This is the Transcript of the #WeddingMarket Chat on January 7th, 2014 with Carli Kiene from Inked Fingers at www.inkedfingers.com. The answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different.

Carli Kiene (@inkedfingers) was, in her words, “just another Austin photographer” shooting weddings and portraits with her husband and business partner when she joined Instagram in 2010. After being highlighted on the app’s Suggested Users list, Carli’s following rocketed into the thousands (she now has more than 203,000). It wasn’t long before Tiffany & Co. came calling, wanting to use her images on their own social media feed.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/amadoudiallo/2014/05/24/instagram-develops-into-new-career-path-for-photographers/

Carli and her husband John haven’t paid a penny to advertise since 2008. All of their current business comes from past happy clients and other vendors!

Learn more at www.inkedfingers.com

Q1: Now how did you get involved with wedding photography?

Answer

Carli Kiene: I went to photojournalism school at UT and Johnny and I ended up photographing our neighbor’s wedding. I was gifted with friends who were wedding photographers and let me 2nd shoot with them before I shot solo!

Q2: When did you setup your Instagram account?

Answer

Carli Kiene: I joined the app the same month it premiered Oct 2010. I didn’t know at the time that the app was so new. My husband & I were camping and as much as I despised technology, the trip had been so uneventful I was lying in the tent downloading apps. Setting up my account was pretty easy. I remember not having many followers for a while and asking ‘is nitreo a scam?’ as I looked into ways of getting more followers. As we know, that came naturally in the end anyway. We photographed close to 30 weddings that year & I couldn’t stand staring at the screen editing. That’s always been my least favorite part of the job! So when I discovered IG, it was like “OMG. Photography has been revolutionized. One click: picture. One click: editing’s done. Once I learned how to add link to instagram bio, using the site really became second nature to me.

Q3: How did you get on Instagram’s suggested users list?

Answer

Carli Kiene: That’s one of the secrets of the universe! I’m not sure anybody really knows how they get on IG’s suggested user’s list. I know I got on fairly early…. before they even told you that you were put on the list! You just watched your # of followers grow exponentially! If the growth hadn’t of been so quick I would have definitely found it tempting to use instagram automation to help!

Q4: What types of Websites or blogs did you get listed on?

Answer

Carli Kiene: @msn @mashable @Forbes .

Q5: What types of Instagram users do you follow?

Answer

Carli Kiene: I follow mostly artists or artisans a lot of design based feeds or those with clean-lined

minimalist direction. I find much inspiration in other Instagrammers from around the world.

Q6: What types of pictures do you share on your account?

Answer

Carli Kiene: I post work from InkedFingers + mix in personal/family life. There has to be a balance. Your potential clients hire you as the artist, because they like YOU, your style, not just the pd work. You’re trying to tap into their: Oh yeah! I’d hire her! That girl is obsessed with scones + birds in flight– just like me! Some photographers won’t post any personal pics on their feed and that’s not me. I also don’t believe in filling my feed with selfies. There’s a balance of trying to keep my feed coherent, with images I edit in photoshop +those from my phone.

Photos by InkedFingers.com

Q7: How often do you post? (Daily or several times a day)

Answer

Carli Kiene: Whenever I feel like it, which ends up being several times a week.

Q8: What are the keys to building a success Instagram account?

Answer

Carli Kiene: People wait around for others to find them. Go connect! Go comment on others pics! Find accounts that inspire u + learn. Go make art for personal projects that you want to one day get paid for: IG isn’t just about great pics. It’s about creating a community. Be responsive. Encourage others. It’s not a popularity contest. You don’t have to have actual users engage with you to be a successful Instagrammer; you can buy Instagram likes and find success if you’re looking for a way to boost your presence on the platform. Be the best you that you know how. Be authentic. Be kind and compassionate. Be a good human. You’d be surprised how often I’ve connected with brands that replied or even reposted my photo on their feed. They want genuine connection as well, just as much as you do! Remember that everything you say and post is pushed out to your followers. Every photo you like, every comment you make is representing you + your brand. There is no shame in building a successful Instagram account with some help. An instagram manager can take charge of your social activity to build up followers, likes and engagement.

Q9: What can non photographers do to create a successful Instagram account?

Answer

Carli Kiene: Connect with pro photographers! Get a budget for a great photographer for your event and then make sure you can use them for social media. It’s worth it! Don’t just get any photographer, hire a referral. Search around for events in your area and then look up who shot them. You might think “Oh I can just use my iphone for this event!” But there’s a reason we pay $3k for our cameras! Along with that, take a look at something like socialfollow that can help you build your follower number to the level you want it to be.

Q10: How do you figure out what you are going to post daily or weekly?

