you don't need to instagram your washing up

Well said – as you say, the ‘like’ addiction is not part of the problem with instagram, it is an issue with how some people use it

Agreed 100%….now then, when can I expect the sabotage of facebook? lol

xx Sara

Totally agree with this!
Haven’t been to your blog for ages… it’s looking wonderful. Nice one!
xxx

Loved this post Sara! I joined Instagram a few months ago (ever late to the game!) and have been figuring out what I want to use if for what parts of life are for sharing there. I love storytelling and have begun to think of Instagram as a way of challenging myself to tell better stories (contrary to the Radio 4 discussion!) – through taking better photographs and challenging myself on how to caption them. I like it as a way to hone another form of writing and storytelling, along with blogging and other creative exploits.
While I’m here, as a newbie to your blog I’m really enjoying it 🙂

I think, to an extent, social media isn’t around to demonstrate exactly how real a person is. Most individuals use Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc, as an escape from the real world and I believe they understand that life isn’t that beautiful 100% of the time.

This is a really interesting post.

I used to flick through my Instagram feed and feel a bit depressed because it was full of pretty people and pretty things. These days I take it all with a pinch of salt. I ‘get’ that Instagram isn’t really ‘dirty dishes real life’. I went to an Instagram styling workshop and it really opened up my eyes as to how much work goes into making these beautiful photos. I actually appreciate them a lot more now. Me however, I just post photos of my kid looking cute as and when I please. And even then? Would I post photos of snotty noses and tantrum tears? Probably not. Even my ordinary life is filtered. xx

I wrote recently about how for me blogging (not instagram) is a place where I share my thoughts, but I do try to take a positive spin to it as it helps me feel more resolved. I did mention I would talk about hard things sometimes, but it isn’t the purpose of my blog.

I was surprised at how many things people had to say both positive and negative. I think it is easy for people to get caught up in what people do or don’t post, but we’re all human and we’re trying to communicate the little things 🙂

I heard today about a wedding where the theme was ‘better than perfect’ – it gave me a headache just thinking about it. Your comment reminded me of this though! What does perfect even mean any more?
I like your laid back attitude to it all. Reality is both pretty and messy – sometimes we just choose to share the prettier side x

I find our conversations, or conversation fragments often trigger these larger debates or considerations in my head (if not on my blog!). I think you get it, and have a lot more insight than most. That is both a great thing, and makes me slightly nervous of you 😉 xx

Def agree with the real-life-motherhood – that’s what first drew me into IG really, when I was at home with Orla. Your example is the perfect balance that I love – pretty picture, honest words. Keeps my eyes and brain happy 🙂 xx

Definitely. And I think there’s middle ground – a story told with a few tweaks to keep it pretty, no? 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Lynn

This is a thought-provoking comment, Steph. On the one hand, I absolutely understand and agree – the last thing any of us need is more pressure to conform, especially to ridiculous standards of domesticity or alleged perfection. I can see how contrived photos can exacerbate that, and think honest captions play an important role in mitigating that risk, eg. ‘screaming toddler not shown’.

I think for many, that frozen moment of calm, however much chaos was all around it, *is* part navigating their real life. I include myself in that; I’m naturally inclined to remember my worst moments, but my Instagram reminds me of the times when I almost had my shit together.

There certainly are a lot of similar accounts run my similarly white, middle class women, but that is just one of the many demographics who use instagram every day – for example, I think IG is even bigger in Asia than here in the West. & for me, one of the biggest appeals of using Instagram is seeing into the lives of people completely different to me, and being able to choose for myself who and what appears in my feed.

Thanks for the comment and the food for thought. x

Thanks! I’m curious to hear more about how you felt before reading my defence? 🙂 I definitely agree – room for both is the absolute ideal. I love that Instagram is sort of democratic and self-decided in that way – we can all make our feeds full of any combination of things we like, or need, or want.
& yes to the memories and document of life. It’s why I would never go back and delete my old, less-than-impressive photos. I know a lot of big accounts do, but those memories mean an awful lot to me, and I think it’s all a part of the story! Thanks for the comment Sarah, lovely to hear your perspective x

