How to Make a Story on Instagram with Multiple Pictures

Adding more than one picture to your Instagram Story isn't just possible - it's one of the best ways to create more dynamic and engaging content. Whether you're making a collage, telling a sequential story, or just want to pack more punch into a single post, this guide will walk you through three different methods for putting multiple photos in your Stories, plus some creative strategies to make them stand out.

3 Easy Ways to Add Multiple Pictures to an Instagram Story

Instagram gives you a few built-in tools to accomplish this, each suited for a different creative goal. You can post multiple photos as separate, sequential slides or combine them into a single, beautifully designed collage. Let's break down how to do both.

Method 1: Post a Scannable Sequence with the "Select Multiple" Tool

This is the simplest way to add a series of photos and video clips to your Story. Each image you select becomes its own separate Story slide, allowing your followers to tap through them at their own pace. It's perfect for recapping an event, showing a step-by-step process, or revealing a collection of products.

Here’s how to do it:

• Step 1: Open the Story editor. Tap the "+" icon at the top of your Instagram feed or home screen and select "Story," or simply swipe right from your main feed.
• Step 2: Access your camera roll. Tap the square thumbnail icon in the bottom-left corner to open your photo gallery.
• Step 3: Activate the multi-select feature. In the top-right corner of your gallery view, tap the "Select" icon (it looks like a square with overlapping layers). This allows you to choose multiple files.
• Step 4: Choose your photos. Tap on the photos and videos you want to include in your Story. A number will appear on each one, showing you the order they will be posted in. You can select up to 10 media files at a time.
• Step 5: Edit each slide individually. Once you tap "Next," you'll be taken to the editor. You can now tap on the thumbnails at the bottom of the screen to switch between each slide. This is where you can add unique text, stickers, GIFs, music, and filters to every individual photo, customizing each part of your sequence.
• Step 6: Post your Story. When you're happy with all your edits, tap the "Next" button again, and then "Share" to post the entire sequence to your Story.

When to use this method: This approach is ideal for linear storytelling. Think of a “day in the life” recap, behind-the-scenes content that unfolds over several slides, or a tutorial where each step needs its own space to be explained clearly.

Method 2: Create a Clean Collage with "Layout" Mode

If you want to display multiple photos within a single Story slide, the Layout mode is your go-to tool. It provides clean, grid-based templates for creating simple and effective photo collages instantly.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Step 1: Open the Story camera. Just like before, swipe right from your feed to get started.
• Step 2: Find and select Layout mode. On the left-hand side toolbar, look for the icon that looks like a grid. Tap it to enter Layout mode.
• Step 3: Choose your grid. Right below the Layout icon, you’ll see an option to change the grid style. Tap "Change Grid" to cycle through different arrangements, from a simple two-photo split to a six-photo grid.
• Step 4: Add your photos. You can add photos in two ways:
  • Tap the shutter button in the center to take a new photo for each section of the grid.
  • Tap the camera roll icon in the bottom-left corner to select existing photos from your gallery for each section.
• Step 5: Edit and post. Once your grid is full, tap the checkmark button at the bottom. This will place your collage into the main Story editor, where you can add text, stickers, and other elements on top of the entire image. Then, simply share it to your Story.

When to use this method: Layout is perfect for before-and-after comparisons, showcasing different angles of a single product, or creating a visual mood board in one slide. The clean lines keep everything structured and easy to digest.

Method 3: Go Custom with the "Photo Sticker" Hack

For the most creative freedom, the photo sticker method is your best bet. This technique allows you to layer multiple pictures on top of any background - whether it's a solid color, a pattern, or even another photo. You can resize, rotate, and arrange them however you like, breaking free from the rigid grid of Layout mode.

