How to Create a Then-and-Now Story on Facebook

Nothing grabs attention quite like a good before-and-after picture. Whether it's a dramatic home renovation, a personal glow up, or the evolution of a small business from a garage startup to a bustling storefront, then-and-now stories are irresistible. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create your own compelling then-and-now story on Facebook, covering everything from finding the right photos and choosing the best format to writing a caption that gets people to stop scrolling and engage.

Why Then-and-Now Stories Are Social Media Gold

There's a reason these types of posts perform so well. It all boils down to simple human psychology. We are naturally drawn to stories of progress and transformation. Seeing change visually is incredibly satisfying and gives us a shot of inspiration or a moment of nostalgic reflection. They are one of the most effective and versatile storytelling tools you can use on social media for a few key reasons:

• They're Instantly Understandable: A viewer gets the whole story in a split second. The visual contrast between "then" and "now" does most of the work, making it perfect for the fast-paced environment of a social feed.
• They Trigger an Emotional Response: Then-and-now stories evoke powerful feelings like nostalgia, pride, humor, and inspiration. This emotional connection is what drives high engagement - likes, comments, and shares - because people feel compelled to react to the journey you're sharing.
• They're Extremely Versatile: Any person, brand, or creator can use this format. Show off your fitness journey, the growth of your garden, a logo redesign, how your team has grown, or a throwback picture from your company's early days. The possibilities are endless.

Step 1: Find Your Perfect "Then" and "Now" Photos

The foundation of a great then-and-now post is, of course, the photos. Mismatched or low-quality images can make your story fall flat, so putting a little thought into your visuals goes a long way.

The "Then" Photo: Time to Dig Through the Archives

Your "then" photo sets the stage for the entire story. It’s the starting point of the journey. For personal photos, this might mean scrolling through old Facebook albums, digging into your phone’s camera roll, or even scanning an old physical photograph. For a business, this could be a snapshot of your first office, an early product prototype, or a screenshot of your original website design.

A good "then" photo should clearly show the starting line. A slightly grainy or dated quality can even add to the charm and emphasize how much time has passed. The key is to pick an image that provides a stark, obvious contrast to where you are today.

The "Now" Photo: Capturing the Transformation

Your "now" photo is the big reveal. The best way to create a powerful impact is to recreate the original "then" photo as closely as possible. If you can replicate the location, angle, pose, and even the type of lighting, the transformation will feel even more dramatic. For example:

• For a personal photo: Stand in the same spot, mimic the same pose, and maybe even wear a similar style of clothing.
• For a home project: Take the picture from the exact same corner of the room to showcase the redesigned space.
• For a product: Place the new version on the same surface and at the same angle as the old one.

Make sure your "now" photo is well-lit and high-resolution. You want the "after" to look crisp and professional to highlight the improvement and progress.

Step 2: Pick the Best Format for Your Story

Once you have your photos, you need to decide how you'll present them on Facebook. You have several great options, each with its own advantages for telling your story.

Format 1: The Classic Photo Collage (Single Feed Post)

This is the most common format, where you combine the "then" and "now" photos into a single image, usually side-by-side or top-and-bottom. It's clean, easy to digest, and highly shareable.

• How to create it: You don't need fancy software. Free apps like Canva, Adobe Express, Layout from Instagram, or PhotoGrid make this simple.
  1. Open your app of choice and select a two-frame collage template.
  2. Upload your "then" photo into one frame and your "now" photo into the other.
  3. If you want, add simple text labels like "2014" and "2024" or "Before" and "After" to make it extra clear.
  4. Save the final image to your phone and you're ready to post.

Format 2: The Multi-Photo Carousel Post

This interactive format invites users to swipe from the "then" to the "now" photo. This creates a moment of reveal, which can be even more engaging than a static collage.

