How to Do Swipe Photos on TikTok

You’ve seen them all over your For You Page: TikToks that look like videos but are actually a series of high-quality photos you can swipe through at your own speed. This is TikTok’s Photo Mode, and it has become one of the most engaging formats on the platform for creators and brands. This guide will show you exactly how to create these swipeable photo carousels, offer tips to make your content pop, and explain how to use this feature to tell better stories and connect with your audience.

What is TikTok's Photo Mode (and Why Should You Use It)?

TikTok's Photo Mode is essentially a photo carousel feature, similar to what you see on Instagram, but with a unique TikTok twist. Instead of auto-playing like a slideshow, it allows users to manually swipe through a series of still images, all set to trending audio. The user controls the pace, which is a subtle but powerful change that increases engagement time and message retention.

But why should you bother adding yet another format to your content strategy? There are several strong reasons Photo Mode is worth your time:

• Higher Engagement: Because users physically interact with the content by swiping, they spend more time on your post. This longer dwell time signals to the TikTok algorithm that your content is valuable, which can lead to better reach. People often swipe back and forth to reread text overlays or get a better look at details, further boosting engagement signals.
• Epic Storytelling Potential: A single video clip can be limiting. With a photo carousel, you can break down a story into distinct parts. Think of it like a visual blog post: share a step-by-step tutorial, show off a before-and-after transformation, take your audience behind the scenes of an event, or create a 'photo dump' from a recent vacation. Each swipe reveals the next chapter.
• Lower Production Barrier: Let's be honest, shooting and editing a high-quality video takes time and effort. Sometimes you have great material, but it's in the form of photos. Photo Mode lets you leverage those assets without having to stitch them into a frantic video montage. It's often faster and simpler to produce a beautiful photo carousel than it is to film and cut a cohesive video.
• It's a Lean-In Format: Videos are a "lean-back" experience where the user passively consumes. Photo Mode is a "lean-in" experience. The manual swiping prompts a more active form of consumption, making the viewer feel more involved. Captions or text on a photo are also easier to read and absorb than fast-moving text in a video.

How to Do Swipe Photos on TikTok: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a swipeable photo carousel is straightforward once you know where to find the option. A common mistake is accidentally creating a video slideshow, so pay close attention to step number four.

Here’s exactly how to do it:

1. Open TikTok and Tap the Create Button: Open the TikTok app and tap the "+" icon at the bottom center of the screen, just like you would to start any other post.
2. Upload Your Photos: In the bottom-right corner, tap the Upload button to open your device's camera roll. Select all the photos you want to include in your carousel. You can select multiple photos at once.
3. Select Which Photos to Use: Tap the little circles in the corner of each image you want to feature. As you select them, you’ll see numbers appear, showing the order they will be displayed in. Just tap ‘Next’ when you’re done.
4. Switch to ‘Photo Mode’: This is the most important step! After tapping 'Next', TikTok will automatically create a video slideshow with your photos. Look at the bottom of the screen. You'll see two options: ‘Switch to photo mode’ and 'Switch to video mode'. Tap ‘Switch to photo mode’ to create the swipeable carousel. The music will keep playing, but the images will become individual, still frames that you can scrub through.
5. Add Music and Sound: At the top of the editing screen, tap ‘Add sound.’ You can now search for trending audios, browse playlists, or select a sound from your favorites. Choosing the right sound is a massive part of this trend's success. Look for audios that have a looping quality or a distinct beat that encourages swiping.
6. Edit and Arrange Your Photos: While in the editor, you can hold and drag an image in the timeline at the bottom to reorder it. You can also tap on a single photo to access editing options like cropping, rotating, or applying filters. Keep a consistent aesthetic across all the photos for a more professional finish.
7. Add Text, Stickers, and Effects: Use the editing tools on the right side of the screen to add text overlays, stickers, or filters. A strong text hook on the first slide is critical for grabbing attention. You can pin a text overlay or sticker to appear only on a specific photo in the sequence.
8. Write Your Caption & Post: Once you’re happy with your creation, tap 'Next'. On the final posting screen, write a compelling caption, add relevant hashtags, tag any accounts, and add a location if you like. Once everything is perfect, tap 'Post' to share your swipeable photo carousel with the world.

