Category: Creator’s Academy

Tips & Tricks on how to create great content, negotiating with brands and pricing your account

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Community Stories Creator's Academy

Lights, Cameowra!

While everyone was looking at the wide-eyed, snow-coloured Scottish Fold x Ragdoll, Kyubi was looking at one thing — her pawrent and the eye of all Kyubi’s photos, Jane. The Temasek Polytechnic Graduate majored in Film and Television, and later refined her fundamentals in photography in part thanks to the influence of photography hobbyists among her friends and family.

Since adopting her in May of 2020, Jane and Kyubi have been sharing their photos ever since, amassing a huge following of 3.8k followers on Instagram. We thus invited her to share with us her photography techniques and tips for aspiring pet photographers

Jane’s 5 Essential Tools

  1. Camera and Lens

A good investment begins with a good camera. But as Jane states, a phone camera works just as well.

  1. Lighting

“Especially for indoor lighting,” Jane explains, “we use a few small, compact LED lights to illuminate the set, and a softbox to diffuse the light so that it doesn’t look too harsh on Kyubi.” In the case of animal photography, softboxes ensure that the light does not blind their eyes. As for how it looks in the frame, bright light constricts their pupils, causing them to appear small instead.

Jane recalled an incident where Kyubi’s eyes had become watery after one of their shoots. “I noticed that it was because the light was shining straight into her eyes. The glare was strong enough to make Kyubi uncomfortable.” It was through this trial-and-error and Jane understood the importance of a softbox.

  1. Backdrop

Contrary to popular belief, Jane and Kyubi do not work with huge backdrops. “I just work with whatever I have, be it brown bag paper or cloth,” she said, holding up what looks like a pink sheet of mahjong paper. “It all depends on the angle of the camera and how big your subject is. Making sure that it all fits into the frame.” 

Materials for backdrops can be found in Artfriend, Popular, or even Spotlight.

  1. Props

Jane advises against getting too many niche props, as they often end up as a one-use purchase. Instead, she recommends more generic props (e.g. flowers, fake candy, small figurines, etc.) to add value to the scene.

  1. Accessories

Accessories, wardrobe, and costume, to be exact. Beyond the usual accessories like bandana and bows, it is okay to purchase clothes specifically for thematic photoshoots.

Behind the Mind

When asked what goes into the conceptualisation of her shoots, Jane states that her shoots are usually to commemorate special days, or otherwise  inspired by the food she ate.

Spur of the moment

“One time I saw a sushi conveyor belt toy while browsing online and I was like, “I’ve got to get it. I have to do an Omakase-style photoshoot.””

Special Events

Jane : For our National Day photoshoot, we brought Kyubi to the iconic Dragon Playground at Toa Payoh just to take photos.

Improvise

Jane : We had a lottery themed photoshoot recently. For the scene, we collected a lot of lottery tickets from my grandmother and put it in a pile at the backdrop. For props, I made origami ribbons out of some tickets for Kyubi to wear. Sometimes you can just make do with everyday items from home.

Omakase-style shoot , National Day shoot, and Lottery-themed shoot

Working with animals

When asked how Kyubi learned to be so well-behaved, Jane laughed. “From the first shoot to perhaps the fifth or sixth one, Kyubi’s attention span was rather short. After 2-3 mins of shooting, you can see that her temper would start to show. She will become very restless, and will want to escape or lie down.” 

Jane then emphasised that it’s only natural that these things happen when photographing pets. “Be patient with them and reward them with treats for behaving. I give Kyubi treats once she sits for the shoot. After a while, we would notice that Kyubi would automatically walk up to the backdrop whenever she sees us setting up for a shoot.”

Jane continues the interview with a warm smile as she talks about the support she feels brimming from Singapore’s pet owner and pet influencer community. “Everyone in the community is very close. I appreciate that pet owners share their daily stories… their experiences… sometimes just seeking help or giving recommendations about what’s out there in the market through their reviews. It’s through these social interactions that we can learn how to be better pet owners.”

Follow Jane and Kyubi on Instagram to see their latest shoots!

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Creator's Academy

How to get your pet sponsored

Now you have a Creator Account, and you know your Insights. The next grand step is to get brands to look at your furbaby. It’s time to strike a deal.

Know what makes your furbaby special

Like any other pawrent, our furbabies are our pride and joy. We know what makes them one of a kind, even if it isn’t as apparent to others. When showing your furbabies to the world, it’s important to know what makes them special, and present brands or topics related to them. That is a niche.

