How To Add A Book Cover Into A Bookstagram Photo

I know there are many tutorials out there. I wanted to show how I add the covers into my photos.

This is especially timely since e-ARCs will be fairly common in the months to come.

Step one

A basic flat lay is going to be the easiest option for my method. I take a “filler” book and use it as a stand-in book for my photo. [This is to help you know the dimensions of the book cover you’re going to add.]

Take and edit a photo for bookstagram like you normally would.

Step two

Upload your edited photo to Canva. The Instagram Post template (blank) will have the correct dimensions for posting to Instagram.

Editing solely on the Canva app on my phone is tricky for me. I prefer to upload the picture to the app from my phone and then log on to the website on my computer to pick up the editing from there. You can edit 100% on your phone or 100% on your computer or 50/50; whatever makes sense for you.

Step three

Find the book cover of the book you want to insert into your photo.

If working with an author or publicist, it will likely be in the media kit they sent you. Otherwise, Goodreads is a place to look.

Save the image and upload the book cover to Canva.

Step four

Open up the edited bookstagram photo on Canva. Over to your left, you’ll see the uploads tab with all the photos you’ve uploaded.

Click the book cover that you’re going to insert. Canva will just insert the book cover into the middle of your photo.

Now you simply need to move the book cover to reposition and resize it to cover the stand-in book.

Step five

That’s it!

Save your photo to your phone or computer; however you upload to bookstagram.

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There you have it. Easy as can be.

Some ideas for you to use this method to elevate your bookstagram account:

• reviewing or posting e-ARCs
• posting about e-books
• cover reveals
• library book (maybe it’s a rough copy or the barcode is on the front cover)
• you don’t have access to a lot of books

Let me know if you have questions about my method!

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