One summer I grew sweet peas from seed. They shot out from the earth like fairytale beanstalks. Two foot, three – outgrowing their netting until they flopped over the fence into next door’s garden. Turns out you have to pinch out the ‘growing tip’; if you don’t reign them in, they keep on spiralling up and don’t get around to making flowers.

It’s a pretty good analogy for Instagram, I think, especially when we get our focus wrong. Sometimes we put so much energy into growth that we forget to let ourselves bloom.

This course is an antidote to that.

‘Your most engaging photo ever’

That’s your challenge during this course – to get the most likes, comments and views you’ve ever had on a post. Simply because your content deserves it – because your photos are wonderful, unique and inspiring. Because you’re in bloom, and the community is drawn to you like bees in the sun.

Oh, & nature.

Ever noticed the magic appeal of flowers on Instagram? Whether in flat-lays or as just as a small part of a wider scene, floral photography brings in clicks, comments, likes and followers.

Bloom & Growteaches you how to harness that power, and make it your own. You don’t need to be a flatlay photographer with a flowery feed; whether you’re all-white and minimal, moody and journalistic, entirely travel-based or anything else, we’ll look at ways to weave a little floral magic into your photographs.

Not that ‘flowery’ a person? No, me either, to be honest, but they’re really just a hook to get things started. The lessons I’ll be sharing extend way beyond the floral, into all areas of your Instagram photography.

The nights draw in, the days get short. You’re spending increasing amounts of time under a blanket on the sofa, or trying to remember what your house looks like in daylight. It’s cold, it’s rainy, and it seems cruelly ironic that just when you really need the mood-boosting goodness of creativity and photography the most, there’s nothing worth instagramming in your life.

Sound familiar?

I’m going to let you in on a secret: the best time to be on Instagram is in the winter months. People are online more, which makes it easier to connect. Without the flowers and sunsets of summertime, people’s home feeds grow quieter, while we all look and hope to be uplifted. Master winter photography on Instagram, and you’ll not only make yourself feel better – you’ll take a growing community of followers along for the glittering, snow-dusted ride!

Gloom & Glow is a four-week guided tour of all the very best bits of winter photography – how to do it, how to love it, and how to use it to grow your tribe.