There are things we all wish we knew before we started one of our hobbies. Things like the amount of commitment, or "necessary" equipment, or even time. If you're a fellow bookstagrammer like me, there are some things we all wish we knew before we plopped ourselves into the bookish corner of Instagram.
This post, as I say in the title, includes some of the things I wish I knew before starting my history bookstagram, @historybookreads. If you're a fellow bookstagrammer or fellow history Instagrammer, feel free to comment with some things you wish you knew before starting your account!
Item 1: It's okay to not have an aesthetic right off the bat. Heck, it's even okay to not have an "aesthetic." Yes, having an aesthetic can pull an Instagram feed all together, but if that's not your thing, then you don't need to be "in trend" with all the other bookstagrammers. However, if you want an aesthetic, it is totally okay to start your account and begin posting BEFORE you decide upon what your aesthetic is. You can even figure it out as you go. (If I'm honest, I figured out my history bookstagram's aesthetic as I went along.
Item 2: You do not need special lighting, a special camera, or a special photo spot for your bookstagram. All you need for a bookstagram is your phone camera, books, and a bookstagram account. If getting higher end photography products and having a specific spot for your book photos is what you want to do for your bookstagram account, then go for it. But to those of you who can't do this (not enough space, time, etc.), then that is okay.
Item 3: You do not need to have 2+ bookshelves to be considered a "valid" bookstagrammer. I, along with many others, only have one bookshelf, and we're just as valid as the other bookstagrammers who have 4+ bookshelves. Again, all you need for a bookstagram are books, your phone, and an Instagram account. Heck, you can even only have one book.
Item 4: Post at your own schedule. You don't need to post daily - or even multiple times a day - to keep up with other bookstagrammers. Whether that schedule is daily, weekly, or even monthly, post with whatever schedule works best for YOU.
Item 5: Try to prep posts ahead of time, and save the photos on multiple devices. Instagram has had its weird moments, and it won't always post the drafts that you've saved in the app (it could even lose those drafts, depending on what happens). So, at the very least, have your photos saved on your device(s), and have basic hashtags prepped in a note on your device.
Item 6: You ARE NOT obligated to stick to your posting schedule. If something happens - whether it was simply that you forgot to post or you got busy - don't feel pressured to post at the schedule you've set up for your account. Yes, you've set that schedule up, but tbis is Instagram we're talking about. It's not the end of the world if you don't post to Instagram for a day or two.
Item 7: Take days off from posting. Whether these days off are a part of your schedule - i.e. you don't post on weekends - or if they're spur of the moment decisions, allow yourself to take a break from posting every now and again. Like I mentioned in Item 6, it's not the end of the world if you don't post to Instagram for a day or two.
Item 8: Make friends. There are people all over Instagram - and all over the world - who are part of the bookish community on Instagram. Follow people, reach out, and make friends when you can. Having a bookstagram account is, for the most part, solely for fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment