grid of rectangles.
3. Choose your grid style. By default, it’s a 2x2 grid, but you can tap the "Change Grid" icon (right above the Layout icon) to switch between different configurations (e.g., two vertical photos, three horizontal, up to a six-photo grid).
4. Add your photos. You can either take a new photo for each section of the grid by tapping the shutter button, or you can tap the gallery icon in the bottom-left corner to add photos from your camera roll. Fill each frame in the grid one by one.
5. Tap the checkmark once all your grid spots are filled. You'll be taken back to the main Story editor.
6. Add text, stickers, and music. Treat your new collage just like any other Story. You can now layer on engagement-boosting elements before sharing.

Method 2: Using the Photo Sticker

This trick lets you add multiple photos to a single Story background, giving you total freedom to resize, rotate, and layer them however you want.

How to use the Photo Sticker:

1. Start a new Story. Either take a new photo, upload one from your gallery, or use the "Create" mode (the “Aa” icon) to set a solid color background.
2. Open the sticker menu by tapping the smiley-face square icon at the top of the screen.
3. Find the Photo Sticker. Scroll down until you see an icon showing a circle with a preview of your most recent photo and a mountain landscape behind it. This is your magic tool!
4. Select a photo from your gallery. It will appear on your Story as a sticker. Tapping on the sticker will cycle through different shapes like a circle, square, heart, or star.
5. Resize, rotate, and move it. Use two fingers to pinch and zoom the photo sticker, drag it to a new position, and twist it just how you want.
6. Repeat the process. Open the sticker menu again, choose the Photo Sticker again, and add another picture. You can add several photos, layering them to create a scrapbook or mood board effect.

Creating a Collage in a Third-Party App

Sometimes you want to create a custom photo collage for a single, impactful feed post rather than a multi-slide carousel. The best way to achieve a clean grid or blended design is by using a dedicated collage-making app before you even open Instagram.

Why Use a Third-Party App?

• More Layouts: Apps like Canva, PicCollage, or even Instagram's forgotten "Layout" app offer hundreds of grid templates.
• Advanced Customization: You can adjust border thickness, change background colors or patterns, and add stylized text.
• Photo Editing: Many of these apps include their own photo editing tools, letting you perfect each image before it goes into the collage.

How to Make a Collage with an App (General Steps)

1. Download a collage app. Canva is an extremely popular and versatile option, available on both mobile and desktop.
2. Choose a collage template. Most apps will present you with templates formatted specifically for Instagram posts (1:1 square ratio) or Stories (9:16 vertical ratio). Select one that fits your aesthetic.
3. Upload your photos. Import the images you want to use from your camera roll into the app.
4. Add photos to the template. Simply drag and drop your images into the placeholders within your chosen layout.
5. Customize your design. Adjust the borders, background, and add any text or graphic elements.
6. Save the final image. Export the finished collage to your phone's camera roll.
7. Upload to Instagram. Now, open the Instagram app and create a new post using the single collage image you've just created. You’re all set!

Combining Photos into an Instagram Reel

Reels aren't just for video anymore. It's now standard to turn a collection of photos into a short, engaging video clip set to trending audio - a format affectionately known as a photo-dump Reel. This is a powerful way to combine photos into a whole new piece of content.

How to turn photos into a video for an Instagram Reel

1. Open the Reels editor. Tap the "+" icon at the bottom of the Instagram app and select "Reel".
2. Access your camera roll. Instead of recording, swipe up or tap the gallery icon in the bottom-left corner.
3. Select your photos. Tap on the photos you want to include. Unlike carousels, you aren't limited to 10 photos here. But make sure that your Reel follows Instagram's 90-second maximum duration.
4. Adjust photo duration. After selecting your photos, Instagram will drop them onto a timeline at the bottom of the screen. Tap on "Edit video". From there, you can tap on each photo's clip and drag the ends to make it appear for a shorter or longer duration in the Reel.
5. Add music and transitions. The key to a good photo Reel is the audio. Tap the music note icon to add a trending song. You can also tap the small button between clips on the timeline to add smooth transitions like a fade or blur to make it more dynamic.
6. Add text, effects, or a voiceover. Finish by adding any text overlays or other creative effects.
7. Share. Write your caption and share it to your feed and the Reels tab.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're telling a linear story with a carousel, creating a quick collage in Stories, or designing a detailed grid for your feed, combining photos unlocks a much deeper level of expression on Instagram. Each method we've outlined serves a different purpose, giving you a full toolkit to create dynamic, engaging content that keeps your audience coming back.

Creating great content like photo carousels and Reels is only half the battle, knowing when and how to post it is the other. At Postbase, we built our visual calendar to help creators and marketers plan their content with that big picture in mind. By seeing your entire week or month at a glance, you can strategically place your high-effort carousels and Reels where they'll have the most impact, ensuring your grid not only looks beautiful but also tells a coherent story over time.