instagram, our experience as a business and as individuals

© mark-‐making* 2014


Instagram, our experience as a business and as individuals



Who is mark-making*?



My name is Kasia and I’m the Social Media Manager at mark-making*



We are an award-winning creative agency based in Chipping Norton



We specialise in strategy, brand, design and digital



What is Instagram?



Instagram was launched in October 2010



Instagram is an app that allows you to take photos and 15 second videos on your phone



You can use a photo or video that is already on your phone



You can then edit and apply one of 20 filters to style the photo or video



And add as much copy as you want



You then share your photos with your friends and followers on Instagram (and other networks too)



Hashtags are used to categorise and track images



We encourage our followers to use #markmakingdesign



Users can be tagged in posts... like Twitter



Why Instagram?



100 million users



It was bought by Facebook in April 2012 for $ 1 billion



Instagram is the fastest growing social network worldwide



Since April 2012, Instagram has grown by at least 70m users



What is the craze about Instagram?



“Now everybody looks at the world through a 3-inch screen” Christopher Spence



Society is changing and with it so are our habits



Our mobile devices have become a way we create, consume, and share information



Previously, photography was a passion reserved for people who could afford it



Mobile devices made it easier



You can share your work immediately



…and this is less time consuming



Your photos can quickly and easily reach the world…



…and you can meet people living in the most distant places



Mobile photography makes memories last longer



It fulfills our curiosity in society and other people’s lives



And it gives the feeling of instant gratification



It helps us to capture life as it happens



According to Flickr, the image hosting and video hosting website, the #1 device most used to upload to Flickr is now the iPhone.



And it only takes a click…



mark-making* on Instagram



Even though Chipping Norton is beautiful, it could not fulfill our creative cravings

mark-makers*



With a lack of galleries, exhibitions, and cultural events, Instagram can almost become a substitute for all these things

mark-makers*



Instagram has become a way to connect with other like minded and creative people…

mark-makers*



..who are hard to find

mark-makers*



mark-makers*

Nic



mark-makers*

Nic

Steve



mark-makers*

Nic

Steve

Kasia



mark-makers*

Nic

Steve

Kasia Shannon



mark-makers*

Nic

Steve

Kasia Shannon

David



Nic is a senior designer at mark-making*, longtime user of Instagram, and owner of what is probably the world’s greatest collection of books on design.

Nic (@nicedg)



Between running and training for the London marathon, Nic takes pictures of Cotswold's countryside

Nic (@nicedg)



Steve (@swturn3r)



Nic (@nicedg)

“Working in the creative industry in the Cotswold's can feel quite isolating but Instagram instantly opened doors to people who I otherwise wouldn't have met.”



Nic (@nicedg)

Nic’s love of typography is reflected in her edits to which she applies text by using different mobile apps



Nic (@nicedg)

“Instagram is such an inspiring place and has had a positive impact on my creative output in my working life too.”



Steve is co-founder and creative director at mark-making*. Outside of work, it’s all about being creative.

Steve (@swturn3r)



Steve (@swturn3r)



“People love to get to know the person behind the camera. The more meaning there is to a photo the more engaged the audience will be. If there isn't the passion, it shows.”

Nic (@nicedg)



Steve (@swturn3r)



I’m the social media manager at mark-making* and have come all the way from Poland…

Kasia (@kasia_piekut)



I see my Instagram feed as a ‘living-portfolio’




I use it to promote my beautiful country



Social media



If not for Instagram I would be stuck to a computer 24/7…




…and gives me another excuse to explore the beauty of the English countryside




Thanks to Instagram and other mobile apps I have learned how to create better visuals




I can use this knowledge and give better recommendations to clients regarding social media




Shannon is a web developer at mark-making*. When he is not coding he enjoys editing photos with his favourite Retrolux filter.

Shannon (@mkmkrshannon)



“Using Instagram for me means being able to show and express what I am seeing at that moment…”




“…or taking a snapshot that will remind me of a wonderful scene that I could easily forget.”




Shannon mastered a mobile app called Snapseed and its Retrolux filter




David (@mindyourmanners_07)

David is a designer at mark-making*. When he is not designing in the office he is taking macro-shots outside.



David has an A-Level in photography. He found using an SLR an expensive and time consuming task




Getting an iPhone has changed his ability to explore mobile photography




He is able to pursue his love for macro photography with a £5.84 macro lens




How do we use Instagram?




The idea of using Instagram came about as a result of our passion for it




We wanted to use Instagram as a way to utilise our creativity and passion for photography




We also knew that as a creative agency we had a lot to offer...




