How to Layer Photos on an Instagram Post

Want to combine multiple images into a single, eye-catching design on Instagram? You've come to the right place. Layering photos is a fantastic way to elevate your content, and this guide will show you exactly how to do it for both your Stories and your main feed posts, step-by-step.

Why Should You Layer Photos on Instagram?

Layering photos isn't just a neat trick, it’s a powerful visual strategy that can instantly make your content more dynamic and engaging. Instead of just posting a single image, you create a collage-style visual that tells a richer story. For brands and creators, this opens up a ton of possibilities.

Here are a few quick reasons why it’s worth learning:

• Increased Visual Interest: A single, flat image can be easy to scroll past. A layered design with depth, texture, and multiple focal points immediately grabs attention and encourages viewers to pause and look closer. It breaks the monotony of the standard feed.
• Better Storytelling: Sometimes one photo just isn’t enough. Layering lets you showcase a sequence, a before-and-after, a product from multiple angles, or different elements of an experience all in one post. You can guide the viewer's eye through a visual narrative.
• Showcase Multiple Products or Features: If you're launching a new collection or highlighting a service with several benefits, layering allows you to display everything at once without spamming your followers with multiple consecutive posts. It's efficient and aesthetically pleasing.
• Brand Building: Consistent use of a specific layered style can become part of your brand’s visual identity. It’s a way to create a unique and recognizable look that sets your content apart.

The Easiest Method: Layering Photos Directly in Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories is the most accessible place to start layering photos, as the feature is built right into the app. The primary way to do this is with the photo "sticker." It's fast, intuitive, and gives you a lot of creative freedom.

Step-by-Step Guide Using the Photo Sticker

1. Set Your Background: First, you need a canvas. Swipe right from your feed to open the Story camera. You can either take a new photo to use as your background, swipe up to select an image from your camera roll, or tap the "Create" (Aa) option to select a solid color gradient for a simpler backdrop.
2. Find the Photo Sticker: Once your background is set, tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen (it looks like a square smiley face). This will open up your sticker library. Scroll down until you see an icon that looks like a photo gallery with a plus sign, or one that shows a preview of your most recent photos. Tap it.
3. Select and Add Your First Photo: Tapping the photo sticker will open your phone’s camera roll. Choose the first image you want to layer on top of your background. It will appear in the middle of your screen as a sticker.
4. Position and Resize: Now you can edit your newly added photo layer.
   • To move it: Press and hold the photo, then drag it anywhere on the screen.
   • To resize it: Use two fingers to pinch in (to make it smaller) or stretch out (to make it larger).
   • To rotate it: Use two fingers and twist to adjust the angle.
5. Add More Layers: To add more photos, simply repeat the process. Tap the sticker icon again, select the photo sticker, and choose your next image. You can add several photos, resizing and arranging them to create your desired layout. Keep in mind that each new photo you add will appear on top of the previous one.
6. Pro Tip: Change the Shape: Bored of the default square sticker? Tapping on the photo sticker once you've placed it will cycle through different shapes like circles, stars, hearts, and rectangles. This little trick is perfect for adding more visual variety to your design.
7. Finalize Your Design: Once all your photos are arranged, you can add text, GIFs, music, or draw on your Story to complete the look. When you're happy with it, you can post it to your Story or save it to your camera roll by tapping the three dots in the top-right corner and selecting "Save."

An Alternative Story Method: Using Your Phone's Copy & Paste Feature

If you find going back and forth to the sticker menu a bit slow, here's a faster workflow that feels a little like a secret hack. This method works perfectly on iPhones and can also work on some Android devices, often with a keyboard like Gboard.

How to Copy and Paste Photos into Your Story

1. Prepare Your Story: Just like before, open Instagram Stories and set your background image or color.
2. Open Your Photos App: Without closing Instagram, navigate to your phone's main photo gallery. Find the first picture you want to layer.
3. Copy the Photo: On an iPhone, tap the "Share" icon in the bottom-left corner and then select "Copy Photo" from the menu. For images with a clear subject, you can also press and hold the subject to "lift" it from the background, and then copy it without the background.
4. Return to Instagram: Quickly switch back to the Instagram app. A small pop-up should appear in the bottom-left corner that says "Add sticker" with a preview of the photo you just copied. Tap it, and your image will be added to your Story canvas.
5. Arrange and Repeat: You can now move, resize, and rotate this photo just like you would with a regular sticker. To add more photos, simply repeat the process: switch to your photo gallery, copy another image, and return to Instagram to paste it as a new layer.

