Editor’s Key Takeaways: Mastering Instagram Hashtags for Portrait Photography

In this blog post photographer Dawn Gilfillan explains how to effectively use Instagram hashtags to generate views and gain followers, particularly within the niche of portrait photography. The article provides:
- Popular Instagram Hashtags for Portrait Photography: A list of trending, general portrait photography hashtags that are recommended for broader reach.
- Genre-Specific Portrait Hashtags: Suggestions for more focused hashtags based on specific portrait genres, such as newborn photography, ensuring not to overuse hashtags (up to 15 recommended).
- Popular Instagram Accounts: Accounts to tag for a chance to get your portraits featured, which increases visibility and follower growth.
- Top Tips to Grow Your Photography Instagram Following: Strategies such as engaging with followers, collaborating with influencers, maintaining a consistent posting schedule, and creating high-quality content.
Overall, the post aims to help photographers maximize their Instagram reach and follower count through the strategic use of hashtags.
Enjoy hashtagging!
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Introduction
Instagram hashtags are a great way to generate views and gain followers, but which hashtags for portrait photography are the most effective?
Below, we share the top Instagram portrait hashtags. We’ve also listed hashtags for Instagram feature accounts. Simply tag your posts with one of these, and you’ll have a shot at getting featured. Finally, we include several tips on how to grow your Instagram following.

Hashtags for Portrait Photography 101:
Popular Instagram Hashtags for Portrait Photography

Here are some trending general portrait photography hashtags that you can use:
#model #photoshoot #portrait #portraitphotography #portraitmood #face #photographyislife #portraitphotographer # portrait-vision #portrait_society #IGPortrait #withhumans #RSA_portraits #portraitfolk portraitsfromtheworld #moodyportraits #portraits_ig #pursuitofportraits #portraitoftheday #postthepeople #postmoreportraits #portraitsmag #quietthechaos #people #discoverportrait #people #photoinspiration #portrait_ig #portraitphotographer #oursignaturepose #portrait_perfection #portraitmood #portraits #portraitpage #headshots #pursuitofportraits #portraitperfection #posepatch #makeportraits #portraiture #modeling #life_portraits
Genre-Specific Portrait Hashtags
Adding genre-specific hashtags to your portraits can get you more views. Be careful not to overdo it, however; while you can add up to 30 hashtags to an Instagram post, 15 is probably the sweet spot, so consider your picks carefully.
Newborn Hashtags

#newbornphotography #newbornphotographer #newbornphotographers #newborn #newborns #baby #babies #newbornpictures #newbornphotos #babyphotography #babyphotographer #babyphotoshootideas #babyphotoshootcostume #cutebaby #instababy #babyprops #newbornprops #newbornheadband #babyboy #babygirl #milestone #momlife #babyshower #babylove #justborn #welcometotheworld #welcomebaby #brandnewbabe #itsagirl #itsaboy #newfamily #babyphotoshootathome #babyphotoshoot
Maternity Hashtags

#maternityphotographer #maternityphotography #maternity #mommytobe #momtobe #newmommy #pregnant #pregnancy #expectingmother #expectant #maternityportraits #maternitypictures #motherhood #maternityphotoshoot #pregnancyannouncement #babyontheway #maternitysession #maternityshoot #babybump #daddytobe #dadtobe #babyiscomingsoon #genderreveal #genderrevealphotographer #genderrevealparty #thebump #parentstobe #pregnancyphoto #maternitystyle #maternitydresses #pregnantphotography
Family Portrait Hashtags

#familysessions #familytime #happymoments #familypictures #familyphotographer #familyphotography #familysession #familyportraits #familyportrait #familyphotoshoot #familypose #familyphotographers #familyposes #familyphoto #familyphotos #familypic #familylove #familyfun #familyday #familyfunday #familytimes #familyselfie #familybond #happyfamily #instafamily #familygram #family #momanddad #mommylove #mommyanddaughter #mommyandson #momofboys #momofgirls #momoftwo #daddyanddaughter #daddyandson
Senior Hashtags

