To master your Instagram aesthetic and streamline content creation, into Instagram photo templates is your shortcut to professional-looking posts, stories, and reels. These pre-designed layouts, often found in apps or downloadable as PSDs, provide a consistent visual identity that can significantly boost engagement. Think of them as your secret weapon for a cohesive feed, saving you countless hours of design work. Whether you’re aiming for a specific instagram photo template size for a standard post, need an instagram photo template story for dynamic narratives, or are exploring an instagram photo template app to simplify the process on your phone, there’s a solution out there. Tools like Canva, Adobe Express, and even CapCut offer an array of instagram photo template CapCut options, making it easy to create stunning visuals without being a graphic designer. For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, an instagram photo template PSD allows for deeper customization in Photoshop, while an instagram photo template PNG offers quick, transparent overlays. You can even find an instagram template photo frame to give your images a consistent border. Leveraging these templates not only ensures visual harmony but also frees up your time to focus on quality content. If you’re looking for an incredible resource to amplify your social media growth and marketing efforts, consider checking out this 👉 Free Growth Marketing Tool. It’s designed to help you analyze, schedule, and optimize your Instagram presence, working hand-in-hand with your template strategy for maximum impact. Ultimately, embracing instagram photography templates is about efficiency and aesthetic excellence, making your brand or personal profile shine with minimal fuss.

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Understanding Instagram Photo Templates: The Foundation of a Cohesive Feed

Instagram photo templates are pre-designed layouts or frameworks that you can use to create consistent and visually appealing content for your Instagram feed, stories, and reels.

They serve as a blueprint, guiding your design process and ensuring that all your posts share a unified aesthetic.

This not only makes your profile look more professional but also helps in building brand recognition.

Think of it like building a house with an architectural plan – you get consistency, efficiency, and a predictable outcome.

What Exactly Are Instagram Photo Templates?

At their core, instagram photo templates are digital files or in-app features that provide a predefined structure for your visual content. This structure can include placeholders for images, text boxes, specific fonts, color palettes, and graphic elements. The beauty of templates lies in their ability to standardize your output. Instead of designing each post from scratch, you simply drop in your new photos and adjust the text, maintaining the overall look and feel. Data shows that accounts with a consistent visual theme experience up to a 30% higher engagement rate compared to those with sporadic designs. For instance, a small business using templates might see a 15-20% increase in profile visits, as users are drawn to a well-curated feed.

Why Use Templates for Your Instagram Photos?

The benefits of using instagram photography templates are manifold, ranging from saving time to enhancing your brand’s perception. In a world where over 95 million photos and videos are shared on Instagram daily, standing out requires more than just good content. it demands a polished presentation.

Time-Saving: The most immediate benefit is the massive reduction in design time. Instead of spending hours perfecting a layout for each post, you can create new content in minutes. This efficiency is crucial for small businesses or individuals with limited resources.
Brand Consistency: Templates ensure every piece of content aligns with your brand’s visual identity, including specific color schemes, fonts, and overall mood. This consistent branding can increase brand recognition by up to 80%.
Professional Appearance: A cohesive feed looks more professional and trustworthy. This can translate into higher follower growth and better conversion rates for businesses.
Ease of Use: Many templates are designed to be user-friendly, requiring no advanced graphic design skills. Most instagram photo template app options provide drag-and-drop interfaces.
Engagement Boost: Visually appealing and consistent content is more likely to capture attention and encourage interaction. Studies indicate that posts with high-quality visuals receive 2.3 times more engagement than those without.

Choosing the Right Instagram Photo Template App

The market is flooded with applications designed to help you create stunning Instagram content with ease. Selecting the best instagram photo template app depends on your specific needs, skill level, and budget. From free, intuitive tools to professional-grade software, there’s an option for everyone.

Top Apps for Instagram Photo Templates

When it comes to accessibility and functionality, several apps stand out for their robust template libraries and user-friendly interfaces.

These tools empower even novice designers to create professional-looking content.