Firstly, I feel totally honoured to have prompted your first *ever* blog comment! What a privilege 🙂
I loved hearing about your Insta-journey. I definitely get the tug between the beauty and detail of DSLR with the speed and efficiency of mobile phones. Plus, I have to say, now I know it really well I sort of love what the iPhone camera can do. A bit like people’s passion for toy cameras and Dianas, maybe? (or perhaps that’s just in my dreams! ha!)
I love love love your closing line – this is a big truth for me. I find the pictures make me live the life I want to live more. On days when I have nothing to post, it makes me go out and look for it – be that a trip to the florist or a walk in the park. I’m really grateful for that influence in my life.
Great first comment – please come back soon and leave more 😀 xxx

I enjoy both and think it depends on the person ‘gramming. For certain people, the entire point of doing it is to have one place in their life where everything is beautiful, where everything is curated, a place to be reminded that there is more than dirty laundry and crusty dishes. I don’t think that’s dishonest–I think we as viewers need to remember more often that no one is perfect. It’s such an overused phrase…I believe it’s lost its meaning. We need to take things at face value and just enjoy them, especially depictions of others’ lives.

I checked because I had a vague memory of the same discussion with you previously and wasn’t sure if my memory served me well (apparently it did…).

No credit due for re-tweeting, tho I use twitter so little maybe a bit of a fanfare for the fact that I tweeted at all (and that one of the few times I have used it has sparked a conversation of this size). Occasions like this make me really appreciate the reach of “social media” and that there are so many people to have a “conversation” with on an interesting topic.

Yes to the wine and stationery (two of my favourite things, how could I refuse?), lets sort a date. x

Thank you for this great post, Sara! I am glad to be back home and have a proper internet connection now that allows me to comment 😉 I always thought that IG was bringing something new to the social network world, not only because it was picture based, but also because it gave everyone the opportunity to share snapshots of their travels, life, work etc. I am perfectly ok with the fact that they may be edited, after all, IG was born with in-built editing tools, right? As long as the pictures tell a story, I don’t mind whether the brightness has been tweaked with and I usually smile at everyday shots that may not be as polished as the styled ones; mine is probably also a self-indulgent smile since I am no photographer and am fully aware of my own artistic limits 🙂 That’s the fun of IG too, not to mention that as much as I would like to carry around a camera with me 24/7, given my lifestyle, this is not going to happen. So, my trusted phone is my ally in spontaneity. As I write about edited pictures, it comes to my mind that I am not so lenient towards journalistic photography which, in my opinion, has a different mission altogether – probably akin to that of written journalism – but that’s a different discussion, right? For the record: food pictures tell tons of stories and only looking at a full dish all kinds of ideas and bits of experience come to mind. I wouldn’t even wait 50 years 😉 So, I cheer for IG and for its mixture of styled, professional looking pictures and the informal snapshot: diversity is my motto here.

I read a lot of articlrs on various our blogs, but here goes my first ever comment, because you sure did make me think about this one.
First of all, the accounts I follow are a mix of styled and rl photos. When I first downloaded IG it was for the filters and to share photos with friends, who had already used the app, INSTAntly. Discovering new accounts showed me the other side of the app, the more artistic one, the world of styled coffees and playing with petals. Very inspiring and motivating. So I started styling and playing myself and I’m definitely loving it. The second step I took thanks to IG was the decision to purchase a camera. My phone camera didn’t satisfy me any more (not necessarily for Instagram, but I wanted to have/take creative and good photos of my daughters for private use) The moment I took my first dslr photo I thought, I am never ever posting a mobile photo. But I was so wrong. I mix it up now because I usualy want to post immediately and therefore I make sometimes double or just Android shots.
How ig changed my life? I am now discovering the world of dslr (beside Ig) and even if I don’t post the shot I took, hey I still get to enjoy my styled cuppa with flowers or petals on the table, which I didn’t before, so thank you Instagram for my instalife turning real.

This is a great blog, I was having a lengthy discussion yesterday on this subject and now you’ve changed my mind!! I like to see a mix, I like to see normality but often feel inspired by the more curated shots – there is room for both! If anything, IG has made me think more about my photography and its how I document my daily life at home and work – it’s something to look back on, tidy or not?! Xxxxx

I follow mostly real life. I love a bit of escapism because my life isn’t all that pretty and I spend a lot of my time at work thinking about social inequality, so I need to switch off every now and then. But, if I’m honest, I find the sheer volume of contrived prettiness on Instagram quite eerie. As an intersectional feminist it concerns me that Instagram is so white, middle class and aspirational, and that it places yet another pressure on women – to reflect domestic perfection in their everyday life. I feel that pressure and I know others do too. I suppose I feel conflicted! Sometimes I like a dreamy edit of a flower, mostly I love learning how other women navigate their real lives.