Profile : @kiki.catto on Instagram

When you have a niche, you can work with your furbaby to make an Instagram profile that specially features brands from that niche to attract their attention. For instance, @kiki.catto ‘s niche is in cat fashion, so their profile has been tailored to feature apparel and accessories.

Once you have built your niche, your audience will also shift to be those with similar interests as well. Brands and businesses will also start to identify you with that niche, and contact you for collaborations related to those.

The more your furbaby is comfortable with that specialty, the more content you can both present to potential partners.

Know the people in the scene

It goes without saying that if you have a niche, you should know who provides goods and services for that niche. If your pawpal is a homebody who prefers to laze around, you would not want to reach out to  sponsors for outdoor accessories for pets. In kopi.thedog ‘s case, Kopi is good at modelling, so her pawrent chose to let her represent brands like @_furristictales and @how.bow.that that allow her to stay true to her personality.


Profile : @kopi.thedog on Instagram

Reaching out to potential partners — Do’s and Don’ts

DO: Introduce yourself

Let your potential partners know who your furbaby is. Explain what your niche is and why collaborating with you would be a good move — not just for you, but also for their business. 

DON’T: Flex

While showing potential partners your follower count does indicate your potential for massive outreach, you should not let that confidence cloud your judgement. Saying “my pet has over 800 followers on Instagram” is not an instant ticket to getting sponsored. Likewise, if your potential partner turns down your pitch, you’ll stand to leave a positive impression by responding graciously.

DO: Show how effective your platform can be for them

It is good to include data like your follower count and your insights. These numbers will give your potential partners the assurance that you can provide the outreach and engagement they are looking for.

Here’s what potential partners might like to know:

  • Who is your audience? 
  • Are they the kind of audience who will support the things you’re promoting?
  • What kind of content gets you the most engagement?

DON’T: Make unreasonable demands.

You should know your worth and be confident in asking for what you think you deserve. But you need to be realistic, flexible, and open to discussion.

Do : Be patient

If you’re reaching out to your potential partner, chances are you’re not the only one. In fact, brands receive collaboration requests all the time. Don’t feel discouraged from rejection! Fall seven times and stand up. While you might get a “no” 3 times, it’s the 4th brand you contact that might give you a “yes.”

When a brand contacts you for potential partnerships

  1. Read the offer carefully

Understand where the brand is coming from, and what exactly they are looking for.

  1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Always make sure you are 100% sure of the terms. If something is not mentioned (e.g. payout, duration, restrictions, etc.), make sure to clarify before taking up their offer.

  1. Know when to say “no”

Negotiation is key! If you know you are worth more than what they can offer, you can kindly discuss the terms. Don’t be afraid to say no to a partnership that is not mutually beneficial.

Instagram doesn’t have to be all business. Click here to find out how you can do more with your pets on Instagram.

Featured Image by KoolShooters from Pexels

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Creator's Academy

Understanding Instagram Insights

Earlier this week, we gave you a small glimpse of the perks of using an Instagram Creator Account (you can read about it here). One of the big game-changers you get that personal accounts don’t get is the Insights feature. By looking at insights, creators like you will be able to identify how your followers engage with your content, which will improve your Instagram strategy.

?? Does that sound too complicated???
Well, let’s make it easy to understand!

“Reach” out to your audience effectively

In the ‘Reach’ section, you will get a good idea of how many people are looking at your posts. Your reach covers data like :

  • Impressions – How often your posts were seen (if the same person looks at it 5 times, that is also 5 impressions)
  • Account Activity – When someone visits your Profile
  • Top Posts – Posts that your followers keep going back to
  • Top Stories – Instagram Stories posts that got the most views and engagement.

Top IGTV Videos – IGTV videos that have the most views and comments

You can also see the insights for a single Instagram post too! Each image in your profile will have its own “view insights” button. These insights will show what actions users took on your profile when they see your post. If your post includes links to other sites, the insights will reflect those site visits as well!

Know how “Discovery” affects your engagement

If you’ve been using Instagram long enough, you’ll know that there are many ways for users to find your post. To name a few:

  • From your Home page
  • By visiting your profile
  • Through the Explore tab
  • By searching specific hashtags
  • By seeing posts from similar location tags

Insights on the “Discover”  tab will let you know how each post is found. It also shows how likely the post was seen by someone who has not yet followed you. Having a good amount of reach is a healthy sign that your pawpals are being spotted. ??