Canva: Arguably the most popular choice, Canva offers thousands of instagram photo template options for posts, stories, and reels. It’s incredibly intuitive, featuring a drag-and-drop editor, a vast library of stock photos, fonts, and graphic elements. Canva Pro, its paid version, unlocks even more templates and advanced features. Over 100 million people globally use Canva for their design needs.
Adobe Express formerly Adobe Spark Post: A strong contender, Adobe Express provides a seamless experience for creating social media graphics. It integrates with Adobe’s creative cloud, offering a professional touch with easy-to-use templates. It’s a great option for those who want a bit more design flexibility without the complexity of Photoshop.
Unfold: Known for its minimalist and aesthetic story templates, Unfold is perfect for creating instagram photo template story content. It offers clean layouts and stylish fonts, favored by influencers and brands seeking a refined look.
Mojo: This app specializes in animated story templates, bringing your Instagram Stories to life with dynamic text and transitions. It’s excellent for creating engaging and eye-catching short-form video content.
InShot / CapCut: While primarily video editing apps, both InShot and instagram photo template CapCut offer features that allow you to create static image collages or apply effects that mimic template designs, especially for Reels and short video posts. CapCut, for example, has built-in templates that guide users in creating trendy video montages with specific podcast and transitions.

Free vs. Paid Template Apps: What to Consider

Many apps offer a freemium model, providing basic template access for free and locking advanced features or premium templates behind a subscription. Instagram queue posts

The choice between free and paid depends on your usage volume and professional needs.

Free Versions: Ideal for individuals, small businesses starting out, or those with infrequent posting schedules. Free versions typically offer a limited selection of templates and fewer customization options. They are excellent for getting a feel for the app and creating basic, yet effective, content.
Paid Subscriptions: Worth the investment for businesses, content creators, and agencies that require constant content creation, advanced branding features, premium stock assets, and team collaboration tools. Paid subscriptions often include commercial licenses for fonts and images, dedicated customer support, and access to exclusive, higher-quality instagram photography templates. For instance, Canva Pro, at around $12.99/month, provides unlimited access to its entire library of templates, premium stock photos, and brand kit features.

Mastering Instagram Photo Template Sizes for Optimal Display

Understanding the correct instagram photo template size is crucial for ensuring your content looks sharp and professional. Instagram has specific aspect ratio and resolution requirements for different types of posts, and adhering to these guidelines prevents cropping, pixelation, or awkward scaling.

Standard Instagram Photo Template Sizes

Instagram supports a range of aspect ratios, but certain sizes are optimized for maximum visibility and engagement.

Using the right dimensions ensures your images are displayed exactly as you intend.

Square Posts: The classic instagram photo template size is 1080px by 1080px 1:1 aspect ratio. While Instagram initially only supported square posts, they remain popular for their clean, balanced look.
Portrait Posts: Vertical images perform well on Instagram, taking up more screen real estate. The ideal size is 1080px by 1350px 4:5 aspect ratio. This size maximizes visual impact as it fills more of the user’s screen as they scroll.

Story and Reel Template Sizes

Instagram Stories and Reels have distinct dimensions, primarily designed for full-screen vertical viewing.

Templates for these formats must adhere to these specifications to look their best.

Instagram Story Template Size: The optimal size for an instagram photo template story is 1080px by 1920px 9:16 aspect ratio. This full-screen vertical format is essential for engaging story content. Using templates specifically designed for stories helps in placing interactive elements like polls, questions, and links without obscuring crucial parts of your image.
Instagram Reel Template Size: Reels also use the 1080px by 1920px 9:16 aspect ratio for full-screen viewing. While the entire Reel is 9:16, a safe zone for content that will always be visible in the feed is roughly 1080px by 1350px in the center, as the top and bottom might be covered by UI elements. When using an instagram photo template CapCut for Reels, pay close attention to the safe zones to ensure your key message isn’t hidden.

Leveraging PSD and PNG Templates for Advanced Customization

For designers and content creators who require more control and flexibility over their Instagram visuals, instagram photo template PSD and instagram photo template PNG files offer robust solutions. These formats cater to different levels of design proficiency and provide distinct advantages.

Designing with Instagram Photo Template PSD

A instagram photo template PSD file is a Photoshop Document, meaning it’s designed to be opened and edited in Adobe Photoshop. This format is the gold standard for graphic designers because it retains layers, smart objects, and editable text, offering unparalleled customization.