#senior #seniorpics # seniorstyleguide #seniorshoot #classof #seniorinspire #theseniorcollective #highschool #theseniorbest #senioryearmagazine #seniorphotography #seniorphotos #senioryear #graduatingclass #grad #graduate #seniormodel #seniorphotographer #seniorpictures #almostdone #seniorpride #senioritis #highschoolsenior #offtocollege #seniorrep #sosenior #seniorsallday #allgrownup #schoolpictures #lastschoolphotos #modelstatus
Male Senior Hashtags
#seniormalemodel #hesasenior #seniormalerep #seniorstud #hemadeit #hedidit #hesgraduating #seniorjock #seniorswag
Female Senior Hashtags
#seniorgirl #seniorgirlmodel #beautifulsenior #shesasenior #professionalmakeup #seniorgirlrep #shemadeit #shedidit #shesgraduating
Pet Portrait Hashtags

#petsphotography #pet #petphotoshoot #petpics #petsofinstagram #petsofinsta #petphotographer #petsgram #petsofig #petphoto #dogs #dogsofinstagram #dog #dogstagram #puppy #doglover #instadog #dogoftheday #doglovers #doglife #pets #puppylove #puppies #dogsofinsta #puppiesofinstagram #doggo #dogslife #animals #cats #ilovemydog #doglove #petstagram #dogphotography #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catsofinsta #catstagram #catlover #catlife #catlovers #kitten #instacat #kitty #meow #meowbox #catoftheday #kittens #gato #animal #cutecat #catlove #gatos
Wedding and Engagement Portraits Hashtags

#engagementphotos #engagement #wedding #weddingphotography #engaged #gaymarriage # #lovestory #lovewins #loveyou #weddingplanner #engagementring #weddingphotographer #weddinginspiration #happywifehappylife #gayweddingideas #weddingmakeup #bride #bridetobe #prewedding #engagementphotography #weddingday #weddingdress #engagementsession #preweddingphoto #engagementphotographer #engagementshoot #engagementphotoshoot #couple #theknot #weddingideas
Popular Instagram Accounts to Get Your Portraits Featured