Story Insights are slightly different

Your Instagram Stories, as fleeting as they are, are more than just one-time videos of your pawpals doing zoomies in the park. Because of how easy it is to watch, it can end up being really effective in sharing quick content. Some data unique to Story Insights include:

  • Taps Forward / Taps Back – The number of times your story gets skipped to your next one, or tapped to show your previous story
  • Replies – How many times someone starts a conversation by replying to your story
  • Swipe Aways / Exits – More brutal than your taps forward, these refer to the number of times users skip your stories, either to the next account’s stories, or to go back to their home feed.

Now that you know…

Now that you know how to look at your insights, you’ll be able to come up with better strategies to reach out to other pawrents (and even collaborators!) Here are some strategies you can follow:

Tip 1: Make Content that Collaborators will like

Through insights, you will know which posts and stories get more impressions. If the insights show that your followers like a picture of your cat having an existential crisis more than one of your cat just looking at the camera, then it’s time to consider posting more comical content that shows off your pawpal’s character and personality.



Photo Credits : @zil.zed.bsh

Tip 2 : Scheduling your Posts

Your audience is sure to see your content at different times of the day, but your insights will reveal that they have a preferred time to browse Instagram. Once you know that, you can time your posts so that they can appear when you have the most of your followers online

Tip 3 : Include the right hashtags

It’s important to make sure that your posts aren’t just seen by your followers, but also by brands and other users that haven’t followed you. Using the “Discovery” feature, you will now understand which hashtags Instagrammers are more likely to use. From there, it is just a matter of using the right hashtags for your posts for a wider reach.

You can also use hashtag generators that can recommend the right hashtags based on your post. Just drop the photo or the post and watch the magic happen!

Instagram doesn’t have to be all business. Click here to find out how you can do more with your pets on Instagram.

Featured image by No Longer Here on Pixabay

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Creator's Academy

5 tips to up your Instagram game!

Is your pet more famous than you on social media? Do you put more effort into taking pictures of your pet than you do for yourself? Is your pet’s fanbase more than just your friends and family? If the answer is yes to all three of these questions, then you probably have a pet influencer in the making. 

Here at Pawjourr, we help your furkids reach new heights by collaborating with brands and causes that they love. You may even have already read our previous article about how to meet the criteria for becoming a pet influencer. However, pet ownership can be made much more enjoyable with the content you create for your loved one. Here are some tips that you can follow with your pet on Instagram:

  • Have a persona
  • Find out what everyone’s up to
  • #Feedgoals
  • Vary your stories
  • Quality over quantity

Have a persona

How do you share moments of your furbaby with the world? You can do so with a Hooman voice or your Pawpal voice. A Hooman voice is essentially you talking about your pet from your perspective. By giving your friends a look into your journey as a pet owner, other pawrents will find you more relatable and even chat with you for a playdate!

Let the world know what your furbabies are up to! Did your cat scratch the sofa? How naughty, you should talk about that! Did your birb dance to a catchy tune? Adorable! We want to see it too!

You can give your pets more personality with a Pawpal Voice. You’d pretty much be giving your fans a look into your pet’s thoughts and musings. How they interact with their hooman and the world around them. You could even try using unique or funny language styles in the captions to have more fun with the moment!

If ur pet iz derp, 
play wif words.
If your pet… is slow… and listless… your posts… could reflect that… as well…

Find out what everyone’s up to

Instagram is a good way for your pawpal to make more friends. Keep exploring various activities with your pet and find what makes for a fun time for the both of you! Look at the hashtags and trends that other pawrents are doing with their pawpals and consider trying them out too. When your pet is having fun, other pawrents will want to join in. Warm up to having conversations with them and before you know it, your doggos will be out on playdates with other pawpals!

#Feedgoals

If you would like to get noticed by collaborators and brands, it is important that you are not all business. Our furbabies’ comfort and joy are paramount after all! You can always post pictures that give products and brands a shoutout, but we recommend not doing so too often. Plan a schedule for yourself, decide when you will be posting more content and use a consistent editing style for your photos (we’ll go into that later). A good mix of casual posts to product shoutouts — say, 3 casual posts for every 1 product shoutout — would make your profile more authentic and fun.

Vary your stories

Instagram Stories come in many forms like Boomerangs, Layouts, and just the simple but versatile Create function. All of these are fun ways to quickly share pictures and videos of your pawpals.