Layered Structure: PSD templates are composed of multiple layers, allowing you to independently manipulate text, images, background elements, and effects. This non-destructive editing capability means you can experiment freely without altering the original design elements.
Full Customization: You have complete control over colors, fonts provided you have them installed, shapes, and the placement of every element. This is ideal for creating unique, branded content that perfectly matches your aesthetic.
High Resolution: PSD files are typically high-resolution, ensuring your final Instagram posts look crisp and professional, even when scaled.
Downloadable Resources: Many websites, like Creative Market or Envato Elements, offer premium instagram photo template download packages in PSD format. These often come with multiple variations and themes within a single pack.
Skill Requirement: While powerful, using PSD templates requires at least a basic understanding of Adobe Photoshop. However, for those willing to learn, the creative freedom is immense.

Utilizing Instagram Photo Template PNG

An instagram photo template PNG is a Portable Network Graphics file, known for its ability to support transparency. While less editable than a PSD, PNG templates are incredibly useful for quick overlays and adding consistent graphic elements to your photos.

Transparency: The key advantage of PNG templates is their transparent background. This allows you to overlay them directly onto your photos without a white or black box around them, creating seamless integrations.
Quick Overlays: Think of instagram template photo frame or subtle graphic borders. You can simply open your image in a basic photo editor or even Instagram’s own editor, add the PNG template as an overlay, and position it.
Limited Editability: Unlike PSDs, PNG templates are essentially flat images. You cannot easily change individual text elements, colors, or shapes within the template itself without advanced image manipulation. Any text or graphics within the PNG template are fixed.
Ease of Use: Because of their simplicity, PNG templates are very user-friendly. They don’t require specialized software. even a phone’s photo editor can often handle them. This makes them great for quick, on-the-go content creation.

Finding and Implementing Instagram Photo Template Downloads

Acquiring instagram photo template download files is relatively straightforward, with numerous resources available online. These resources range from free design communities to premium subscription services, offering a vast array of styles and functionalities. Best hashtag finder

Where to Find Free Instagram Photo Templates

For those on a budget or just starting, a wealth of free templates can kickstart your Instagram presence.

While “free” sometimes means limited options, many designers generously share high-quality assets.

Canva Free Plan: As mentioned, Canva’s free tier provides a substantial collection of instagram photo template designs. You can search by theme, industry, or style.
Adobe Express Free Plan: Similar to Canva, Adobe Express offers a free version with a good selection of templates and basic editing tools.
Freepik: This website is a treasure trove for free graphic resources, including various instagram photo template PSD files and vector templates. You’ll need to attribute the creator if you use their free resources.
Unsplash/Pexels for background images: While not templates themselves, these sites offer high-quality, free-to-use stock photos that can be incorporated into any template, ensuring your visuals are always top-notch.
Creative Bloq / Design Shack: These design blogs often curate lists of free templates from various sources, making it easier to discover new options.
Pinterest: A visual search engine, Pinterest is excellent for discovering free templates by searching terms like “instagram photography templates free” or “instagram template photo frame download.” Many designers link directly to their freebies.

Premium Template Resources and Subscriptions

Investing in premium templates or subscriptions can significantly elevate your content quality and save time in the long run.

These resources often provide exclusive designs, commercial licenses, and ongoing support.

Envato Elements: A popular subscription service $16.50/month, billed annually offering unlimited downloads of digital assets, including thousands of instagram photo template PSD files, stock photos, fonts, and more. It’s an excellent value for frequent creators.
Creative Market: An online marketplace where independent designers sell their digital products. You can find unique and high-quality instagram photo template packs, often curated by theme or aesthetic. Prices vary per product.
Adobe Stock: Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Stock offers a wide range of premium templates, images, and videos. It’s particularly useful if you’re already an Adobe user.
Moyo / Unfold Premium: The paid versions of these mobile apps unlock their full library of premium story and post templates, often with advanced customization features and no watermarks.
Individual Designer Websites: Many graphic designers sell their template packs directly from their websites. Following your favorite designers on Instagram or Behance can lead you to these exclusive offerings.

Integrating Instagram Photography Templates into Your Workflow

Once you’ve chosen your templates, the next step is to integrate them seamlessly into your content creation workflow.

This involves planning, execution, and consistent application to maintain a polished Instagram presence.

Steps for Using an Instagram Photo Template

A streamlined process ensures efficiency and consistency, allowing you to focus on the message rather than the minutiae of design.

