Let´s talk about Instagram again. About my latest features and the difficulties I had with each pic and about my personal struggles as a Bookstagrammer.
I´m slowly reaching my 2 year mark on being a Bookstagrammer. And as I´ve mentioned before- Taking pics, using filters, adding captions and finding time isn´t always a walk in the park. In fact- I struggle quite often with Instagram.
Here´s a tiny list of things I struggle with as a Bookstagrammer.
Problem #1 – Time
Time is my biggest enemy. There´s never enough time to get stuff done. While I´m already struggling with keeping a schedule outside my schedule I can´t find time to maintain a Insta-routine. And using an app for Instagram… Another app? I already use too many apps. Don´t need or want another one.
Problem #2- Engaging people
I can´t, not even if my life depended on it, type up anything interesting that would engage a person into having a convo. This is somewhat of a problem for me because I do love to chat but can´t seem to get a few lines up that would help get a convo started. Weird, right? A total lack of talent in that department.
Problem #3 – Filters
Those blasted filters. Those blasted edits on each filter. The problem here is- When there are too many options I can´t seem to find something to use. That´s information overload for me. I´m so indecisive. It takes so long for me to settle on a filter. Sure, there are those lucky pics I take that don´t need a filter but the rest? Brutal.
Problem #4 – Insecurities
Yes, I have my moments of weakness, too. What no one really knows… I have insecurities when it comes to Instagram. While this is a personal struggle I do believe I´m not the only one suffering from the pic pressure. It´s totally unnecessary, I know, but it still happens. It´s the algorithm. It´s my lack of commitment because of the algorithm. It´s because there are so many little turds younger bloggers who spent half their lives on Instagram because they have nothing else to do. I start questioning everything, even myself.
Is it because I´m older? Am I not hip enough? Maybe I care too much? Maybe I don´t care enough? I´m telling you… the struggle is real and it´s not pretty.
See? Working Instagram isn´t as easy as it seems ( for me ). It´s fun, most of the time but not always easy.
Nevertheless- Here are my recent Instagram features, including a small description on how the pics were made.
1.The Quick Set Up
Believe it or not- This pic was one of the easier ones to take for me. The candle, book, book box, the letter B and the mug were already on the diningroom table. This pic took less than 5 minutes and I only used 1 filter. YAY, for me.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BktLMF2lK2u/?hl=en&taken-by=morganasbookbox
2. The Disaster Shot
It seems like the more I work on my pics the messier they get. This happens when you have an idea and can´t make it happen. A book, a mug and my laptop. 2 Photoshop programs weren´t able to turn this into something presentable. 30 minutes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlBxVjPFBX_/?hl=en&taken-by=morganasbookbox
3. Action Pic
I can´t really take credit for this pic. It was the husbutt who took this shot. I love reading outside. And when the in-laws are on vacation I can scoot out of my hiding place and enjoy reading without interruptions. This time, the baby followed me and we both read in utter silence ❤ I used 1 filter for this shot then uploaded it on Instagram. 2 minutes, tops. My favorite Insta pic.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlGvgrRl4wa/?hl=en&taken-by=morganasbookbox
4. The Polished Issue
I just made myself a hot chocolate when the idea for a Mug Monday shot hit me. No one would believe me when I´d say that it took me almost an hour to get this pic done. Yupp. Not kidding. First, the book was too large. Second- the mug, as much as I love it, was a pain in the ass to take a pic of. So glossy. No matter what angle I tried I kept seeing my own reflection in the mug. No bueno! Took ages and 3 filters to get this beauty Internet ready.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlUBH8hF6ES/?hl=en&taken-by=morganasbookbox
5. Stolen Goods
Book mail arrived and I came up with the brilliant idea to do a book feature. All I needed was sand and some seashells. Preparations for this feature took a little longer than I had planned but the pic itself took less than 2 minutes to take. I sent the girls to the playground with a ziplock bag and told them to steal sand and then steal the seashells from Grandma´s garden. Voila! The things you can accomplish with stolen goods. I used 2 filters for this baby.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlY3b0EljXK/?hl=en&taken-by=morganasbookbox
Do you have troubles with filters / captions / taking pics for Instagram? Do you even use the app? Am I the only one winging Instagram? Let´s chat! ❤
I hope you enjoyed my little desperate moment of sharing my hardships with Instagram pics.
Sending lots of book love to each and every one of you!
Morgana ❤ ❤