Hi. I am so excited to be sharing with you, something I have been working on for a few months now; a new monthly Instagram challenge for wedding lovers called, #Wedgram.
Background story
Last year, we launched a Pinterest challenge and you loved it. The challenge was about encouraging you to develop your designer’s eye and whilst we announced a winner each month, the real fun of it was you having the chance to get better and better each month at developing a concept and curating a board based on nothing but a few words I would give you. This year, I wanted to do something that continued in the same spirit, but gave you the chance to actually create something and then capture an image of it that you owned and could use in any way you chose. As you know, images and how you use them is a tricky, grey area, but if you own the image, it’s not. But even more important than that, is the part where you get to apply your skills to styling a flat-lay or vignette, for us to share and promote across Instagram.
When you work in an industry like the wedding industry you get to meet fabulous people and a very fabulous person has helped me to bring #Wedgram to life. Her name is Kylie of Just For Love Photography and she has worked with us on branded Styled Shoots previously and helped me with images for my own business the I Do Crew. I knew that a challenge like this one would only work if everyone had some expert tips to help them take the very best image for Instagram and that is where Kylie comes in. Kylie has put together an incredibly helpful Ebook for us called the; Why When & How of Instagram. Along with detailed instructions of how to play, this guide will help you to really enjoy the process of creating your vignettes. After the first challenge, the guide will only be available to our students, but this month, when you register to play, you will receive a copy. But remember, #Wedgram is open to everyone. So if you want that guide and you are not a student, you should register for this month’s competition.
What is a vignette?
In the world of interior design, a vignette is a picture formed by grouping several objects together. But vignettes can be made by grouping any selection of items and if you follow lifestyle and wedding ‘Instagrammers’ you will have already seen many examples. Here is a great post that talks more about vignettes and how to create them.
What is a flat-lay?
A flat-lay is very similar to a vignette but it is laid flat. You will have seen these all over Instagram already but this is a great post that talks about flat-lays.
Let’s Play #Wedgram
Instagram is an exciting, creative and visual social media platform that has incredible reach. If you are like me, you adore it for the pretty pictures and the beauty to be found around the world, but even better than that, is the power it has to help you reach your potential clients and promote your brand. But Instagram can also be intimidating. There are so many cool things and amazing photos that taking the plunge and posting one of your own, can be scary. As educators we are always looking for ways to nourish our community with learning opportunities and help them to develop the confidence they need to step outside their comfort zone and succeed and that is why we are launching #Wedgram, so you can play and learn on Instagram with us.
We want you to use Wedgram as a way of working on your styling skills and improving your image taking and editing prowess. Joining in will also give you the chance to work on those all- important creative thinking and design skills you need in the wedding industry. And join in you must, regardless of what that little voice in your head says. Just have a go! You don’t need any minimum level of skill or knowledge. Wedgram is less a competition and more a workshop and I know that taking part each month will help you build on your skills, expertise and confidence, regardless of where you are with those things, right now. You can’t lose if you just participate! Sign up today and watch your inbox for all the details of our very first challenge which will launch on Monday, 3rd October, with a very special guest judge!