Recently, Instagram has been a platform that I have rediscovered and fallen in love with.
Why I love the platform!
Instagram allows me to express myself creatively and truthfully, or does it? I have been reading criticisms of feeds that are over stylised. In fact, I even wrote a post where I shared my concerns about the Instagram feeds that depict the perfect life. However, I now wonder if I am equally guilty. Some people would argue that I am. Yet, to me my feed means something different altogether.
What is in my Instagram feed?
I love using the Instagram platform; scrolling down and sharing the love. My taste in Instagram feeds is eclectic at best. I like a range. One day I might find myself craving very interior led photos, the next day it might be cute photos of babies. It simply depends on my mood. On the surface my tastes might appear very different, yet one thing links them all, the feel-good factor. For me, Instagram is about the feel-good factor. It’s about offering a little peek into your world and sharing it with others. Even when that day is going pants, it means that by sharing it you are looking for support and comfort.
What my Instagram feed says about me
Yes, my Instagram feed is, on the whole, offering a rather stylised version of my life. I don’t show the breakfast bowls piled up in my washing up bowl, I don’t show the kids’ room looking like a tip. However, that is because for me that isn’t what my Instagram feed is about. My Instagram feed tends to feature my two girls out and about in Jersey. The reason that my backdrop tends to be Jersey highlights my struggle with living here. When I started writing and taking photos for this blog, I was really struggling with living on Jersey. I was struggling with being a stay-at-home mum. Through photographing Jersey and writing about Jersey, I have begun to appreciate what a fantastic place it is to live, I have come to realise how lucky I am to be a stay-at-home Mum. My Instagram feed on the surface might speak of the perfect life but to me it represents my struggles of living here. That feed is me coming to terms with living in Jersey.
I like to craft a beautiful feed
Scroll back through my photos, right back to the beginning and you will see how I am trying to find my feet. I think my first photo got two likes.
My first ever Instagram photo
I am clearly not sure what I should be photographing. Then scroll back to now. You will see how the photos have changed and how they reflect the journey I have been on. I haven’t deleted them to tidy up my feed, I have kept them because they reflect my life. I think they show how I have become happier. I have gone from being stuck indoors; feeling fed-up, to embracing life and exploring all that Jersey has to offer.
I will concede that now I like a pretty feed. My reasoning for that is life can be pretty tough. There have been many reminders this year of how we can’t control life. One thing I can control is my Instagram feed. Perhaps subconsciously I am trying to craft the perfect life. Who knows? Perhaps I am just superficial and like the pretty things in life.
A themed feed
You read that you should have a themed feed, that they work better. I have always scoffed at that until I realised that my Instagram feed is rather themed. Jersey themed. I will say that since I have gone in this direction I have been getting more likes, still not huge amounts mind. My feed also tends to change with the season. In the summer I tend to use lots of bright filters (yes, I use filters), in the autumn I have found myself going more dark and moody. Again, perhaps reflective of me in general. Ha-ha.
Do I have a strategy when it comes to my Instagram feed?
Nope, again I have read that you should have but I can barely think about what I am going to write the next day without worrying what comes next in my feed. No strategy. The only thing I do is to try to post one photo a day, first thing. The only thing I know that Instagram is no longer “insta”
Filters
Yes, I will admit it, I love a good filter. But why wouldn’t you. I take all of my photos on my phone and therefore I use a filter to enhance it. I love a good filter, now I need to find one that erases wrinkles from my face! �?�
Is Instagram really feel-good?
For me, like I said earlier, Instagram is all about the feel-good. It’s where I go when I want to feel good. However, I follow such a wide range of feeds that I don’t just get the pretty feeds, I also see the feeds that show real life as it is. There have been claims that your Instagram feed can make you depressed. I can believe that. If you are only following feeds that offer the perfect life then you might find yourself feeling rather envious. That’s why we should mix it up a bit. Following a variety of feeds is good for the soul. What I will say though is that next time you see a beautiful photo don’t feel envious. It’s hard not to though, on a platform that is so image driven. A snapshot never tells the whole story, who knows what is really going on in that person’s life. Instagram is simply about escapism. Well it is for me.
On Instagram I have created my perfect life in Jersey. On Instagram I am positive about Jersey.
