Instagram Vs. Reality
K: We’ve done this sort of post before, comparing real life to Instagram moments. Brandon and I are never trying to deceive you with an Instagram post, but there is a certain amount of thought and effort that goes into creating a feed and capturing a good image. Sometimes, it’s nice to take a step back and get a little perspective of where someone may be coming from or what’s actually going on behind the camera. So today, that’s what we’re aiming to do. Hope that this down-to-earth post resonates with some of you, or at least gives you a laugh along the way!
Rafting In Colorado
I had to include these photos because it completely sums up the whole “Instagram vs. Reality” thing. Notice how everything looks fun and exciting in the first photo, complete with smiling faces and lots of energy. In the second version, you get the truth written on my face: plunging into freezing cold water made me look terrified! I did not want to fall out of that raft. It also looks like we were nose diving into the water and that’s pretty much what happened during the whole experience. We all had a blast, but I couldn’t help that my Type A personality kept me cautious and wary of what could happen. Instagram shows the happiest moments, carefree days, and zero anxiety or stress. I love that we included the second photo to showcase the truth.
The Peaceful Meadow
Here’s another Colorado moment for you! In truth, this setting really was quite peaceful. What you didn’t see was my trek up this small hill to get to the area with flowers. I also managed to sit down without noticing that the grass was still wet with morning dew, and we had to avoid all of the stickers and weeds in the area. There were giant grasshoppers flying around and yet, Brandon and I still managed to capture “peaceful” expressions on our faces.
Fall In August
When you’re trying to capture “fall” images during a Texas August, that doesn’t really happen. I was working with PinkBlush on this tank and wanted to make sure the images resonated that fall feeling. A simple tweak of settings in Lightroom allowed the trees behind me to have more of a fall hue in color. It’s important to keep in mind that presets can change someone’s image completely. Most of our presets only make colors pop or appear brighter, but many presets can completely change colors, skin tones, and image quality.
Waco Wonder
We’re so used to traveling with our tripod but this photo was actually taken by some kind strangers. I always find it funny to scroll through Instagram and imagine who is taking the photo. Is it a photographer? A stranger? A spouse? A tripod? For me, that tends to humanize the photo and make me feel better about myself, especially if it’s an elaborate, amazing photo. It feels good to know that these elaborate pictures don’t just happen by themselves. Someone is behind the camera, desperately trying to capture the moment perfectly.
Romantic Dinner
So many of our photos include a “date night” setting which can appear intimate and romantic. My mom took this photo, as she does with many of our local pictures. While we did enjoy eating the meal after finishing up the shoot, it’s important to remember that Brandon and I are not always able to have a true “date” if we’re taking blog pictures. There are so many dates that go undocumented because those are real life moments that we don’t always feel the need to capture with a camera.