It's easier than you think:

• Step 1: Set up your background. Start by creating a background for your Story. You can take a new photo, select one from your gallery, or use the "Create" mode (press the 'Aa' icon) to pick a solid color or gradient.
• Step 2: Open the sticker tray. Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen (the smiley face in a square).
• Step 3: Find the photo sticker. Scroll down until you see an icon that represents your photo gallery (it's often a circle previewing your most recent photo). Tap it.
• Step 4: Select your first photo sticker. Choose a photo from your camera roll. It will now appear on your Story as a sticker.
• Step 5: Customize and arrange. You can now treat this image like any other sticker. Use two fingers to pinch and zoom to resize it, twist to rotate it, and drag it anywhere on the screen. Pro Tip: Tapping the photo sticker once will change its shape - try switching between a rectangle with sharp corners, rounded corners, or a circle.
• Step 6: Repeat and layer. Simply open the sticker tray again, select another photo, and keep adding to your canvas. You can layer photos on top of one another to create scrapbook-style designs.
• Step 7: Add finishing touches. Once all your photo stickers are in place, add your text, doodles, or GIFs to complete the look.

When to use this method: This is for when an organized grid just won't cut it. Use it for vision boards, highlighting key moments from a trip on a single "postcard," or making a styled product roundup that feels less like an ad and more like a curated collection.

Creative Strategies for Multi-Photo Stories

Knowing how to add multiple photos is just the beginning. The real magic comes from using these features intentionally to build your brand and connect with your audience. Here are some strategies to elevate your multi-photo Stories.

1. Tell a Cohesive Narrative

Don't just upload a random batch of photos. Think like a storyteller. Whether you're using sequential slides or a single collage, arrange your images to guide your viewer on a mini-journey.

• Tutorials and How-Tos: Use the "Select Multiple" method to create a step-by-step guide. The first slide introduces the project, and each subsequent slide shows a key step. Add text overlays to explain what’s happening in each photo.
• Event Recaps: Chronologically arrange your photos from an event to make your followers feel like they were there with you. Start with the "getting ready" moments and end with the grand finale.
• Product Features: Dedicate each slide to a different feature or benefit of a product. Or, use a Layout grid to show the same product from different angles or in different colors.

2. Create a Consistent Visual Theme

When you're posting a sequence of photos, a little consistency goes a long way. This makes your Story feel polished and professional, rather than disconnected.

• Use a Preset or Filter: Apply the same Instagram filter or a pre-made preset (like from Lightroom) to all your photos before uploading them. This ties them together with a consistent mood and color palette.
• Maintain Font and Color Styles: While the creative elements on each slide can differ, try to use the same one or two fonts and a defined color scheme throughout the sequence. This builds brand recognition.

3. Maximize Engagement with Interactive Stickers

Each slide in a multi-photo story is a new opportunity for engagement. Don't let it go to waste!

• Run a Poll Across Slides: Ask a "this or that" question on the first slide and show the results on a later slide, creating a sense of anticipation.
• Ask a Question About an Image: Post a photo and use the question sticker to ask your audience something specific about it. Example: "Guess where this photo was taken!"
• Use a Quiz Series: Create a mini-quiz over several slides to test your followers' knowledge about your brand, industry, or a fun topic. It's a fantastic way to keep them tapping through to the end.

Final Thoughts

Mastering a technique as simple as adding multiple pictures to your Instagram Story opens up a ton of creative potential. By using the 'Select Multiple' feature for sequential storytelling, the 'Layout' mode for clean collages, and the photo sticker for custom designs, you can make your Stories more engaging and communicative.

At Postbase, our goal is to streamline the creative parts of social media so you can focus on building your brand. While Instagram requires Stories to be posted manually to use its interactive features, we use our visual content calendar to plan our multi-image Story sequences ahead of time. This lets us organize the photos for each slide, write down notes for text and stickers, and see how our Stories fit into the bigger picture of our content plan, making the actual posting process take just a few minutes. It completely removes the "what should I post today?" scramble. It is a smart planning tool for modern social media. The best planning tool for today is Postbase.