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Praised as the future of social media, BeReal has quickly become one of the most popular mobile apps. It features a simple interface and encourages users to post candid, unfiltered snaps. However, since it lacks the editing features of other apps like Snapchat and Instagram, some users may wonder how to take photos with BeReal.
We’ll walk you through the process and help you learn how to take stunning filter-free photos in the app, regardless of whether you have an iPhone or Android device.
Without further ado, let’s pe in.
How to take photos in the BeReal app
The BeReal app is compatible with both iPhone and Android smartphones, so you can take photos on any of the mobile devices.
How to Take Photos in the BeReal App on an iPhone
After downloading the app and setting up a BeReal account, taking photos only requires a few clicks. You will receive a notification indicating that it is time to publish your daily BeReal. Normal app posting hours are between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Here’s what you need to do to take photos in the app:
- When you receive the BeReal notification, tap it to launch the app.
- If prompted, enable the app to access your device’s front and rear cameras.
- Hold the device in the desired position and press the round camera button at the bottom of the screen.
And that is! Note that the app first takes a photo with the rear camera and takes a selfie of the user a few seconds later. Then merge both images into one BeReal post, placing your selfie in the left corner of the rear camera image. Make sure you stay still so that both images are clear and sharp.
After taking a photo in the app, you can save the post to your local storage. Simply tap the small “Download” button in the left corner of the image.
Another thing to remember about the app is that it has a two-minute limit. You have two minutes to get the perfect photo when you start taking pictures. BeReal leaves no time for posing or retouching, which is in contrast to other social media apps. After using BeReal a few times, you’ll quickly learn how to capture great photos in less than two minutes.
If you are happy with your BeReal photo, you have two options. You can share it with your friends or make it public on the Discovery page.
The following instructions will help you share your BeReal post with your friends.
- After taking photos in the app. Choose the “My friends only” option in the “Send to” tab.
- Select “Submit” at the bottom of the app.
Follow these steps to make your BeReal post public.
- Find the “Send to” tab and select “Everyone (Discovery).”
- Tap “Send” at the bottom of the interface.
Please note that by selecting this option, the app will also share your geolocation.
How to take photos in the BeReal app on an Android device
If you have downloaded the BeReal app on your Android smartphone, you can take photos after receiving the notification urging you to post on BeReal. This is what you should do:
- Press the app notification to open the app.
- If necessary, grant the app access to the front and rear cameras of your smartphone.
- When you find the best angle, press the round camera button at the bottom center of the screen.
The app first takes a photo through the rear camera and then captures the user’s selfie a few seconds later with the front camera. It then combines the two images into a single post, resizes the selfie, and places it in the corner of the rear camera photo.
Remember that the application allows you to take photos within a two-minute interval. If you’re used to Instagram or Snapchat, this may seem insufficient. However, as the app’s name suggests, BeReal wants users to be real and post unedited photos. While BeReal offers users a limited time period, you can still retake photos in the app to get the perfect shot. Additionally, you can save your BeReal creation to your local storage by tapping the “Download” icon at the bottom left of the image.
If you are happy with your photo, you can share it with your friends.
- Press the blue arrow below your image.
- Select “My friends only” under “Send to.”
- Press the “Submit” button at the bottom of the app.
You can also make your BeReal image public and share it with other users on the Discovery page.
- Tap the arrow icon below your BeReal image.
- Navigate to the “Send to” section and choose the “Everyone (Discovery)” option.
- Click “Submit” at the bottom of the interface.
How to retake a photo in BeReal
Although BeReal only gives users two minutes to take photos, you can retake them if you’re not satisfied with the results.
If you’ve downloaded BeReal on your iPhone, here’s how you can take photos in the app again:
- Press the “X” button at the top right of the screen to delete the current image.
- After the app reactivates your camera, tap the round button at the bottom of the app to take a new photo.
Android users shouldn’t have much difficulty retaking photos in the app.
- Tap “X” in the upper right corner of the interface to delete the image you don’t like.
- Wait a few seconds until the app accesses your camera.
- Click the round button at the bottom of the screen to take a new image.
As long as you stay within the two-minute limit, you can retake your photos as many times as you like. However, after you upload the post to BeReal, the app will alert your friends about how many replays you’ve had. This rule only applies to users with more than 10 friends. If you’re only connected to nine people through the app, you’re safe.
Those who want to hide their rep count can try clearing the app cache as this method has helped other users bypass this rule.
Additional FAQs
Can I use a photo from my camera roll?
Unlike other social media apps, BeReal does not allow users to access their camera rolls. This restriction means that you cannot upload previously taken photos to the app. You can only post images that you have taken through the BeReal app. This aligns with the app’s mission of encouraging users to be more authentic about their lives online and post candid photos.
Can I post more than one photo?
BeReal users can only upload one post per day. Instead of allowing users to post countless photos whenever they want, BeReal has implemented a daily limit of one image. When it’s time to do your daily upload, the app sends you a notification prompting you to take the photo. Still, you have some wiggle room with loading times.
Master the ins and outs of taking photos with BeReal
When you first download the app, taking photos with BeReal may seem complicated. It’s still relatively new and you may need some time to get used to its minimalist approach to curating social networks. But as long as you pay attention to the app’s notification system, you should have no problem capturing unfiltered snapshots of your life and sharing them with your friends.
Remember that you cannot post photos from your camera roll and other users can see if you have uploaded an image after the posting interval provided by the app.
