by: Hazel Sheffield | Columbia Journalism Lab

When AP staff photographer Evan Vucci downloaded Instagram, a photo-sharing app, on his iPhone before the Iowa caucus in January, he used it to keep in touch with friends and family while on the road. Now, the AP has requested that Vucci and 12 other staff photographers use their personal Instagram feeds professionally, with the hashtag #aponthetrail, to capture behind-the-scenes moments they wouldn’t normally file to the wire.