Instagram has long been synonymous with its signature 1:1 grid layout, but the recent update introducing a 4:5 aspect ratio is shaking things up. This taller, more cinematic frame allows for creative experimentation, yet it’s also throwing a wrench into established practices—particularly for artists, photographers, and creators who rely on the platform to showcase their work.
For years, the square grid format has been a cornerstone of Instagram’s identity, shaping how creators conceptualize and present their art. Whether it’s illustrators, photographers, designers, or K-Pop agencies crafting teaser grids, the uniform square format has offered a predictable canvas for creativity. Groups like Red Velvet and Oh My Girl were early pioneers of this strategy in the music industry, while independent artists and businesses have also leveraged the grid to tell cohesive visual stories.
However, the new 4:5 ratio disrupts these carefully planned layouts. Images that were perfectly aligned in the classic square format now appear awkwardly cropped or misaligned. Artists who meticulously curate their feeds to create mosaics, collages, or seamless transitions are finding their work inadvertently altered. Fans and followers, accustomed to the polished aesthetic, have taken to social media to share their mixed reactions, with some lamenting the loss of the classic grid.
Photographers, in particular, are feeling the shift. While the taller frame opens up opportunities for more dynamic vertical compositions, it also requires a significant rethink of traditional framing techniques. Many photographers who tailored their work to Instagram’s square format now find themselves needing to adjust their cropping and shooting styles to suit the new ratio. For portrait photographers, the added vertical space can enhance storytelling by showcasing more context in a single frame, such as capturing a subject’s full outfit or surroundings. Landscape photographers, however, may struggle to adapt wide scenes into a taller format without losing key elements of their compositions.
The update also impacts photographers who use Instagram to display cohesive portfolios. Carefully curated grids—whether they’re thematic, color-coordinated, or chronological—may now appear fragmented, disrupting the visual harmony. For those whose feeds act as an online gallery, the shift feels less like an upgrade and more like a compromise.
One helpful adjustment introduced alongside the new layout is the ability to customize previews for posts. This feature allows creators to manually adjust how an image or video appears on the grid, offering some control over cropping and alignment. For photographers, this means they can preserve the visual integrity of their portfolios by selecting the most impactful portion of an image to display on the grid, even if the original post uses the taller format.
Even in the music industry, where K-Pop teaser grids have set a high standard for promotional visuals, the change is causing growing pains. Red Velvet’s iconic teaser for “Dumb Dumb,” for example, relied on the square format to create an eye-catching mosaic. Now, such designs risk looking fragmented or incomplete, potentially diminishing their impact.
While some fans and creators are finding humor in the situation, sharing memes and examples of distorted layouts, others express frustration over what they see as a disruption to artistic expression. Agencies, businesses, and creators must now adapt their strategies to ensure their concepts translate seamlessly into the new format.
Despite the initial challenges, some experts believe the change could unlock new opportunities for creativity. The additional vertical space offers room for more detailed storytelling, potentially enhancing the viewer experience. For example, fashion brands might use the taller format to showcase full-length outfits, while photographers can highlight intricate details in portrait shots. Additionally, the shift may encourage photographers to explore new styles and techniques, such as incorporating vertical panoramas or experimenting with unconventional angles.
Whether this update inspires a new era of visual storytelling or remains a frustrating hurdle, one thing is certain: Instagram’s new layout is here to stay. Creators and artists, resilient as ever, will no doubt find ways to adapt and thrive in this evolving digital landscape.