Define Your Brand Aesthetic: Before even selecting a template, clarify your brand’s colors, fonts, tone, and overall visual style. This guides your template selection and customization. For example, if you’re a minimalist brand, you’d avoid busy, cluttered templates.
Select Your Template: Based on your aesthetic and content type post, story, reel, choose an instagram photo template that aligns with your vision. If you’re using an app, browse their library. If you’ve downloaded a PSD, open it in Photoshop.
Add Your Photos: Replace the placeholder images with your own high-quality photography. Ensure your photos complement the template’s design and color scheme. If the template is a instagram template photo frame, simply place your image within the frame.
Edit Text and Copy: Customize the text areas with your captions, headlines, or calls to action. Pay attention to font consistency and readability.
Adjust Colors and Elements if applicable: If using a PSD template, fine-tune colors to match your brand palette, adjust graphic elements, and ensure proper spacing. For apps like Canva, you can easily change colors of most elements with a few clicks.
Export and Upload: Export your finished design in the appropriate instagram photo template size e.g., 1080×1080 for square posts, 1080×1920 for stories. Upload directly to Instagram.

Best Practices for Consistent Template Usage

Consistency is key to leveraging templates effectively.

A haphazard approach, even with templates, can negate their benefits.

Create a Content Calendar: Plan your content in advance, including the type of post photo, carousel, story, reel and which template you’ll use. This ensures a consistent flow of content.
Maintain a Brand Kit: Store your brand colors hex codes, approved fonts, logo, and frequently used graphic elements in one accessible place. Most instagram photo template app services like Canva allow you to create a “Brand Kit” for quick access.
Batch Create Content: Instead of designing one post at a time, set aside dedicated time to create multiple posts or stories using your templates. This “batching” improves efficiency. For example, some successful creators batch an entire month’s worth of content in just a few days.
Vary Your Templates Strategically: While consistency is important, using only one template can become monotonous. Develop 3-5 core templates for different content types e.g., a quote template, a product showcase template, a behind-the-scenes template to add variety while maintaining overall brand identity.
Review Your Feed Regularly: Periodically step back and look at your entire Instagram grid. Does it look cohesive? Are there any posts that stick out? This visual audit helps you refine your template usage over time. Over 70% of Instagram users say they discover new products on the platform, and a visually appealing feed can significantly influence purchasing decisions.

Enhancing Engagement with Dynamic Instagram Photo Template Stories

Instagram Stories are consumed by over 500 million users daily, making them a powerful tool for engagement. Using instagram photo template story designs can significantly boost viewership and interaction by making your stories more visually appealing and cohesive. Content scheduler for instagram

Designing Engaging Instagram Stories with Templates

Stories are short-lived, so they need to capture attention instantly.

Templates provide the framework for impactful visual narratives.

Pre-designed Layouts: Templates offer ready-made layouts for various story types: behind-the-scenes, Q&A, product launches, quotes, or interactive polls. This saves time and ensures a professional look.
Optimized for Vertical Viewing: All instagram photo template story designs are specifically crafted for the 9:16 vertical aspect ratio 1080px by 1920px, ensuring no awkward cropping or empty spaces.
Consistent Branding: Even within the ephemeral nature of stories, templates help maintain your brand’s visual identity. Use consistent fonts, colors, and design elements across all your stories.
Built-in Interactive Elements: Many story templates from apps like Unfold or Mojo include placeholders for Instagram’s native interactive stickers polls, questions, quizzes, countdowns, guiding you on optimal placement for maximum engagement.
Animation and Motion: Apps like Mojo specialize in animated story templates. Adding subtle animations to text or graphics can significantly increase viewer retention and interaction rates. Stories with motion graphics tend to have a 7-second longer average view time than static images.

Best Practices for Instagram Photo Template Story Usage

Maximizing the impact of your story templates involves more than just plugging in content. it requires strategic thinking.

