Hashtags are to social media what social media is to your photography website. That is, the best side-kick one could ask for (sorry, Robin). Internet has made it easier than ever for photographers to showcase their work. Unfortunately, it is still very hard to get noticed. How can you make a name for yourself when millions of other photographers are out there fighting for recognition? You work hard to make the most out of every opportunity.

Photography hashtags offer an amazing chance to expand the audience reach of your work. They’re most popular on Instagram, the preferred social media platform for most photographers. Knowing how to use them properly can have a huge impact on your online presence. But with a nearly endless list of tags available, choosing which ones to use can be a bit overwhelming. To help you ease this process, we have selected some of the best photography hashtags for each genre.

The 5 W’s and the H of photography hashtags

Before we focus on the details, let’s take a look at the basics. These six simple questions will allow you to gather all essential information about Instagram hashtags for photographers:

Who should use hashtags?

Everyone. Amateurs and professionals alike can benefit from the use of hashtags. Unless you have a reason to limit the reach of your work, add some tags to your posts.

What hashtags should I use?

You might be tempted to stick to hashtags with larger volumes in hopes of having your photos seen by more people. Unfortunately, there are millions of other users trying to achieve that same thing. Hence the high number of posts under certain tags. Because of this, it’s recommended to mix popular hashtags with more niche ones. Doing so will ensure your work is briefly exposed to a massive audience and also reaches users who are more likely to engage with your posts. Test out how different combinations work for you before you settle on specific tags. On top of this, don’t forget to see what tags are used by photographers in your area or with the same gear brands.

If you work with clients, you should create your own hashtag and encourage them to use it when sharing your images on social media. This is a great photography marketing idea that can lead to many business opportunities.

Where do I add the hashtags?

There are two placement options, caption and comments, both with some pros and cons. Adding the tags on the caption might clash with the actual text. A common way to solve this is separating them from the text with a series of dots. On the other hand, putting them as a comment takes some time and may result in your pictures not showing up at the very top of the hashtags. With a bit of practice, you can lower this delay to just a second.

When should I add hashtags to my photos?

Always. This one is very similar to the “who.” If there isn’t a solid cause to limit your audience, add hashtags to all your posts.

Why should I use hashtags?

Tagging your photos allows you to be seen by people who do not follow your work but are interested in what you do. They allow you to maximize your social media exposure and grow the number of people who see your work.

Hashtags also give you the opportunity to have your photos featured on accounts that focus on showcasing the work of talented photographers. Take a look at Wix Photography Instagram for an example of how these accounts work, and don’t forget to tag your work with #WixPhotography for a chance to be featured.

How many hashtags should I use?

Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per photo. Using more than that will result in an empty caption or deleted comment. However, the fact that you can do it doesn’t always mean you should. Many users actually see this practice as spammy. Generally, it is recommended to use no less than 3 and no more than 7 hashtags. However, many recent studies suggest that 10 and 11 might be the sweet post in terms of engagement.

Black and white photography hashtags

#bnw_captures #bnw_globe #bnw_life #bw_crew #bw_lover #bw_photooftheday #bwstyleoftheday #bwstylesgf #igblacknwhite #insta_bw

Drone and aerial photography hashtags

#aerialphotography #drone #dronefly #dronelife #droneoftheday #dronephotography #droneporn#dronesdaily #dronestagram #fromwhereidrone

Fashion photography hashtags

#fashiondiaries #fashioneditorial #fashiongram #fashionmagazine #fashionmodel #fashionphotographer #fashionshoot #highfashion #instafashion #ootd

Film photography hashtags

#35mm #35mmfilm #analogphotography #believeinfilm #filmcommunity #filmisnotdead #filmphotography #ishootfilm #keepfilmalive #staybrokeshootfilm

Food photography hashtags

#beautifulcuisines #buzzfeast #f52grams #feedfeed #foodgawker #foodgram #gloobyfood #hautecuisines #huffposttaste #onthetable

General photography hashtags

#agameoftones #awesome_earthpix #fantastic_earth #ig_masterpiece #ig_shotz #justgoshoot #master_shots #ourplanetdaily #xposuremag #worldshotz

Landscape photography hashtags

#earthfocus #earthofficial #ig_masterpiece #landscape_captures #landscape_specialist #landscapestyles_gf #landscapelover #landscapephotomag #nakedplanet #splendid_earth

Pet photography hashtags

#animals #catsofinstagram #catoftheday #catstagram #dogsofinstagram #dogstagram #instadog #instapet #petsofinstagram #petstagram

Portrait photography hashtags

#life_portraits #makeportraits #portrait #portrait_perfection #portraitmood #portraits #portraits_ig #portraiture #postthepeople #quietthechaos

Sports photography hashtags

#actionphotography #active #extremesports #fitness #gohardorgohome #mondaymotivation #sportphoto #sportphotographer #sportsphotography #workout

Travel photography hashtags

#discoverearth #exploretheglobe #getlost #instapassport #keepexploring #places_wow #roamtheplanet #stayandwander #travelphoto #wanderlust

Urban photography hashtags

#chasingrooftops #citykillerz #citylife #cityscape #neverstopexploring #urbanandstreet #urbanphotography #urbex #streetmobs #streetphotography

Wedding photography hashtags

#brideandgroom #destinationwedding #loveauthentic #weddingday #weddingdetails #weddingideas #weddinginspo #weddingphoto #weddingphotography #weddingstyle

Wildlife and nature photography hashtags

#animalelite #mothernature #nature_seekers #naturelovers #splendid_animals #wildlife #wildlifeonearth #wildlifeperfection #wildlifephoto #wildlifeplanet