• Boomerang — Create videos that make your pet look like they’re derping back and forth
• Layouts — Make collages out of multiple photos and share them as either a story or a post
• Create — Engage your audience through a variety of prompts and customisations

By adding various quick edits like filters, stickers, and music, your precious moments can become even prettier!

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by b♾merang (@boomerangfrominstagram)

Quality over Quantity

As you have realised, our furbabies will not always be in the mood to sit around for us to take pictures of them. You won’t be able to post new content everyday. So rather than trying to flood your Instagram feed with posts every day, you could instead take more shots at one time and spread those posts over a few days and weeks.

As for the photos that you post, you could make them prettier with photo editing apps like VSCO and Snapseed. A simple snapshot of your favourite pawpal could look magical through a quick edit!

  • Original
  • With Photo Edits
  • Using Preset

Photo credit : @hoshisheltie

That’s all the tips we have for now!
Find out how the folks at Pawjourr supports your journey as a content creator. For more photography tips, you can read this article!

Stay tuned on this space for more content, we look forward to your new curated instafeed!

Categories
Creator's Academy

Converting To A Creator Account : What to expect

Instagram Creator Accounts are perfect for pawrents looking to make the most out of their instagram experience. If you’re looking to find out more about the relationship between your audience and the content you post, this article will bring you up to speed.

Detailed insights and analytics

Insights are pivotal to growing your presence on Instagram. By understanding how your audience feels about the content you create, you also understand what they want to see more of, and therefore better engage with them. Insights and analytics include:

  1. Overview of Reach and Impressions

This basically refers to what people have done on your profile

  1. Audience Insights

Audience insights includes the tally of accounts followed or unfollowed, the age range of your audience, where they are most likely to interact with you from geographically, and when they are most active

  1. Content Performance

The performance of your posts, Instagram Stories, and IGTVs are measured through customisable factors like Impressions, likes, comments, follows, and many others

Streamlined Messaging

To make messaging easier and less cluttered, Instagram’s Creator Accounts help to organise your messages into 3 boxes:

  1. Primary

Your Primary Inbox is the tab that you’d like to see first. It will be set for keeping in contact with people you follow or interact with often. You will want to be notified whenever they reach out to you.

  1. General 

The General Inbox will be for followers interacting with you for the first time. Notifications are turned off for messages in the general tab, but you can always turn them on later.

  1. Requests 

Requests are messages from accounts that you do not follow. Spam-related messages also fall into this category.

Flexibility to brand your name

Instagram Creator Accounts have the option to choose a category label that allows for other brands and companies to identify you. Many of these categories are better aligned for personal brands and influencers, rather than businesses. This way, you will be able to find something that resonates with your brand.

On the business side of things, category labels are great for classifying what you are specialised in. A brand who sees your profile will know at a glance if your values align with theirs, so it saves both your time and theirs!

Shoppable Posts

For the inner entrepreneur in you, Instagram has an easy way to turn your followers into customers. Using a function known as Instagram Shoppable posts, you can link photos of your products — or products of brand partners — to the Instagram Shop catalog. Shoppable posts are great for promoting your personal fan merchandise as they allow you to combine valuable context (e.g. size options, colour palette, etc.) without cluttering your captions, and also gives a direct route to the shop.

Now that you are more familiar with Instagram’s Creator Account functions, you will be able to make a more informed decision on setting it up. Are you ready to make the switch?

Image Credits : Cover Photo by energepic.com from Pexels

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Creator's Academy

Top 5 Petfluencer Photography Tips

Starting your pet influencing journey?

As a pet influencer, there will always be times where you have to post a photo of your pet with a sponsored product. Instead of simply posting a still image of your pet with the pet product beside it, up your petfluencer game by varying pet poses and making it more dynamic!

Here are some of the simple yet effective ways to take fun shots of your pet with the product.

1. Catch that mlem

First, position your pet next to the product. Feed them a treat and snap multiple shots while they are engrossed in licking their lips. This is a great way to demonstrate how yummy the product is!

Designer Tip!: You can set your phone/camera mode to ‘Burst shots’ for fast and efficient photo capture and pick the best one.

Another easy trick is to dab some wet pet food onto the back of the product’s packaging and take a quick shot when your pet is in the midst of licking it.