Storytelling Flow: Plan your stories to tell a coherent narrative. A series of templated stories can guide viewers through a product launch, an event, or a personal journey. For example, using a sequence of templates for “before,” “during,” and “after” visuals can be highly effective.
Call to Action CTA: Every story should have a purpose. Templates can include clear CTAs, such as “Swipe Up” if eligible, “Shop Now,” or “Learn More.” Ensure your CTA is visually prominent within the template.
Highlight Important Information: Use bold fonts or contrasting colors within your template to draw attention to key messages or dates.
Utilize Stickers and GIFs Strategically: While templates provide a base, don’t shy away from adding Instagram’s native stickers, GIFs, and podcast to enhance engagement. However, ensure they complement the template and don’t overcrowd the design.
Test and Analyze: Pay attention to your Instagram Story insights. Which templates get the most taps forward vs. taps back? Which generate the most replies or clicks? Use this data to refine your template strategy. Stories with a clear call to action see up to 70% higher tap-through rates.

Creative Uses Beyond Basic Posts: Instagram Photo Template CapCut and More

Instagram Photo Template CapCut for Reels and Video Content

CapCut, a powerful and user-friendly video editing app, has become a go-to for creating trendy TikToks and Instagram Reels.

Its template feature allows users to quickly assemble video montages by simply plugging in their photos or short clips.

Pre-set Trends: CapCut’s templates often follow popular audio and visual trends, making it easy to create viral-worthy content. You select a template, add your desired number of photos/videos, and CapCut automatically syncs them to the podcast and applies effects. This eliminates the need for manual timing and complex editing.
Effortless Transitions and Effects: The app handles all the complex transitions, animations, and effects, giving your video a polished, professional look without requiring advanced editing skills.
Ideal for Photo Montages: If you have a collection of photos you want to turn into a dynamic Reel, an instagram photo template CapCut is perfect. It breathes life into still images, making them more engaging than a simple photo carousel.
Speed and Efficiency: Creating a Reel with a CapCut template takes mere minutes, dramatically reducing content creation time compared to building a video from scratch. Over 30% of businesses are now investing in short-form video for social media, highlighting the importance of efficient creation tools.
Accessibility: CapCut is free and available on both iOS and Android, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Innovative Ways to Use Instagram Photography Templates

Beyond standard posts, templates can be adapted for a multitude of creative purposes, enhancing your overall Instagram strategy.

Carousel Posts: Design multi-slide carousel posts using linked templates. Each slide can build on the previous one, telling a story, showcasing a product from different angles, or providing step-by-step instructions. Many premium instagram photo template PSD packs include linked carousel designs.
Highlight Covers: Use miniature templates to create cohesive and on-brand covers for your Instagram Story Highlights. This ensures your archived stories look as polished as your live feed.
Quote Graphics: Turn inspirational quotes or testimonials into eye-catching graphics using a dedicated quote template. This type of content often performs well in terms of shares and saves.
Infographics/Educational Content: Break down complex information into digestible, templated visuals. Use listicle templates or comparison templates to present data clearly.
Event Invitations/Announcements: Create professional-looking digital invitations or announcements for events, webinars, or special offers.
Behind-the-Scenes Content: Use templates to share snippets of your process, workspace, or team. This humanizes your brand and builds connection. For instance, a “day in the life” template could feature various photos with consistent branding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Instagram photo template?

An Instagram photo template is a pre-designed layout or framework that you can use to create consistent and visually appealing content for your Instagram feed, stories, and reels.

It provides a standardized structure for your visuals, including placeholders for images, text, and graphic elements, ensuring a unified aesthetic.

What is the best app for Instagram photo templates?

Canva is widely considered the best app for Instagram photo templates due to its extensive library of designs, user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, and robust features for both free and paid users.

Other strong contenders include Adobe Express, Unfold for stories, and Mojo for animated stories. Plan my instagram feed

What is the ideal Instagram photo template size for posts?

For standard Instagram posts, the ideal sizes are:

Square: 1080px by 1080px 1:1 aspect ratio
Portrait: 1080px by 1350px 4:5 aspect ratio

Can I get an Instagram photo template for stories?

Yes, you can absolutely get an Instagram photo template specifically designed for stories.

The optimal size for an Instagram Story template is 1080px by 1920px 9:16 aspect ratio, which fits the full-screen vertical format of Instagram Stories.

Apps like Unfold and Mojo specialize in story templates.

What is an Instagram photo template PSD?

An Instagram photo template PSD is a Photoshop Document file, meaning it’s designed to be opened and edited in Adobe Photoshop.