It’s a good idea to tag big feature Instagram accounts, also known as photo hubs. If your photo gets picked, it will reach thousands more people. All you need to do is tag the feature account in your post. Here are some of the best feature accounts for portrait photography:
General Portrait Feature Hashtags
- @portraitfestival – #portraitfestival
- @collectivetrend -#collectivetrend
- @marvelous_shots – #marvelous_shots
- @moodyports – #moodyports
- @ig. portraits – #xelfies
- @peoplephotatoes – #peoplephotatoes
- @portraitsfromtheworld – #portraitsfromtheworld
- @ourmoodydays – #ourmoodydays
- @endlessfaces – #endlessfaces
- @igpodiumportraits – #igpodium_portraits
- @portraitgames – #portraitgames
- @makeportrait – #makeportrait
- @portraitfeatured – #portraitfeatured
- @bravogreatphoto – #bravogreatphoto
- @last.daze – #lastdaze
- @thoughtcatalog – #thoughtcatalog
- @vogove – #vogove
- @createcommune – #createcommune
- @portraitsfromtheworld – #portraitsfromtheworld
- @kdpeoplegallery – #kdpeoplegallery
- @majestic_people_ – #majestic_people_
- @portraits_mf – #portraits_mf
- @portrait_society – #portraitsociety
- @earth.portraits – #earthportraits
- @portraitgames – #portraitgames
- @portrait_perfection – #portraitperfection
- @portraitfolk – #portraitfolk
Children Feature Hashtags
#shootandshare #runwildmychild #childhoodwonders #loveyourtimetogether #adventureswithchildren #iwasbornwild #wanderpawsandtots #focusedfolks #childofig #coi_weeksfav205 #aovportraits #babycantravel #famvacations #clickinmoms #pixel_kids #our_everyday_moments #clickmagazine #featuremepf #candidchildhood
Engagement Feature Hashtags
#focusedfolks #mysweetengagement #shootandshare #utterlyengaged #loveauthentic #theknotrings #martharings #photobugcommunity #joywed #weddingwire #theknot #clickmagazine
Family Feature Hashtags
#wildandbravelittles #my_magical_moments #motherhooodiscolorful #honestlyparents # thefamilynarrative #coi_weeksfav205 #coi_superdad #coi_mamamonday #everydayibt #monochromemotherhood #clickinmoms #clickmagazine #momtogcommunity #momtogs #dearestviewfinder #documentyourdays #cameramama #motherhoodunhinged
Newborn Feature Hashtags
#aheadofthecurve #coi_weeksfav205 #coi_superdad #coi_mamamonday #childofig #monochromemotherhood #bumpbirthandbeyond #clickinmoms #clickmagazine #peonyandpeach #cute_baby_hub #newmumshub #baby.hub
Lifestyle Feature Hashtags
#kidsforreal #shootandshare #let_there_be_delight #my_magical_moments #BestVacations #pixel_kids #thecandidclass #thecandidclass_summer100 #our_everyday_moments #childofig #coi_candid #coi_weeksfav205 #monochromemotherhood #clickinmoms #clickmagazine
Maternity Hashtags to Get Featured
#lovepregnancyphoto #creativepregnancyphotos #shootandshare #stunning_shots #coi_weeksfav205 #coi_superdad #coi_mamamonday #monochromemotherhood #aheadofthecurve #bumpbirthandbeyond #clickmagazine #clickinmoms
Newborn Hashtags to Get Featured
#coi_weeksfav205 #coi_superdad #coi_mamamonday #childofig #monochromemotherhood #aheadofthecurve #bumpbirthandbeyond #clickmagazine #clickinmoms
Pet Hashtags to Get Featured
#wanderpawsandtots #gopetfriendly #adventuredogsofficial #campingwithcats #petstagraam #puppytrip #dogsofficial #jj_welovepets #paw #backcountrypaws #buzzfeedanimals #bestmeow #bestwoof #campingwithdogs #hikingwithdogs #dogsthathike #dogsonadventure
Senior Hashtags to Get Featured
#seniorologie #seniorcollective #seniorsociety #modernsenior #seniorinspire #seniorstyleguide #seniorcouture #modernseniormagazine #senioryearmagazine #seniorlovin #theseniorcollective #clickmagazine
Wedding Hashtags to Get Featured
#offbeatbride #rocknrollbride #junebugweddings #stylemepretty #weddingchicks #aislesociety #featuremeoncewed #thedailywedding #loveauthentic #theknotrings #theknot #marthaweddings#wedphotoinspiration #loveincmag #blkbridalbliss #budgetsavvybride #martharings #weddingphotoinspired #everydayibt #joywed #sobridaltheory #huffpostido #weddingphotomag #greenweddingshoes
Top Tips to Grow Your Photography Instagram Following
In this section, we offer a handful of tips to level up your Instagram strategy.
1. Quality Over Quantity
The most popular hashtags for portrait photography are used so much that it’s not really worth adding them. This is because your work will get drowned out by the thousands of other images with the same tag!
So choose hashtags that are less popular but that appeal directly to your potential audience. That way, your photos have a better chance of being seen. More people will see your work over a longer period of time, and you’ll gain better engagement.
2. Share Information
Instagram users love posts that share personal experiences. Travel snaps, weight loss shots, pet portraits, and landscape photos get the highest amount of engagement. Ask your models if they mind you sharing something interesting about them in the post, or share a fun story behind the image.
3. Schedule Your Posts
A social media scheduler like Hootsuite or Later will let you schedule your posts in advance so you are regularly posting new content to keep your viewers engaged.
These apps are great if you travel a lot or are too busy on certain days to post. You can upload what you want to post for the next week, then the scheduler will post them on the specified times and days. Later also lets you save groups of hashtags and attach them to posts without needing to copy and paste or manually type in the hashtags every time.
4. Interact with Others in Your Photography Niche
Sharing goes both ways, so take the time to find photography accounts that you love and leave some genuine comments and likes on their photos. The keyword here is “genuine;” please don’t be tempted to use a comment bot!
Have Fun Hashtagging!

Portrait photography is a very competitive genre, especially on Instagram. Standing out from the crowd is tough, but the more you can improve your hashtagging strategy, the more likely you are to be seen.
I hope this list has helped you find some good hashtags for portrait photography. Feel free to use all the hashtags we’ve shared. Just copy and paste!