I like to see amix – some of the accounts I follow have beautiful pictures, others document real day to day life and tell a story. It’s good to have variety 🙂

I’m all about the beautiful images, I don’t want to see the dirty dishes ? I do like it when mums share the reality of their day to day though, I’ve often shared photos that look pretty and serene but been honest in the comment that in actual fact in this photo my kids are arguing. Maybe spoils the magic for some but I like that kind of honesty as I feel less like a failure ?

Really interesting discussion. I am one using a camera part of the time, and my phone some of it, but I’m doing that because I’m learning photography, and when I get a good shot, I want to share it! The feedback I get is invaluable too.

I also share my drawings, and that’s a whole other thing. And once I shared a shot of my washing basket with the tag #honestinstagram and that was surprisingly popular 😉

I guess it’s whatever you make of it, pretty much like anywhere else on the ‘net.

Hey Sara, thanks for your reply.

I sent an email to you these days, check it out if you have an opportunity.

About my “photographically sound images” I’ll make it easier to you, my instagram is @breves333 and you can visit breves333.com

I hope you enjoy.

Let me know what you think about it 😉

Hi V, thanks for joining in the discussion here!
What’s interesting about your comment is it reminds me very much of the advice I give to makers and other professionals who use Instagram as a promotional tool for their work – that is, to share their everyday. People don’t follow on instagram to see the same products or work they can see on your website – they want a glimpse into your world. So I absolutely agree on this point, which is why I always have time for coffee photos and selfies!
But I suspect (& I’ll go and investigate your feed once I’ve written this to check), that as a photographer you only ever post photographically sound images. You probably only ever *take* photographically sound images, in fact, so you’re already choosing from a better bunch than most of us! 🙂

As to likes and follows, I agree the spam is irritating. Whether the number counts depends a lot on what your aims for your instagram account are – many use instagram as a promotional tool for their business, and undeniably a better, wider reach is a postitive thing. I’ve personally been able to monetize my photography work via Instagram in a way that wouldn’t have been possible without a large following, so while I accept that your aims are far more noble and worthy, I’d still say I can absolutely see the appeal of likes & follows!
Thanks again for such an interesting perspective. Sara x

Ha! I didn’t remember who had tweeted it, or I’d have credited you! 🙂

I have mixed feelings about DSLR photos on instagram. I agree it goes against the original principle, and I always try to take an iphone photo for instagram, even if it is a duplicate of a ‘real camera’ photo on my blog (like today’s!). I like the challenge of staying to iphone for instagram, personally, but I also do enjoy a lot of gorgeous analogue and digital photography I see on Instagram that I wouldn’t have found without it. I don’t blame photographers for using it as a platform to get more exposure, and overall I don’t think it spoils my instagram experience.

But accounts of magazine style shots, all glossy and post production, styled to the max, are undeniably dull. More boring than washing up, by a long stretch.

I’m not going to touch the journalism vs art debate – mainly because I’m not sure what I think, and will ponder it a bit. I suspect my images most often fall in the middle – a real moment, slightly tweaked. Of course, there are total spontaneous captures in there too, and they do feel like the most satisfying, my personal favourites.

April is unbelievable – this year is flying by. Wine and papergoods soon please x

Instagram is a new world for me, not because I didn’t know but because didn’t use it before.

I’m a photographer and for a long time everytime when I thought about instagram comes to my mind many things about rights of the images and this kind of things.

Today I’m living another relationship with this “social media” I’m building an artistic work, and for the first time, I really want to share my work with the world.

But, It’s not so simple.

I think if you only share “good/perfect/artistic” pictures all the time, maybe people can know your work, but don’t know who are you and are you think.

Because work, it’s a part of life, but it’s not the life.

So, today I try to mix all these things my work, what I think, some personal things…

And I believe that way you can really touch people.

About likes, everyday many fake profiles follow me, to offer more likes and followers, and about this, I think: I don’t want more followers or likes I want to inspire people with my work and these 2 things are very different.

I hope to have contributed in some way, have a nice day.

I want to be clear, when I tweeted that I wasn’t bashing careful curators and people who hone their art and skills, it peeved me that people are using Instagram against the very heart of it.

The whole point of Instagram is that it is a mobile photography app, no?

