There’s more than one way to be successful influencing. What works for one person may not work for someone else. When I first started this influencer journey, I would get discouraged. I would see so many good pages with perfect pictures. They were bright and white and oh so perfect! And here I was with my mediocre pictures. I now realize that my goal is not to be like other influencers. Sure, I can get inspiration from them and can learn tips from them. But, I am only good at being me. I have to agree with a popular influencer and say that my brand is me.
And as much as I love how professional a lot of pages look, “professional” is not my brand. I’m a stay-at-home mom who loves being comfortable in my outfits. With the exception of two photo shoots I’ve done, all of my pictures have been taken with a phone because I haven’t upgraded to a camera yet (hopefully soon). I’ve either used a tripod or had someone take pictures. And with the help of editing, I must admit that my pictures have gotten a lot better! But let’s talk about how I refuse to be put in a box ever again. Whatcha talkin bout Shannan? Let’s chat!
Living Inside of a Box
Growing up, I lived inside of a box. This box was labeled “who other people think I am”. And while most of these things were absolutely correct, I realized that I was also holding back. Like the time I went to a concert and wanted to stand up, dance and sing, but didn’t. Well, why not? Because that’s not something that fit into the box of what “Shannan would do”. It took me a while to realize that it does in fact fit with me. The real me wasn’t inside that box… Needless to say, I kicked that box to the curb some time ago!
So, here’s my dilemma. One of the things that was in my box was that I had to be perfect and do everything perfectly. I’ll admit that I’m still a perfectionist, but I’m working on it. But, here is where the rubber meets the road.
Finding a Middle Ground
As an influencer, there’s a certain aesthetic that’s expected. Your pictures must be bright. They must draw people in. They must be blah blah blah. That’s hard when you’re trying to kick the habit of feeling the need to be perfect.
So, what am I doing? I’m meeting in the middle. I’m doing my best to provide good quality photos while doing what feels natural. For where I am in my journey and my everyday life, I don’t put on outfits for the sake of photo shoots. But, I need content right? RIGHT!
So, here’s what I do! You best believe that when I go out, I’m cuter than I used to be. Like…running an errand…cute outfit on deck! Why? So I can take pictures of the outfits to post. I then edit them to fit the aesthetic I’ve chosen. See how I made that work? I made the expectations of being an influencer fit into my life. Not the other way around.
I’m doing my best to be authentic to who I am while sharing myself with the world. My tribe will find me. They’ll cherish what I have to offer. It may not be a fabulous photo shoot or magazine ready picture. But, I can offer you something that no one else can!
Me!
And that’s good enough for me!
In the words of Dr. Seuss, “Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!”
Until next time Comfies, enjoy creating and watching others create! But, also enjoy what makes you you! There’s no one way to be successful at influencing. You just gotta find what works for you!