How I cohesively plan my Instagram page


This is definitely one of the most requested topics I get asked all the time - especially via Instagram. If you're an OCD about aesthetics and cohesively planning what photos you're going to post next on your IG page like I am, welcome to the party! I will not post a photo onto my feed unless it makes sense with it all. I'm that crazy person....

This isn't necessarily only for bloggers or influencers, I have come across so many visually pleasing Instagram pages in the past from people who are just regular IG users. It's taken me about two years or so to really figure out what direction I wanted to take my Instagram page in, and it definitely has helped having my own branding photographer on my team to guide me along the way. So, I wanted to share my tips, tricks, and apps that work for me on the regular with you all! OH, and you may or may not have noticed that I recently added a bright color onto my feed.......I KNOW, that actually took a lot of gut and planning.


When planning a cohesive feed, knowing your color scheme is very important. For example, my feed is made up of: white, black, grey, and pink - these are the colors I always gravitate towards the most. The best way to think of it is, think of a color palette. Just like a color palette coincides, so should your Instagram.

A little trick that always works is to best keep in mind that the 1rst and 3rd photo in the row should always match up. Matching your 1rst and 3rd photo isn't always about matching in content, but matching in color scheme.


Oh the magic of editing.....It'll make all the difference! As seen, a lot of my photos on my feed usually have a grey hue or a white one. On my page, I like everything to be cool tones as mentioned above (even when I result to bright colors, they have to be colors that have a blue undertone - other wise I will go ahead and edit it's original color before posting).
There are certain apps that are my holy grail when it comes to editing the color in photos. Below, you can find a before and after of a recent photo I posted onto my feed.


As you can see, my before photo has a warm toned (yellow hue) background. It happened to be a wall in my back terrace of my home - but the natural lighting was great, so I just HAD TO. After all, everything is always adjusted to your liking with the power of editing.

One of my favorite iPhone apps to use for instances like this, is Color Pop. Color Pop gives you the ability to grey out your surroundings. It makes such a huge difference!


My photographer does such an amazing job at editing and really going for shooting locations she knows I would like, but locations would never perfectly match your aesthetic. For these photos, when she sent over the edits, I went ahead and selected my favorites and added my last edit to them for Instagram.

With time, I have found little tricks that work....For example, I really wanted a white hue to these photos since there was so much bright landscape going on. I used the app Face Tune to adjust the color. With the whitening tool on Face Tune you would usually use to whiten teeth with, I went ahead whitened my surroundings instead. Once my photo was ready to upload onto my Instagram, I applied the Ludwig filter. Funny enough, a lot (if not most) of my photos have this specific Instagram filter on them. (TIP: On the Ludwig filter I like to lower the temperature on its scale to the cool tone blues and play with the shadows and highlights - all on IG!).

As for adding colors onto my feed, like I mentioned above I like to work with colors that have blue undertones. Whatever type of red I wear or photograph has to have a blue undertone and the same goes for bright pinks. Bright colored photos can also make for great transitioning photos if you're looking to transition your aesthetic to a more colorful one.



I believe the most important aspect to having a cohesive Instagram feed is planning. Without the planning of photo placement and photo timing, there would be no cohesiveness. You essentially want to plan photos that make sense with each other.

I recently went on a summer beach vacation and posted the photos above onto my feed. The middle photo of the leafs and palms was what I like to call a "fill in". Fill in photos are pictures you would post to make the whole scheme make sense. Since my first and third photo had black, leafs, and white I went ahead and made my fill in photo quite similar in editing and in content.

I really hope these tips and tricks helped in some way! I have worked really long and hard to figure this whole Instagram aesthetic science out for myself. After all, sometimes it's so frustrating to build up that it could really be called a science!! There's always madness behind every planned Instagram theme.