This method is excellent for when you want to build a complex design quickly, as it lets you add photos without repeatedly opening the sticker tray.

Creating Layered Feed Posts With Third-Party Apps

While Instagram Stories is great for layering, the main Instagram feed doesn't have a native tool for creating collages. So how do you create those beautiful, multi-photo posts? The answer lies in third-party design apps. You'll create the final image in one of these apps and then upload it to Instagram as a single post.

Here are a few of the best apps for the job.

1. Canva: The All-in-One Design Tool

Canva is a powerhouse for social media graphics and it’s incredibly user-friendly, even if you’re a complete beginner. Its free version is more than enough to create stunning layered posts.

How to Use Canva for Layered Posts:

1. Choose Your Template: Open Canva and search for "Instagram Post (Square)" or "Instagram Post (Portrait)" to start with the correct dimensions.
2. Upload Your Photos: In the editor, navigate to the "Uploads" tab on the left-hand side and upload all the photos you want to use in your design.
3. Build Your Design: Click on your photos to add them to the canvas. One will likely serve as the background. To add more, just click on them and they'll appear on top. Drag the corners to resize, move them around the canvas, and use the "Position" tab in the top-right menu to change the layering order (Bring Forward, Send Backward).
4. Add Creative Elements: Canva has a massive library of graphics, frames, and text styles. Search under the "Elements" tab for things like "torn paper," "photo frames," or "tape" to add realistic textures that make your layers pop. You can also adjust the transparency of each photo to create a see-through effect.
5. Export and Post: Once your design is ready, click the "Share" button in the top right, select "Download," and save the image as a PNG or JPG to your phone. From there, just upload it to Instagram like you would any other photo.

2. Adobe Express: Professional-Grade Tools Made Easy

Adobe Express is another fantastic and free option that gives you access to a portion of Adobe's powerful design ecosystem. It’s perfect for creating clean, professional-looking layered visuals.

Using Adobe Express to Layer Photos:

1. Start a New Project: Open the app and tap the big plus button to create a new project. Choose an "Instagram Post" template as your starting point.
2. Add Your Images: Tap the "Add" (+ icon) button at the bottom and select "Photos" to pull in images from your device. Place your background image first, then add subsequent photos on top.
3. Adjust Layers: Resize and position your photos by dragging them. A key feature here is the layer stack, often found on the right side of the editor. This panel lets you see all your elements and easily drag them up or down to change which photos are on top.
4. Remove Backgrounds: Adobe Express has a powerful one-click "Remove background" tool. Adding a photo of a person or product and instantly removing the background makes for incredibly clean, professional-looking layers.
5. Save and Share: After you've finished your design, download it to your device and it's ready to be posted to your Instagram feed.

Creative Ideas for Layering Photos

Now you know the "how," let's talk about the "what." Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• A "Photo Dump" Aesthetic: Overlap several photos at random, candid angles to create a stylish, scrapbook-like feel for a recap of an event or trip.
• Product Spotlights: Use a clean background and layer your product photo with smaller, circular photos showing close-up details or lifestyle shots of it in use.
• Mood Boards: Combine images, textures, colors, and text to create a mood board that communicates your brand's aesthetic or teases an upcoming launch.
• Before and After: Layer two photos side-by-side or partially overlapping to show a dramatic transformation. This works great for renovations, fitness progress, or service-based results.

Final Thoughts

Layering photos on Instagram is a simple yet effective way to level up your content, create more engaging visuals, and tell stories in a more compelling way. Whether you use the quick and easy tools within Instagram Stories or a dedicated design app like Canva, you can create professional-looking posts that stop the scroll.

Once you’ve designed your stunning layered posts, getting them in front of your audience at the optimal time is the next challenge. We built Postbase with exactly this in mind. Our visual planning calendar lets you schedule your custom graphics across all your social platforms so you can see your entire content plan laid out clearly. Give it a try and feel the relief of having a truly modern tool that works for you, not against you.