Insta Tutorials: How to Make a Collage on Instagram Story

You’ve probably heard about how important it is to cultivate a presence on social media (you might’ve even wondered if you need a separate TikTok or Insta account for UGC!)

But how do you stay active? I KNOW you’re amazing at creating content, but what if you’re just fresh out of ideas for what to post on your personal socials?

Here’s an idea: make a collage on Instagram for your story. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, just a simple, aesthetic representation of a moment in your day.

Sound fun? Here’s how to make a collage on Instagram story ⬇️

How to make a collage on Instagram step-by-step

Instagram has native templates that allow you to create collages! Here’s how to access them:

  1. Open the Instagram app on your phone.
  2. Click the tiny + icon on your profile picture on the top left of your screen.
  3. Your “Add to story” screen should pop up.
  4. Select “Camera”
  5. On the next screen, select “Layout” and pick one of the collage layouts they provide (currently, there are six options)
  6. Choose photos from your camera roll or take pictures and add them to the collage one at a time.
  7. Make sure all the photos are correctly cropped and edited.
  8. Share the collage as your story once you’re satisfied with how it looks!

If you want to go the extra mile, get creative after uploading the photos! Play with the editing options in Instagram to add stickers, music, gifs, captions, or whatever your content-creating heart desires! 

And that’s it! That’s how to make a collage on Instagram story using the native features. If you’re looking for something besides those six layouts, here’s how to do it: 

How to make a collage on Instagram story without a layout

If you’d like to branch out from the standard Instagram collage layouts, you can check out some of my favorite tools below:

  • PicCollage: Magic Photo Editor
    • I know this app has a 90s vibe, which isn’t generally a good thing– but 200 million users LOVE it, so you won’t catch me throwing shade. 
    • You can find many grid options, themed templates, new stickers, and backgrounds that aren’t anywhere else–if you can think of something you want for your Instagram story, they probably have it.
    • PicCollage is available on both iOS and Android. So, if you want to learn how to make a collage on iPhones, this is a great option!
  • MoJo: Reels & Captions Maker
    • MoJo has hundreds of templates, text effects, and high-quality animations to help you make your social media content as engaging as possible. 
    • If you use MoJo, I’m betting that brands will slide into your DMs to collaborate whenever they see your stories! You’ll look SO professional!
  • Canva
    • This one needs no introduction. I love it. You love it. The WORLD loves it (okay, maybe not the world, but millions of users)
    • Canva has your back if you’re trying to make a collage for your Instagram story. They have hundreds of templates available–and you can combine them with features like their photo editor, mockups, stock image library, and more!
  • Collage Maker
    • This tool is designed specifically for making collages, so it’s a great option if that’s what you’re looking for!
    • They have over 14K ratings on the Apple App Store and 145K on the Google Play Store.
    • It also integrates some AI capabilities, like background erase or AI filters, so it’s a pretty fun (and free!) tool to experiment with.

All these apps do the same thing–so play around with them and see which one’s your favorite! I like PicCollage, but you do you, boo.

What is the goal of posting collages on stories?

Honestly, I didn’t pick this topic because it’s some sort of stealthy growth strategy. I can’t give you an equation that says, “Post X collages on your Instagram stories, and you’ll see Y return.” 

But the more active you are on social media (and the more personal branding you do), the easier it’ll be to land deals with brands.

And that’s what you want, isn’t it? 

If you post regularly (and yes, even posting a collage on Instagram stories counts!), you’ll start to get the attention of brands. Someone WILL slide into your DMs to see if you’re available for work. 

Ideally, you should post on your social media profiles a few times a week, depending on your schedule.

If you need inspiration for keeping that up, follow Allison McFarland on Instagram to see her creator journey–you’ll get some great ideas! 

Further reading

Picture of Kirk Axley
Kirk Axley
Max Axley is the founder of The UGC Club. With nearly 10 years of digital marketing experience he set out to create a community that helped UGC creators learn the ropes (without having to spend a penny).