In my opinion it makes a total mockery of it when people use it as a photography sharing platform for images created by cameras and means external to a mobile. I can get on board styling images and crafting an image (tho I could get involved in another discussion entirely about whether photography is an art and for images to be crafted and presented by the artist or whether it is a journalistic means of pictorially representing the true image as found, but I think that’s a whole different post entirely and probably subjective anyway) but feel that for images to be created elsewhere and imported in is the real lie.

In answer to your talking point, my favourite accounts are the ones that nestle quietly in the overlap, those who capture their every day moments with beauty and style.

Hurray! Thank you Susie – especially as I was a bit nervous about posting this and potentially offending people. I’m off to hunt down your washing up picture now – it’s a bit of a silly example really as I’m sure it can look lovely and quietly domestic. Perhaps I should have said ‘you don’t need to instagram your cat sick’ or similar 😀 (slightly less good as a post title, though….) x

Yes yes yes! I get a special kind of quiet satisfaction looking over my own IG feed, because it’s all my favourite memories, my favourite photographs, my favourite things. I suppose it’s my life, filtered a bit – ‘the edited highlights of my life’, I called it on Radio 4 – but it’s been proven in studies that reminding yourself of happy memories makes you happier and more satisfied overall in life. Instagram is a great tool for nurturing gratitude, I think! x

Wholeheartedly agree with everything you say – thank you for taking the time to comment.
Captions are so key – I wish I had included this in the above now! Plenty of times I’ve posted a lovely chilled out morning-scene with a caption confessing I’m actually stuck in traffic eating cold toast, but the photo is what I’m doing in my mind! & that to me is what IG is all about. Aspirational is fine, but a completely fictional life is no good for anyone – viewers or posters. I suspect the people who fictionalise their real life to such an extent are probably a bit unhappy with their reality, and imagine that everyone else is doing the same. xx

Yes, creative scope! That’s exactly what drew me in too. A little bit of everyday creativity, wherever we are!
You’re right, that most healthy users do understand, though I suppose it’s always good to be mindful of the vulnerable too. As others have said, captions go a long way to explaining this – as well as posts like this, hopefully!

Such an insightful post; I’m totally with you on this. I have a career which I do enjoy, but has zero scope for creativity — for me, IG is a much needed creative outlet. Most healthy IG users are fully aware that beautiful, styled accounts are not an accurate representation of one’s real life. Now I’m off to try a styled washing-up shot ?…

Totally agree! That’s what I aim for – my comments are often quite sarcastic and making fun of myself, and now you mention it, my favourite accounts are the ones that do the same. Beautiful pics with an admission of toddler tantrums in the background! 🙂

I think the sweet spot on IG is lovely, interesting photos but with a lot of genuine heart and soul in the comments, putting the photos in context and sharing a bit of real life that way?

I definitely agree with what you’re saying! Pretty pictures can have their own value, but at the same time I also feel like they can be seen as “fake” or “having no meaning”. I agree that styling and photography are art forms, and having these skills are something to be admired. But posting these sort of styled photos as examples of your talents and skills is completely different from posting these photos and pretending that this is just your life. So for me, it really all depends on the captions and purpose of these styled photos. You can post pretty pictures and pretend that your life consists of these perfect coffee cups and magazines, or you can post these same pictures and say something real about what happened in your life today. Take food bloggers as the perfect example. Their instagram account could purely be made up of perfectly styled photos of cakes and brownies. But no one would have a problem with it because they don’t say, “oh, I just casually baked this cake on a whim and it turned out like this” but rather, their audience knows that these photos are styled, appreciate the styling, and know that these photos are not accurate representations of the actual cooking process or their life. But when someone else styles their life, and acts like they don’t, well, it’s a completely different story. And a story that many people would not be okay with, including me, because honestly, when you do that, it takes the meaning out of all your photos and doesn’t make your followers feel good.

Sorry for the long comment, but this issue is just something that has been all over my mind lately!

I totally agree with you x IG for me is a gallery of my best images, best objects, best flowers I wouldn’t post anything that I didn’t believe to be beautiful in the same why I won’t buy an ugly spatula or towel!! Everything in my house has to be perfect in my eyes and it’s up to everyone else to decide if they want to like it xxx three cheers for filters and faffing!

I’m virtually cheering you on as I read this. Couldn’t agree more. I did IG my washing up once and it got a surprising high number of likes; perhaps it was the “behind the scenes” nature of the curated feed that is sometimes a reality check. Almost like saying, yes I’m real and do real things??