Tips and Creative Ideas for Your Next TikTok Photo Carousel

Knowing how to create a photo carousel is step one. Knowing how to create one that people actually want to engage with is what will make you stand out. Here are some strategies and ideas to elevate your Photo Mode content.

Tell a Visual Story

Don't just upload a random set of pictures. Think of each photo as a slide in a presentation or a page in a storybook. The sequence should have a purpose and lead the viewer on a mini-journey. Here are a few popular storytelling frames:

• Step-by-Step Guides: Show how to do something in a series of clear photos. This is perfect for recipes (`Step 1: Ingredients`, `Step 2: Mix`, etc.), workout routines, craft projects, or setup tutorials.
• Before and After: This classic format is perfect for transformations. It works for home renovations, fitness journeys, makeup looks, or design redesigns. The swipe is a very satisfying reveal.
• A Day in the Life / Get Ready With Me (Photo Edition): Instead of a video, walk your audience through a routine, workspace, or an event with a series of captioned photos.
• Aesthetic Photo Dumps: Organize photos from a trip, event, or season in an aesthetically pleasing, "camera roll" style. Group them by color, mood, or location to create a cohesive vibe.

Nail the Hook on Your First Photo

The first image needs to stop the scroll. Use a big, bold text overlay to create curiosity and tell the viewer exactly what to expect from swiping. Think of it as a title card. Strong hooks often read:

• "Things in my apartment that just make sense"
• "My top 5 favorite coffee shops in NYC"
• "Unpopular opinions about [your industry]"
• "Proof that [something] is better than [something else]"
• "[Number] photos that will make you want to visit [a city]"

Find the Perfect Trending Audio

The music you choose can make or break a TikTok, and this is especially true for Photo Mode. The audio should match the mood of your photos and ideally be a popular sound that the algorithm is currently favoring. Looping audio works particularly well as viewers can swipe back and forth without a jarring sound cut. Keep an eye on your For You Page to discover trends, or check the TikTok Creative Center for rising audio trends.

Common Mistakes to Avoid With TikTok Photo Mode

As you get the hang of creating swipeable photos, keep an eye out for these common rookie mistakes that can hurt your content’s performance.

• Forgetting to Switch Modes: The most frequent mistake is uploading your photos and just posting the auto-generated video slideshow. Always remember to press the ‘Switch to photo mode’ button for the swipe functionality.
• Using Low-Quality Images: Photo Mode puts your images front and center. Blurry, poorly lit, or low-resolution pictures will make your content look unprofessional and send viewers scrolling past. Use crisp, clean, and visually appealing photos.
• Missing a Hook or Context: Tossing up a series of photos with no explanation is a missed opportunity. Use text overlays to tell the story and guide the viewer. Without context, it's just a random slideshow, not an engaging piece of content.
• Disregarding the Music: A silent series of photos or one with audio that doesn’t fit the visual vibe can feel awkward. Take a few minutes to find trending audio that complements your images, it’s one of the easiest ways to significantly improve performance.
• Overloading with Too Many Photos: While there is a limit of 35 photos, less is often more. No one wants to swipe through two dozen nearly identical images. Pick only your best shots and tell a concise story. Between 5 and 15 photos is usually a good range for most ideas.

Final Thoughts

TikTok’s Photo Mode is more than just a novelty, it’s an effective format that gives you another compelling way to share your story or your brand's message. It combines the stopping power of a great photograph with the narrative flow of a carousel, delivering a highly engaging piece of content that's simpler to produce than a full-fledged video.

Once you get comfortable creating these engaging photo grids, weaving them into a broader content plan is the next step. I found that I save a ton of time by planning everything on a visual content calendar. It's actually why we built Postbase - to have one place where we can reliably schedule everything from a complex Reel to a simple TikTok photo carousel or an Instagram Story, without the stress of our accounts disconnecting or posts failing to publish.