…like inspire our community through interesting photography challenges and projects




We also wanted to lead the example of how to use Instagram




The first step was so set up our own Instagram group @markmakingdesign




Then we started building a follower base with the launch of our 1st competition




We invited Igers (a colloquialism for Instagram users) to take red themed images and tag them with #red_mm




The competition ran for 1 month during which time we received over

1100 entries




From these we chose 4 finalists…




… and then we let the Instagram community decide on the winning image




Encouraged by the success of ‘Red’ we launched a 2nd competition, seeking photo responses to the question…




We received over 600 incredible images from across the globe




Comments about #work_mm competition

Thanks for providing the opportunities! Love seeing the world through all the different eyes and perspectives!

@markjens

Jill Williams Wow!! What an excellent & exciting challenge!

Really great challenge, something different, thank you :)

@xenia6




To make the competition more exciting we introduced a one of a kind prize…




We promised to select and showcase the work of

26 Igers



the A-Z of Instagram




The book is available for a non-profit purchase on Blurb books




The culmination of 2 competitions and the creation of the book took the form of an exhibition…




…dedicated entirely to mobile phone photography




Which was designed to highlight the huge creative potential of the medium




6th October 2012




The exhibition was split into 3 parts




…and the mobile phone photography of the mark-making* team




The exhibition finished at 3pm leaving us some time to…




…celebrate!




But it was not the end of our Instagram experience…




Hall of Fame



mark-making* collaboration projects



Inspirational Instagrammers



“Farmers across the UK are using social media to get advice, share ideas and keep up-to-date with developments, according to the online survey.” The Telegraph “Farmers turning to social media to communicate with customers and boost business”

Social media opens new windows



Farmers are using Instagram as a way to promote their business and boost profits. ‘Posting’ is not just done for fun, social media is used to tackle rural isolation for people in a lonely profession.

Social media opens new windows



Ben (@benjaminhole)



59083 followers

Ben @cbenjaminhole | The Isle of Purbeck Ben @benjaminhole | The Isle of Purbeck



Story teller

Ben @benjaminhole | The Isle of Purbeck Ben @benjaminhole | The Isle of Purbeck



As Ben says: “Living in a fairly remote spot and working long hours doesn't always allow for a great social life.”

Ben @benjaminhole | The Isle of Purbeck



“It's seems funny to say this, but I guess Instagram has made me appreciate my surroundings so much more...”




“…and my chosen vocation”





“It makes me stop and look at things, marvel at the sights.”




Ben tries to show with his gallery where the food comes from




Ben wants to show as well the work that goes into producing food and how we work alongside nature to preserve our surroundings



Lexi (@ch3m1st)



Lexi, a New York mobile photographer

4657 followers

Lexi @ch3m1st | New York



He turned his IG hobby into an exciting experience




He was inspired to turn a long commute into a photographic challenge…




..and take shots from moving platforms




“The beauty being, shooting from a moving platform, with an imprecise path: No two shots can ever be the same…”




He even made a hashtag #fotograferry, that's now being used by others





“At first Instagram was just another app, but it became so much more.”




“The square format challenged me to rethink composition and reignited my passion for photography.”



He helped coordinate an event with Grand Central NYC




Thanks to this collaboration he got access to the history & some secret spots




Lexi @ch3m1st




“The precious opal faced clock is valued $10-20 million!”



Lexi @ch3m1st



Thanks to his presence on Instagram, Lexi won a flight above New York sponsored by New York on Air




Using Instagram gave Lexi a few commercial benefits too, like treats from brands




He received a new watch from Timex and tripod from Joby.




“Photography has taken me to new heights, presented new opportunities, and formed new friendships.”

Lexi @ch3m1st | Instagram means…




“Community and friendships are an amazing driving force behind this app.”



Josh (@joshjohnson)



Community builder

Josh (@joshjohnson)



533865 followers

Josh (@joshjohnson)



Josh (@joshjohnson)



He is a founder of the 1st

Instagram community #JJ

Josh (@joshjohnson)



#JJ Community is based on the motto “CREATE TO CONNECT”

Josh (@joshjohnson)



And it is driven by the joy of

creativity

Josh (@joshjohnson)



Daily themes

Josh (@joshjohnson)



THEME: Lone Tree



THEME: Fog



THEME: Shadow



THEME: Yellow and blue



THEME: Monochrome



20 million images

Josh (@joshjohnson)



The passion for Instagram turned

into a business

Josh (@joshjohnson)



Mike (@realityseo)



Mike attended the Art Center College of Design to study advertising photography. He worked as a photo assistant in Detroit.

Mike (@realityseo) | California



He found it challenging to change to convention and make a living by taking non commercial abstract photography.





Mike quit his career & decided to change things entirely. He still continues taking abstract photos, as he says: “because I have to do them. Because there may be more of us who can't make a living doing abstract photos.”



Cars are his favourite photography subject




Mike sees IG as: “A sketchbook of all sorts”




“It provides the creative outlet I crave.”