2. Product Interaction

(Left) Photo Credit: Instagram @_missygigi_

The product speaks best for itself when it is seen enjoyed by pets. Get some candid shots of your pet in the midst of eating or playing with the product for a genuine review.

3. Eyes on the Prize

One of the few basic ways to improve your photos is to capture eye contact!

No eye contact (left) VS Eye contact (Right)

Many underestimate the power of audience engagement when the pet makes eye contact with the camera. The easiest way is to call your pet’s name or any word that catches their attention, otherwise, simply hold a treat or a toy above the phone/camera.

4. Set the Stage

Taking photos in different locations can also refresh the look of your pictures.

Indoor (@miss.rileypoo) and Outdoor (@hirothesuperdoggo)

Be it at the park, the streets or at home, do remember to make use of natural lighting for optimum photo quality. Ensure that the background is clutter-free and plain enough so that the focus would remain on your pet.

Photo Credit: (from left to right) Instagram @kyubi.ninetales, @dubuwubu, @shiba.haru.uni

For food-related products: Fancy plating and props will definitely help spice up your pictures. If you don’t have many resources on hand, you can always experiment with your product’s arrangement to make them stand out from the ordinary.

5. Dress it Up!

Dressing your pet up for the occasion also helps to personalise and bring a touch of fun into the picture. This is also a good chance to finally show off all your fancy wardrobe collections!

Photo Credit: (from left to right) Instagram @chivastheshiba, @garlick_n_shallot, @nikki.pompom

Designer Tip!: Try to find costumes that best compliment the product. A little goes a long way when it comes to telling a story through your pictures.

Anyone can be a petfluencer – you don’t need professional skills or expensive props! Just remember our 5 simple tips:

  1. Catch that mlem!
  2. Interact with the product
  3. Capture eye contact
  4. Set the stage
  5. Try on costumes

Challenge yourself to make the most of what you have, as well as thinking out of the box!

Remember, the effort you put in your pictures are definitely recognised and appreciated by your followers and brands! So keep these tips in mind and have fun being a better petfluencer!

Categories
Creator's Academy

Top 5 Pet Product Photography Tips

1. Lighting

Sunlight vs Softbox Lighting

Good lighting is key to great photos.

For high contrast photos with stark shadows, opt for using direct sunlight. Cloudy days can also prove useful for softer yet natural lighting.

Otherwise, you might want to invest in a softbox light that is quite affordable online for more consistent lighting.

Do take note of reflection/glare from product packaging that will hinder its appearance.

Designer Tip!: Use a white sheet as a reflector to soften the light source or tilt the packaging at another angle where the light doesn’t hit it directly.

2. Mind your background!

The background of the picture is another essential aspect that will differentiate your picture from an impromptu everyday photo or a more professional one. It is also an easy one to change!

All you need is some large paper taped to the wall for an easy studio-style photo. Plain cloths or rugs are fine as well.

Designer Tip!: Take your photos next to the window for the best results with natural lighting!

3. Props, props, props!

Props can help push the concept of the product and its function while making it more aesthetically pleasing.

Props don’t have to be specially bought – things found around the house works as well! Just gather whatever you can think of that is related to the product and layer them over each other for extra depth for the image.

For Pet Food products, opt to display them alongside tea towels, metal grills, chopping boards, pet bowls, fancy saucers and cutlery.

For Pet Hygiene Products, you can place them alongside towel, sponge, soap suds, shower cap and even a rubber duck!

Designer Tip!: Dried or fresh flowers or fake foliage can be used as extra fillers.

4. Dealing with unappetising Pet Food

Pet food is not necessarily the most attractive thing to photograph but worry not.

The best way to present pet food is to showcase the actual size and texture of the product. This can be decorated via creative plating where the pet food is arranged into fun shapes by freezing them in moulds. You can even mix a few different products together for the variation in colour and texture.

Another way is to place the pet food on a fancy or colourful plate to compensate for the dull colour of the food itself. Smaller portions can also be placed on a wooden spoon or small saucers for a stronger focus.

Ideally, relevant fresh ingredients or spice bottles can be included in the background to inform viewers more about what the food is made of.

Designer Tip!: Try to stick to warm appetising colours like wood brown, yellow and orange.

5. Most importantly, include a pet!

Close-ups of products and food will definitely give viewers the best view of the products.

Nonetheless, including a pet that enjoys the product will personalise and bring credibility to it.

Pet Harness by itself vs as shown on a Pet

Pets are more engaging than a motionless product, especially for pet accessories that require a real-life model for maximum visualisation of the product.