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Oh I am a huge fan of your feed! Amazing how we grow with it isn’t it? I’ve definitely learnt along the way and it definitely isn’t insta - love that! Oh and yes please to a filter to erase the wrinkles - not that you need it lovely! Gorgeous post and I can’t wait to visit Jersey one day x
Awww thanks lovely xx
I think it is your page and therefore you put on there what you want to, I treat mine a bit like a photo diary of my life, as if no one actually sees it and it is for my eyes only, it is always last miute snaps and sometimes they look like some effort went into them and sometimes they dont. It is a mixture of everything and that includes the untidy shots, I am renovating my kitchen at the moment and there are some pics of the mess! I dont care , its real life and its my life! #dreamteam
Completely! It’s down to what you want to share. Xx
This is a really well timed post for me to read - I’m just starting to ‘get’ Instagram more (after a year or so of using it!) still have no idea what my theme is, but hey. Love the look of your Instagram feed, off to follow you now! #DreamTeam
Ahh, thanks! I think that your Instagram feed evolves as and reflects us. Perhaps that is the theme x
Your feed is wonderful and definitely one of my favourites to scroll through. I love your quotes too and the way you draw the reader / viewer in on several levels. I’m glad it’s helping to find a slice of escape from what I imagine can sometimes be a stifling habitat! Xx
Oh thank you, I’m glad you like it. I love a good quote �?�️ xx
I love your feed - it makes me want to come visit Jersey. I follow a wide range of feeds but I generally do like a pretty feed - I rarely feel envious maybe because I know taking a good pretty picture is quite hard work, I definitely appreciate good photography since joining Instagram. #dreamteam.
Same, I really appreciate good photography now. I think following a good range of feeds is key. Thanks for your lovely comment xx
Fab post! I found myself nodding along with everything you were saying - insta isn’t insta, it’s a feel good social media platform and I don’t have a strategy either, except post a picture of what we have been doing once a day! I like taking pictures & I like being creative with them, if I had to style them too much I worry I’m going to fall out of love with it. Please keep going as you are, I love your feed.
Oooh I can’t believe yours are all taken on your phone! Amazing. I love your feed. I think everyone should do what makes them happy on their Instagram so if you want everything to look beautiful then that’s great and all the more enjoyable for everyone else! Like you I follow a mix of feeds and mine is mostly a kind of diary type thing so most of them aren’t stylised or particularly pretty but occasionally the odd one seems to come out well! Actually just recently a few of my pictures have been picked in round ups, I’ve caught a few lucky snaps haha. It’s definitely nice looking through a mix of funny, normal and beautiful shots #DreamTeam
This is exactly how I feel about Instagram - it’s my happy place, a place I share my happy moments that I’ll want to look back on, and a place where I can get a glimpse into other people’s lives too - I love a pretty feed! I use filters too - not with my ‘big camera’ shots, but for a phone shot they can really bring it to life - I don’t know why so many people are so snooty about them! I also maintained that I didn’t have a theme, until I looked back over my recent photos and realised they’re nearly all of my son, outdoors somewhere. No doubt that theme will vanish as the winter sets in though!
I am still learning with insta, for years I just didn’t get it. Now I love it I post photos of my grandson and I post every day. I tried doing a theme but I just couldn’t stick with it. I suppose it depends on what you want insta for. A diary, like mine, or a business to promote your brand.
I adore your Instagram feed and I never made that connection that it was Jersey themed to help you fall in love with where you live more…This is such a beautiful post and keep doing what you’re doing lovely! Thanks for linking up to #dreamteam xx
I loved this post. Instagram is a journey which can be either enlightening or quite the opposite, but what always remains is that it is a great creative outlet! By the way there IS an app for smoothing wrinkles! It’s called facetune, I actually use it for whitening photo backgrounds (the tool is actually for whitening teeth lol!!). Keep on posting and writing, I enjoy your work!
Oh my goodness, that sounds like my type of app! Thanks for your lovely comment xx
You do have a pretty feed and having been to Jersey I like to see places I’ve visited and try and recognise them.
I’m not generally a fan of themed feeds because I like variety. I don’t want to just see kids or just see flowers, I like a mix. I also don’t like to see the same photo shoot 2 or 3 day son the trot…or more because I have seen that a lot recently. I’d rather not see anything for a couple of days of people haven’t got anything new and different to add but others don’t seem fussed. Maybe that’s because they don’t got to a profile.
But IF is so personal and that’s why it’s good. We can interact quickly and easily, ignore the duplicates, practise our photography and just enjoy pretty things.