Matt (@mattscutt)



Matt is a London agency creative director. He started using Instagram in 2012 and now he is one of the most well known Igers

Matt (@mattscutt) | London Matt (@mattscutt)



He turned his passion

into recognition

Matt (@mattscutt)



He takes photos using Canon 60D and iPhone 5

Matt (@mattscutt) | London



By following Instagram groups and taking part in different photo challenges, he managed to have his photos featured




Suddenly from having just 40 followers he managed to reach 1000




97917 followers




Having this authority allowed him to launch his own competitions




His activity was noticed by a well known Instagram group @all_shots and he was invited to join their team as a administrator




The best of all is that through an Instameet (meeting of Instagram users) he was able to meet his partner Tracy (@tnbiskitt)




The price of fame? “Now when I post I get over a 100 likes a minute. I stand no chance of following it as it moves so quickly and constantly I have to turn off notifications before it drains my battery.”





“I’ve been approached a few times by brands (Ford, Hotels etc.) I’ve sold a few shots after being contacted - some for as little as £25 each (where I retain the copyright) and some for much more (where I release the rights to the buyer).”



Merek (@merekdavis)



Merek Davis is a photographer from Arizona

Merek (@merekdavis)



He turned his dream into a successful reality

Merek (@merekdavis)



“When the iPhone came along, it completely changed my focus. I was able to shoot quickly and capture what I wanted right then. And I could constantly be working on my projects.”



While working on projects he realized a need for having different textures



At the time there was no app which did it well and made them look "organic" and part of the image



So he started developing and selling textures, which he called MEXTURES



Merek (@merekdavis)

Mextures are a collection of 2000px x 2000px square textures that work great for iPhoneography/mobile photography



Merek (@merekdavis)



While Mextures was really popular, applying them and creating final edits was a very time consuming task



The app was launched on May 20th 2013



Mextures

It was one of the first marketing attempts to launch a product on Instagram…



Currently there are 409,532 photos on Instagram tagged with #mextures

Mextures



Mextures was created to enhance people’s creations. As Merek says: “It’s a reminder to me of how creative people can be with just a few tools, and a limitless brain.”



Mextures



“There is a massive pot of creative on Instagram, and the ability to turn on my phone and see hundreds of different fresh styles right at my fingertips is amazing and that concept never gets old, and never ceases to amaze me.”



Kai (@kondensstreifensurfer)



Kai runs 2 accounts, an official one and a private one, which is just for his family




The private profile is full of pictures of his wife and three kids and currently has around 1,700 posts




Since his family live several hours away Instagram is one of the best ways to stay connected




“It is easier than using Skype, because you don’t need to plan to meet at a certain time but have a nice little feed of pictures and short stories of your loved ones you can visit whenever you want.”




“Grannies on both sides told me they would start and end every single day with a look at their grandchildren in Instagram.”




Here are the reasons why you

might start using Instagram…



Everybody can be creative

Why to use Instagram



Instagram enables you to share work immediately




Editing has never been as easy, fast and.. fun!




200 iPhone photography apps





You can quickly build your own brand




You can reach a new audience and new clients




You can stumble upon new inspiration




You can learn new things




You can explore a new community of photographers & artists




It can help you to stand out from the crowd




..and make you a really interesting showcase




Instagram can allow you to raise your voice as an artist



“The best camera is the one you have with you” Chase Jarvis



What did we gain from using IG

as individuals?



Benefits of using IG

It gives us ‘a break’ from our daily activities




It strengthens us as a team




Thanks to Instagram are able to learn more about each other




Instagram has become a window into people’s lives (who might be miles away)




We meet countless number of fascinating people all over the world




Steve’s, Nic’s and my Instagram feeds were promoted by being on a ‘Suggested user’ list




In a matter of a few weeks our Instagram followers went up to…



Benefits of using I

Nic’s & Steve’s photos were recognised by the Mobile Photography Awards




Each of us won different photography competitions




Steve’s photo was featured on EyeEm




We were able to turn our knowledge into photography tutorials and blog posts




Shannon created his own account @Retroluxdeluxe around his favourite Retrolux filter




4,428 times

#



What did we gain from using IG

as a business?



What did we gain from using Instagram?

We are able to show off the human side of our brand




We were able to organise our first Instawalk




We won the West Oxfordshire Business Award in the social media category




As well as the Oxfordshire Business Awards




We created an engaging community where creativity thrives




We became an inspiration for others



How to use Instagram?



Start following interesting people

How to use IG



Create your own community

How to use IG



Look for interesting Instagram groups

How to use IG



How to use IG



Share your best photos

How to use IG



Share ‘sneak peaks’ from behind the scenes

How to use IG



Show insights into who you are

How to use IG



Don’t feel obligated to use filters

Pros for Instagram



Feature work of other photographers you admire

How to use IG



Ask questions

How to use IG



Create a real time discussion or debate

How to use IG



Use the right #hashtags

How to use IG



Engage

How to use IG



and….

How to use IG



Get Instagram as soon as you can!

How to use IG

instagram, our experience as a business and as individuals

Social Media

instagram mark

swturn3r mark

nic mark

video mark

users mark

phone mark

world mark

digital mark