Designer Tip!: You don’t have to include the whole pet – even elements of pets like a paw peeping from the side can make the photo more interesting.

Stay tuned for our next article with more tips on how to take better pictures of your pet with products!

Categories
Creator's Academy

Top 5 Photo Editing Tips

Our in-house designers are in charge of taking our beautiful newsletter photos. They work hard around the clock to ensure our pictures are of the highest quality.

Taking photos outdoors, or of your pet can be a tricky one. We don’t have the liberty of knowing when the sun will rise, or if your pet will stay still throughout the duration of the photoshoot. Check out their tips on photo editing that are guaranteed to help you achieve the best photos possible. 

Let us know in the comments if any of these helped!

Designer Tip!:  You don’t have to use professional paid programs or have the know-how of a photographer to get nice photos. Simply use free apps like VSCO and tweak the adjustments accordingly to make your grid have a consistent look.

1. Crop for Better Composition

It is always a good habit to crop images to improve photo composition. Follow the rule of thirds or centralise the subject and ensure that there is an even amount of breathing space around the edges.

Cropping can also come in handy to remove any unsightly object in the background.

Designer Tip!: As a general rule, avoid cropping right at the edge of an object – either leave some space or crop beyond the edge.

2. Increase Exposure

If your picture isn’t taken under direct, maximum sunlight, chances are that you will need to brighten it. For a better sense of how bright it needs to be, visualise it against your social media feed. Imagine it placed against a white background and determine if it looks dull in comparison.

Designer Tip!: Do note that if more than 10% of the picture is pure white, increasing the image’s exposure may result in it appearing too bright, a.k.a overexposed.

3. Increase Saturation

To make your pictures more colourful and bold, it is advisable to increase saturation for that pop of colour. Especially for food-related posts where stronger coloured food can look more appetising.

4. Adjusting Temperature

We tend to easily overlook the temperature of a photo. Yet, it is important in maintaining the image’s balance. For example, if the photo is too warm (orange tones) or too cool (blue tones), it may look off-kilter. Simply adjust it back closer to the neutral white tone to provide a clearer and cleaner appearance.

Designer Tip!: Of course, if you prefer having a cool/warm undertone for your photos, you should opt for a preset instead of adjusting the temperature directly.

5. Make Use of Presets

Presets are here to make your life easier. Different presets accentuate different colours in the photo that makes it more aesthetically pleasing – so if you are going for a warmer feel, get the ones that have a rose or orange tinge. Simply browse the few free ones available in the app and see which ones are to your liking.

Photo Credit: Instagram @_missygigi_

Designer Tip!: You can also copy pre-loved edits and paste them to your other photos for fuss-free consistent editing!

What do you think? Have you tried any of these tips before on your photos? Let us know if it works, or if they helped you gain a better understanding of how to improve the quality of your photos. 

We wish you all the best!

Categories
Creator's Academy

Top 5 Phone Photography Tips

Hey there petfluencers, struggling to take nice photos?

Our in-house designers are here to help! Besides coming up with beautiful graphics, they also take excellent photos of our office pets for promotional and marketing purposes.

Not everyone has the luxury to own a camera, hence our designers have compiled a list of useful tips for you when it comes to phone photography. From getting the best composition to locating free and great sources of light- read on to find how you can improve the quality of your photos!

Let us know if you try them out!

No camera? No problem! With the advancement of technology these days, you too can take amazing photos with just your smartphone. Here are a few basic yet essential tips to start you off on your photography journey!

1. Use Sunlight!

Artificial Light Vs…

… Sunlight!!

Natural sunlight is the best source of lighting for photos, the only drawback is its inconsistency throughout the times of the day. Nonetheless, it is still the most important and easy factor to enhance your photography. Lighting determines the brightness/darkness, tone, mood and atmosphere of the photos you take. Use the sunlight to your advantage for the best ambience.

Designer Tip!: Light from behind the camera pointing directly on the subject will give flat lighting and cause a shadow to fall in the background. Using lighting from the side will produce a more interesting effect on the images taken.

P.S Try taking your photos during Golden Hour, commonly occurring around 5pm!

2. Composition Using Gridlines

Composition is another basic and essential aspect of photography.

Utilise your mobile phone camera’s gridlines that can help you to balance or centralise your shots. An easy guide would be to follow the Rule of Thirds; where an image is divided into three parts both horizontally and vertically via two lines each.

