What I Learned My First Year
A Year in Review
December 9th marks exactly 1 year since I started this blogging and Instagram journey and it has been a wild ride.
If you have ever asked yourself how to be a social media influencer, what the job of a social media influencer looks like, how much can a social media influencer make, or what tools you need to be a successful influencer then this post is for you. I am going to answer all of those questions and more, and also what I am still learning!
First Pictures Posted
This was one of the first pictures I ever posted. There was another one, but I deleted it because it was so cringy! Notice the clear lighting...
This was from my first Holiday Bucket List last year. I was sweating in this sweater but I was determined to look the part in this photo.
This was the first Instagram picture Nick ever took and the first one that really "exploded" with engagement. It was still pre-lightroom, but I worked hard to make that pink pop.
This photo is my only mirror selfie on my feed. But it was also the first time I discovered portrait mode on my camera!
You can see the pictures getting clearer with portrait mode! This was also the first time Chewie made an appearance on the feed.
It took my mom and I over an hour try to and get this picture. I saw a tutorial on reels and tried so hard to recreate this. We almost got it!
Basic Necessities
Phone with a good camera: I started with my iPhone 12 and still use it to this day. Once I figured out I had portrait mode, and that the rear facing camera allowed for 8 feet vs. 6 feet, I was a pro. The biggest change for me was when I realized I could use the camera app on my phone as a clicker. I set it for a 3 second countdown and then controlled it with my watch. That is also why I am wearing my iWatch in every photo.
Tripod: This is an absolute must. I actually have 2: one for home and one that extends to 6 feet that stays in my car. They both come with a ring light, but I only use that when I film reels or take pictures inside, which is rare.
A Separate Email Address: If you are just starting out, I recommend snagging a TikTok username that matches as close as possible to your Instagram handle, a domain name (even if you don't plan to start a blog just yet), and a gmail address that is for business only. I even have a totally separate Chrome window that has all of my tabs separated from my school work and actual work.
This was the first time I realized portrait mode extended further using the front facing camera.
I searched all over to find inspiration for pictures with tights and loved how this one turned out. They snagged right after this...
I downloaded a camera app on my phone and Nick took this picture using the app. This one turned out great, but the app was super glitchy.
This was the first activewear picture that I posted. I also had not quite figured out I needed to turn the camera around.
Nick took this picture and it was another "I saw this cool thing, so let's try it!" He flipped the camera to try and accentuate the flares.
Still to this day, this picture has the most reach on Instagram. I took this early in the morning while we were on vacation.
Apps and Tools I Can't Live Without
Lightroom: I tried hard, well for like a month, to edit my pictures just using iPhoto and nothing compares to Lightroom. I went ahead and purchased the pro version and I really can't ever see myself not using it. I started out with 3 basic preset packages, but Lightroom has recently added a feature with recommended presets that are just as good as any you could buy.
GoogleDrive: My entire life pretty much exits on GoogleDrive and that even holds true for all things Instagram and blog. I am currently using GoogleSites as the host for my website (even though I know I will have to switch eventually) and that is where I store my photos as well. I am familiar with it, so it is just easier for me.
iPhoto: This may sound like a no brainer, but this is how I organize my blog and Instagram pictures. I have a shared album (only shared with me) that I use for all of the pictures that have been edited and are ready to post. It makes it easier to organize those pictures separately from my everyday life pictures. That was where I went to pull all the pictures for this post!
LTK and Reward Style: If you haven't applied yet and you are wanting to make commission based on your links, you need to apply to Reward Style. There is a pretty big learning curve, and just like everything else, it is really about figuring out an organizational method for you, but it's really the way to go. There are other platforms that people use, but I have not ventured out yet. Quick note: you don't get paid on Reward Style until you have at least $100 in commission, which took me 6 months to get there. I know some bloggers who get paid every pay cycle (every 2 weeks), but that is not me...yet. For some, this is the number one source of revenue!
Canva: Important!!! If you are a teacher or student, you can get an account for free! I just wanted to make sure you knew that before signing up. This is how people make all of the graphics you see for gift guides, capsule wardrobes, or Most Loved Products posts each week or month.
Hotel Collection was the first collaboration I ever did with a contract. It was a gifted one, and I remember making Nick read through the contract for me.
After the lens finally de-fogged, this was the first picture we ever took with a real camera. It was also the moment I knew I needed to buy one.
Cotidié was the first collaboration I pitched and actually heard back from. I was so nervous shooting this and ended up with 100's of pictures.
Can I Get an Upgrade...?
I will preface this with these are things you don't need, but have been helpful in my journey. And, if you plan on doing this for the long haul, you will more than likely have to invest in some of these sooner or later.
Camera: I borrowed a friend's camera for our trip to Tybee this past summer and it made such a difference in the images. Once I learned to detach the lens and leave it outside in the humidity at least 30 minutes before shooting to avoid a foggy lens, I was ready to go. The fact that you can catch shots in motion makes it far superior in my mind. Nick also prefers to shoot with the camera (set on paparazzi mode). This is the one on my Christmas list.
a. If you have or are going to get a Canon camera, make sure to download the Canon app. This serves as a clicker so I can take my own pictures with the camera and tripod.
b. Also, make sure to grab this adapter, which lets you transfer pictures from the memory card directly to your phone.
Camera bag: This bag is also on my list because if you haven't guessed by now, I am all about organization. This will help keep my tripod off the floor of my car, my adapters in one place, and protect the camera.
Video and Photo Editing Apps: With the rise of reels I have seen so many great editing apps that people use and are able to produce great content with. For now, I film either in the app or on my phone and then transfer over. In the future, I would like to film on my camera and then use apps like InShot to edit and add effects.
You'll see this in my Winter Trends post, but this is an example of how much better my photos have gotten over time. The camera makes all the difference!
I had this dress for MONTHS and waited for the perfect trip for this picture. The editing needs work but I loved how this turned out.
This was the very first paid collaboration that I did. I made Nick go to our community pool after school to shoot this one. I made $150 for this post.
Wait, This Is an Actual Full Time Career?!
Before I took the plunge, I was a part-time Instagram stalker, thinking I could do the same thing but never actually pulling the trigger. Once I did, the most surprising part was the time commitment. I have a full time job and I am working on my doctorate so I have to be very intentional about how I plan out my posts, my photos, and everything else in between. I also have to be intentional about the type of content that I post.
I can 100% see how the bloggers and creators with hundreds of thousands of followers need the whole day to dedicate to their job. I am not sure a full time career in this industry is the goal for me (I love education and my job), but I am looking forward to the day I can match my income!
Goals for the Next Year
Paid Collaborations: To date, I have had 7 paid collaborations and multiple gifted ones, but my goal for this next year is to do a paid collaboration each month. The second part of this goal is to be able to supplement my clothes/random purchases budget with collaboration money. Each month, we transfer a certain amount of money from our joint account to a debit card that I use for purchases that are extra (clothes, shoes, hair, etc.). This helps with making a budget and actually sticking to it. My ultimate goal is to be able to cover that amount only through paid collaborations.
Shoot Meaningful Content: When I first started, it was just about putting out content. I felt like I had to take a picture every day just to keep up with posting every day. And before the link sticker was released to everyone, it was about the race to 10k so you had to choose between growing a meaningful audience and authentic engagement or entering giveaways to try and get to 10k. Now that the 10k barrier has been removed, I want to focus on not posting just because and continue working on authentic engagement. I started a Content Calendar last month and that has really helped me plan out the content I want to post and make sure I am varying it as much as possible.