These templates are layered, offering full customization over text, images, colors, and graphic elements, making them ideal for professional designers.

How do I download an Instagram photo template?

You can download an Instagram photo template from various online sources.

Free templates are available on sites like Freepik or through the free plans of apps like Canva and Adobe Express.

Premium templates can be downloaded from marketplaces like Envato Elements or Creative Market, often requiring a subscription or one-time purchase.

Can I use an Instagram photo template for Reels?

Yes, you can use Instagram photo templates for Reels, especially for creating photo montages or text-based video content. Apps like CapCut offer specific instagram photo template CapCut options that allow you to quickly assemble photos into dynamic, podcast-synced videos with built-in transitions and effects. Plannerly for instagram

What is an Instagram photo template PNG?

An Instagram photo template PNG is a Portable Network Graphics file that supports transparency.

Unlike PSDs, PNG templates are typically flat images used as overlays or frames.

They are useful for adding transparent borders, logos, or simple graphic elements to your photos without needing complex editing software.

Are there free Instagram photography templates available?

Yes, there are many free Instagram photography templates available.

Platforms like Canva and Adobe Express offer a significant number of free templates within their basic plans.

Additionally, websites like Freepik and various design blogs often provide free downloadable templates.

How do Instagram templates enhance brand consistency?

Instagram templates enhance brand consistency by ensuring that every post adheres to a predefined visual identity, including specific color palettes, fonts, graphic elements, and layouts.

This consistency makes your brand instantly recognizable and helps build a strong, professional image over time.

Do I need design skills to use Instagram photo templates?

No, you generally do not need advanced design skills to use Instagram photo templates, especially if you’re using apps like Canva or Adobe Express.

These apps feature intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces that make it easy for anyone to customize templates with their own content. Find trending hashtags

PSD templates, however, do require basic Photoshop knowledge.

Can I create my own Instagram photo template?

Yes, you can create your own Instagram photo template from scratch using graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop or online tools like Canva.

This allows for complete customization to perfectly match your unique brand aesthetic and specific content needs.

How often should I use templates on my Instagram?

For optimal consistency and efficiency, you should aim to use templates for the majority of your Instagram content.

However, vary your templates strategically e.g., a few core templates for different content types to avoid monotony while maintaining overall brand identity.

What is an Instagram template photo frame?

An Instagram template photo frame is a specific type of template, often in PNG format, that provides a decorative border or frame around your photo.

It’s used to give a consistent stylistic edge to all your images, enhancing visual cohesion across your feed.

Can I use Instagram templates for carousel posts?

Yes, you can effectively use Instagram templates for carousel posts.

Many template packs, especially PSD ones, include linked designs that flow seamlessly from one slide to the next, allowing you to tell a more comprehensive story or showcase multiple images with a consistent look.

How do templates help with Instagram engagement?

Templates help with Instagram engagement by making your content more visually appealing, professional, and consistent. Best free app to schedule instagram posts

Visually attractive posts are more likely to capture attention, encourage longer viewing times, and lead to higher interactions like likes, comments, and shares.

Data suggests consistent visual themes can boost engagement rates.

What are the benefits of using CapCut for Instagram Reels templates?

The benefits of using instagram photo template CapCut for Reels include:

Ease of creating trendy videos from photos/clips.
Automatic syncing to popular audio.
Pre-applied transitions and effects.
Significant time savings in video editing.
Accessibility as a free mobile app.

Where can I find professional Instagram photography templates?

Professional Instagram photography templates can be found on premium marketplaces like Envato Elements subscription-based, Creative Market individual purchases, and Adobe Stock.

Many independent graphic designers also sell high-quality template packs on their personal websites.

Can I print Instagram photo templates?

While Instagram photo templates are primarily designed for digital use on the platform, you can certainly print the finished images if you save them as high-resolution files.

This might be useful for creating physical marketing materials or photo prints.

What are the key elements of an effective Instagram photo template?

An effective Instagram photo template typically includes:

Clear placeholders for images and text.
Consistent branding elements colors, fonts, logo placement.
Optimized dimensions for specific Instagram formats post, story, reel.
A clean, aesthetically pleasing design that aligns with your brand.
Elements that guide the viewer’s eye and support the content’s message.

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Instagram photo template