Designer Tip!: Placing the subject at any of the areas along the lines would generally achieve a balanced look, especially the sections where the lines intersect.

3. Take Note of Negative Space

Negative spaces refers to the area in the picture that is not the subject.

Subject should not be taking up all the space in the photo. Be generous with the negative space around the subject to help the subject stand out more. It will also help to provide breathing room for the viewer.

4. Play with Different Perspectives

The most common angles to take a photo are from the top or from the front. Maximise your angle to add variety to your photos. Each perspective has their own merits and styles, so have fun experimenting which works better for the particular subject.

Do you prefer to take your photos top down in a 2D Flatlay position…

… or with a 3D Front View?

Designer Tip!: You can add depth by having objects in front or behind the subject that will give the viewer a sense of spatial awareness within the picture.

5. Lastly, Remember to Edit your Photos!

The truth about photography is that most things just don’t look that good in real life. There’s where photo editing comes in handy. Many people underestimate the power of photo edits – even the most basic edits like cropping and brightening can turn a bad photo into a good one!

With a smartphone, edits are made easier with the help of several simple and free apps. Sometimes, you may even just edit the photograph on Instagram itself and it seriously makes such a big difference!

Stay tuned to our next article for more photo editing tips!

Let us know in the comments which tip you liked best!

Categories
Creator's Academy

4 Ways Pawjourr supports your journey as a Pet Influencer

fluffy dog and cat in front of a white background

Starting your journey as a pet influencer?

Here at Pawjourr powered by The Woof Agency, we work to support and create job opportunities for pet influencers. We have taken the liberty of breaking down our resources to provide you with a comprehensive look at what we have to offer for every budding influencer.

Not sure what a pet influencer is? Check out our previous articles on pet influencers and pet marketing here.

1. Finding your Community

Photo Credit: Instagram @woof_sushi

Joining a community of like-minded influencers can help you connect and work with people (and pets!) that share similar interests. 

You can also gain ideas for your posts by interacting and checking out what your furfriends are up to! Having content that builds upon, or speaks to pre-existing influencers can also help to boost your follower count.

Further tips!

  • Connect with our pet influencers by joining our network here.
  • Find your community on Instagram by commenting and following pet accounts that you resonate with!

2. Discover your Pet’s Taste

Photo Credit: Instagram @babyeuruschan

Pet influencers also help to educate pet owners on the list of available Brands the pet industry has to offer. In order to educate and advise, it is important you are well-versed in the products available in the pet industry and know what works best for your pet.

If you deem a product suitable, you can definitely promote it and help other pet owners discover new Brands for their darling furkids!

We currently offer a Sampling program, in which you can redeem free samples for your pet! All you have to do is cover the delivery fee, which ranges from $2-3 and leave an informative review for each redemption!

Our range of samples are updated weekly, so you can continually try out new things. 

Further tips

  • You can also establish your pet’s taste profile on their social media, attracting pet owners whose pets share the same preferences.

3. Collaborate with Brands

Photo Credit: Instagram @nickyfats_

Once you are able to generate a sizeable audience for your content, it’s time to take the next big step– working with Brands via paid OR product partnerships!

It is every influencer’s dream to gain Brand recognition. Working with the Brands you love can also help you get products for free! Talk about a Win-Win situation. Representing these Brands will also help you to educate your audience on their benefits, and help you present a well-detailed review for each product.

Boost your pet’s social media presence by working hard to promote only the best for these animals!

Further Tips

  • Check out our list of ongoing campaigns here. Do take note of the eligibility criteria before applying.
  • Brands are likely to engage with social media accounts that have excellent photos and large followings. Keep an eye out for our upcoming articles on pet photography tips!

4. Become a Paw-del

Photo Credit: Instagram @oolongmilkytea

Lastly, once your pet has grown accustomed to the influencer lifestyle, you can attempt to register them as paw-dels.

Paw-dels are pet models who can be called upon to participate in photoshoots be it for film, marketing or even a TV commercial. Although this process does involve a stringent auditioning process, the results will be well worthwhile for you and your pet!

So remember the essential 4 Steps

  1. Find Community
  2. Discover Pet’s Taste
  3. Collaborate with Brands
  4. Lastly, become a Paw-del!!

Wherever you are, we will work with you to ensure that your Pet Influencer journey is as smooth as possible. 

Stay tuned for more Pet Influencer resources.