• How to create it: This is done directly within the Facebook app.
  1. Start a new post on your profile or page.
  2. Tap "Photo/Video" and select both your "then" and "now" pictures.
  3. On the preview screen, make sure your "then" photo is the first one in the sequence. You can usually drag and drop to reorder them.
  4. Craft your caption in the post description to guide the viewer (e.g., "Swipe to see the transformation →").

Format 3: Facebook Stories

Facebook Stories are perfect for more casual, in-the-moment then-and-now content. Since they disappear after 24 hours (unless saved to a highlight), they feel less permanent and are a great way to engage your most loyal followers.

• How to create it: You can get creative with Stories.
  1. The Tap-Through Method: Post your "then" photo as the first Story slide with text like "Remember this?" Follow it immediately with the "now" photo as the next slide for a satisfying tap-through reveal.
  2. The Sticker Overlay Method: Upload your "now" photo as the background for a new Story. Then, tap the sticker icon, choose the photo sticker, and select your "then" picture. You can shrink it down and place it in the corner, creating an all-in-one visual.
  Be sure to add interactive stickers like polls ("What do you think of the new look?") or quizzes to boost engagement.

Format 4: The Facebook Reel (Video Version)

For maximum impact and reach, turn your then-and-now story into a short-form video. Reels are heavily favored by Facebook's algorithm and let you add music and effects to heighten the emotional connection.

• How to create it: Most editing tools within social apps make this easy.
  1. Open Reels and select your "then" photo from your camera roll. Trim the clip so it's only on-screen for 1-2 seconds.
  2. Add your "now" photo or a short video clip showing the outcome. Trim it to your desired length.
  3. Add music! Find a trending audio that matches the vibe - upbeat for a big win, sentimental for a look back.
  4. Use the text tool to add captions like "How it started..." followed by "How it's going." Timed text can make the reveal even better.

Step 3: Write a Caption That Connects

The photos are the hook, but the caption is what tells the full story. A great caption adds context, emotion, and gives your audience a reason to care about the transformation. It frames the "why" behind the what.

Start with a Strong Opening

Your first sentence should grab attention and set the theme. Keep it short and punchy.

• "Ten years, same dog, different couch."
• "We started with just an idea and a messy whiteboard."
• "Swipe to see what a little bit of paint and a lot of patience can do."

Tell the Story in the Middle

This is where you fill in the blanks. What happened between "then" and "now"? Don't just state the obvious, share a small detail, a memorable struggle, or a key lesson learned along the way.

• For a business milestone: "This photo was taken on our first day of business in 2018. We had three clients and spent most of our time wondering if the phone would ever ring. Today, we're a team of fifteen serving clients around the world. The journey wasn't straight, but every challenge taught us something."
• For a home project: "I remember looking at this outdated kitchen and not knowing where to begin. After six weekends of DIY and one big plumbing scare, it's finally the heart of our home. So proud of what we accomplished!"

End with a Question or Call-to-Action

Finish your caption by inviting your audience to participate. This is what turns a passive view into an active engagement.

• "What do you think of the change?"
• "Share your own #ThenAndNow progress in the comments!"
• "What's one goal you're proud of achieving this year?"

And don't forget to include relevant hashtags to help new people discover your post. Use a mix of general and specific tags like #ThenAndNow, #GlowUp, #TransformationTuesday, #BeforeAndAfter, #HomeRenovation, or #BusinessGrowth.

Final Thoughts

Creating a beautiful then-and-now story for Facebook is all about pairing strong, complementary visuals with a heartfelt narrative. By choosing the right format and writing a caption that tells the story between the photos, you can create a piece of content that genuinely connects with your audience and celebrates progress in a fun, engaging way.

Planning compelling content like this takes time, especially when you're managing multiple social channels at once. At Postbase, we built our tool to solve that exact problem. Our dead-simple visual calendar helps you map out your content themes for weeks or months ahead, making it easy to schedule posts like a "Transformation Tuesday" series without any last-minute stress. Because our system is built with today's content formats in mind, you can schedule a then-and-now Reel once and have it post natively across Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok. Go give it a look!