Until next post,

Xo
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Transitioning with Florals





| SHOP MY LOOK |
Floral Pin Stripe Dress c/o She In | Heels c/o Lola Shoetique (use code: MUSE15 for a 15% off your next purchase)


Stuck on how to transition wardrobe from season to season? Same....
Florals are actually here to save the day - Cliché enough, florals are (in my opinion) one of my favorite ways to transition my summer wardrobe into a pre-fall ready one.

Have you ever noticed how quick brands switch merchandise from season to season? or how quick retail spaces switch their floors to fall/winter ready spaces? Leaving some of us in a deep despair of the in between... The in between of summer and fall! Fall isn't the same everywhere, fall in Miami usually means absolutely nothing. Hence, why my pre-fall transitional staples include airy floral shirt dresses to help with the heat that long lasts even through the month of December.

What are some of your favorite seasonal transitional pieces?



Until next post,

Xo
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Ways I've beat discouragement



It's safe to say that most influencers go through what I like to call "funks", and not only influencers like my self...EVERYONE goes through these moments.

I really love writing up lifestyle posts, because it allows me to breakthrough and give my honest advice and experience on certain situations I've gone through or still going through. It's common to think that bloggers live the picture perfect life (just as aesthetically pleasing as their Instagram feeds display). Truth is, it's a lot harder - especially living your life through so many social platforms.

I've gathered up some ways that have helped me beat discouragement, and live my happiest.

I often receive many messages from bloggers and influencers who are just starting up their own platforms, but they feel discouraged and hesitant because of so many reasons...and I am right here with you!


Never compare
I truly believe this is one of the hardest things not to do....especially when your first starting out your blog, a new job, etc. This also exists after years of doing a certain something, and not reaching the goals you've wanted to accomplish. It's very easy for us to compare to others that may be achieving things at a faster timing, or may be working with brands that you've always wanted to work alongside with, or even in following! Following is just a statistical number, and it does not verify the quality of the content you are producing.

What I've learned? Never compare, always assess. Instead of comparing, take notice in what others may be doing that helps them move forward in their goals. Look at the comparison as an example, not a road block.

Do you, boo
As funny as this sounds, it's something I repeat myself on the daily. It's when we start focusing on others when we forget what and why we started what we love. It's never in our place to judge how others decide to run their business and life in general. We're humans, its in our nature to judge....But in judgement, we end up finding negativity within ourselves and this is where discouragement first starts. Strictly focus on you and your craft, and you'll see how everything starts to bloom. 100% tunnel vision until you get to where you want to be- then off to check off the next goal!




| SHOP MY LOOK |
Dress (SOLD OUT) c/o Diva Boutique Online (Similar Here) | Star Clutch (No longer available) c/o Call It Spring | Glasses: Forever 21  | Watch c/o Reuben Ray


Don't be a fraud, stick to your story...
Pitching who you are and letting that shine through, whether you're a blogger, business owner, or simply someone's co-worker is key. Is selling your story (who you essentially are) always easy? Definitely not! The fear of rejection, or not being liked by everyone is a major road block for the most of us, but who we truly are is our unique print - It's what sets us apart. Sounds cliché, but never change your ideas, morals, values, likes, and dislikes because the trend tells us so. Stick to being you, always.

Pick your self up, love yourself
I often question myself a lot, just like I often double guess if this is what I should truly be doing since it's already been done over and over again. If I had to look back three years and give one piece of advice to that young blogger that had no idea what she was getting into is, don't be so hard on yourself!

Whenever I get into these funks, I like to re-evaluate the journey I have come on thus far and the struggles I've had to face to get where I am today and the people I have hopefully inspired! I am an avid believer that everything in life is timed and reasoned. Whether negative or positive situations come our way, they're all to teach us a learning lesson and help us grow as people. And the honest truth is, you're going to let your self down at times, and I'm here to tell you that it's okay. Don't let your discouragement stop your day 1 goal - no matter how long it takes.

Social media is a cruel world especially if you live in it daily and make a job out of it, but its also a beautiful one that (if used properly) can open SO many doors in endless ways. Just remember, they ain't you boo, and no one will ever be.

Xo


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