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How to Edit Photos for Instagram Stories

6 min read
Quick Answer

To edit photos for Instagram Stories, resize your image to 1080x1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio) using EditThisPic. Upload your photo and describe the edit: 'resize for Instagram Story,' 'extend the background vertically,' or 'make the background match my brand color.' The AI handles resizing, background extension, and color correction in seconds. Free, no signup required.

Why Instagram Story Photos Need Special Editing

Instagram Stories use a vertical 9:16 format at 1080x1920 pixels. Most phone photos are shot at 4:3 or 16:9 in landscape, which means they get cropped, letterboxed, or awkwardly zoomed when posted to Stories. The fix is editing your photo to fit the Story frame before uploading. That means resizing, extending backgrounds, or adjusting composition so nothing important gets cut off.

Instagram Story Photo Dimensions and Requirements

The optimal Story size is 1080x1920 pixels with a 9:16 aspect ratio. Instagram accepts images from 600x1067 up to 1080x1920, but anything outside 9:16 gets cropped or padded with black bars. Photos wider than 9:16 lose the sides. Photos shorter than 9:16 get bars above and below. For full-bleed Stories that fill the entire screen, your image must be exactly 9:16 before uploading.

Common Photo Edits for Instagram Stories

  • Extending the background vertically to convert landscape photos to 9:16 portrait
  • Removing or replacing cluttered backgrounds for a cleaner look
  • Enhancing lighting and color for the small-screen mobile viewing experience
  • Adding breathing room at top and bottom for text, stickers, and interactive elements
  • Removing unwanted objects or people before posting
  • Sharpening photos that look soft on high-density phone screens

Converting Landscape Photos to Story Format

The most common problem is fitting a horizontal photo into a vertical Story. Instead of cropping and losing half the image, use AI to extend the background above and below your subject. Upload the landscape photo and describe the extension: 'extend the sky above and add more ground below to make this 9:16.' The AI generates matching content that fills the vertical frame naturally.

Leave Room for Text and Stickers

Instagram Stories have a text-safe zone roughly in the center 80% of the frame. The top 14% is covered by your profile icon and username. The bottom 10% is covered by the reply bar and swipe-up link. When composing your photo for Stories, keep your subject centered and avoid putting important details at the very top or bottom edges. If your photo fills the frame edge-to-edge, consider extending the background to push the subject toward the center.

Tips for Better Story Photos

Bright, high-contrast photos perform best on small screens. Boost saturation slightly since Stories are viewed on phones in all lighting conditions. Use warm tones for lifestyle and food content, cool tones for tech and minimalist aesthetics. If you're adding text overlays in Instagram, leave negative space in your photo where the text will go. A solid or blurred background area gives text maximum readability.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Upload Your Photo

Drag or select your image in EditThisPic. Works with any photo from your phone, camera, or downloads. Supports JPG, PNG, HEIC, and WebP.

2

Resize or Extend for 9:16

Describe what you need: 'resize this to 9:16 for Instagram Story' or 'extend the background above and below to fill a vertical Story frame.' For landscape photos, the AI extends the scene naturally instead of awkwardly cropping.

3

Enhance Colors and Lighting

Follow up with 'make the colors more vibrant' or 'brighten the photo for mobile screens.' Stories are viewed quickly, so punchy colors and good contrast help your photo stand out in the feed.

4

Download and Post

Save the edited image and upload it directly to your Instagram Story. The 9:16 format means it fills the entire screen with no black bars or cropping.

Try These Tools

Resize Photo for Instagram Story AI Instagram Photo Editor Instagram Photo Editing Extend Photo Background

Frequently Asked Questions

Instagram Stories display at 1080x1920 pixels in a 9:16 aspect ratio. This is the ideal size for full-screen, edge-to-edge display. Photos outside this ratio will be cropped or padded with black bars.
Upload your landscape photo to EditThisPic and ask the AI to 'extend the background above and below for a 9:16 Story format.' The AI generates matching background content to fill the vertical frame, keeping your full original photo intact.
Instagram compresses uploaded images. Start with a high-resolution image (at least 1080px wide) and avoid resizing to larger than your original. If the photo is already soft, use EditThisPic to sharpen it before uploading: 'sharpen this photo for mobile screens.'
Yes. Do all color, lighting, and sizing edits before uploading to Instagram. Instagram's built-in text tools layer on top of whatever you upload. Leave blank or simple background areas in your photo where you plan to place text.
Yes. EditThisPic works in any mobile browser with no app download needed. Upload your photo, describe the edit, and save the result directly to your camera roll for posting.
JPG or PNG both work well. JPG files are smaller and upload faster. PNG preserves more detail but Instagram will compress it anyway. Either format at 1080x1920 pixels gives you the best Story quality.

Edit Your Photo for Instagram Stories

Resize, enhance, and perfect your photos for 9:16 Stories. Free, instant, no signup.

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