Answer

Carli Kiene: I’m not a very systematic person. I believe in the power of intuition, known to some as “flying by the seat of my pants” That might freak some out, but that’s the beauty in owning your own business: you can’t always know everything. I can see how having a routine/structure of “post this on that day” would be beneficial, but that’s not me.

Q11: How do you edit your photographs?

Answer

Carli Kiene: In the early days I used IG filters, then realized how hideous they were and only edited in snapsneed from then on. I still edit in snapsneed or use the adjustments in IG itself. Keeping an overall consistent feel to your feed is essential!

Q12: Should you buy an expensive camera? What would you recommend?

Answer

Carli Kiene: The best camera is the one you have with you! For everyone else there’s the Nikon d750! I’ve always been a nikon girl, but in reality there are a lot of fabulous cameras. The moment Nikon makes a mirrorless full frame dslr, I’m buying it and not looking back. I taught a class a few times on taking photos with your iphone and really the iphone’s always blowing my mind! The iphone’s great for little family moments or outdoor midday events. But inside with little light, it’s still lacking. There’s no match for a full frame camera, with a hotshoe flash. In other words, when in doubt, hire a pro. Otherwise, go to your local camera store and ask them about a mirrorless dslr. I believe they are the way of the future.

Q13: What rules or goals do you establish for yourself on Instagram?

Answer

Carli Kiene: Keep my feed consistent. Keep the colors light + bright. Inspire. Tell a story through the image.

Q14: What types of interesting projects have taken place because of your Instagram account?

Answer

Carli Kiene: I don’t even know where to begin! We’ve traveled on all-expense paid trips, me to Israel and my husband to St Thomas. It was pretty incredible seeing @tiffanyandco name in my inbox, or the first time I worked with GapKids. Thank you @instagram! We’re in the middle of some great collaboration for our trip to Italy. One’s with @poppyscloset a hip kid’s boutique! We’ve worked with some great companies that have sent us great product @tretorn @libbey @simplica.

See our photography shoot for Tiffany & Co
by InkedFingers.com

See our photo shoot in Israel by InkedFingers.com

Q15: Do you have a blog? How do you work with your blog & various social media on a daily & weekly basis?

Answer

Carli Kiene: I do! I read somewhere very early on that you don’t have to be good at ALL forms of social media: only those you enjoy. I lost count of the number of times I’ve shut down both my twitter and fb accounts! Instagram was the first form of social media that I loved. What can I say, I’m a visual person.

Q16: Have you booked more weddings because of your Instagram account?

Answer

Carli Kiene: Absolutely! We’ve booked all sorts of work. It’s humbling hearing: I’ve been following you on Ig for a few years now….

Q17: What trends are you seeing in wedding photography?

Answer

Carli Kiene: I try not to follow them. That’s the irony. I remember this peak and valley of 1st being inspired by my competition then depressed my work wasn’t like theirs. So one day I cut myself off from wedding blogs + thought “if I’m going to develop a style, it’s going to be my work, not someone else’s”

Q18: What was it like to work with @TiffanyAndCo?

A18: I worked with @tiffanyandco before any other social media campaigns really existed. For them to hire me was a huge leap of faith. @thesartorialist was the other photographer on the IG campaign + I was so smitten. I had followed him since the beginning. I never actually spoke with anyone from the @tiffanyandco staff, just their agency, but they were so kind, so giving. And no I didn’t get any jewelry out of the gig! Everyone asks that.

Q19: What would you like everyone to take from this #WeddingMarket Chat?

Answer

Carli Kiene: We are all artists. Seth Godin reminds me of this when I forget. Go follow @thisisseth “It’s too easy to look out at all of the great work around us and think “I can’t contribute anything of value. You can think “My work means nothing” That’s the biggest lie. Post what’s you. Try to keep your feed consistent. If that’s the color scheme, if that’s in the body of work just be consistent. What do you have to give to the world? EVERYTHING! No one has your voice, your eyes, and your hands to make art. Just go make art. Thomas Merton said “To be born again is not to be somebody else, but to become ourselves.” Another of my favorites: “If opportunity does not knock, build a door.” Milton Gerle.

#WeddingMarket Questions From Twitter:

1. @TaylorWed How would IG benefit a wedding planner?

Answer

Carli Kiene: It’s a great place to connect with other wedding vendors!

@TaylorWed Everyone on IG – are brides *really* using it IG find vendors? Would they use it to search for a planner?

Carli Kiene: Sure! I think if you had a photog posting photos of the wedding you planned, there’s your referral!

2. @FrillsBridal what are your thoughts on @instagram hashtags? use a bunch to get seen? or do viewers find that annoying?

Answer:

Carli Kiene: I personally don’t think they are annoying! You could put them in the comments section! 🙂 I do! It’s one more avenue to be seen! Now do I follow hashtags myself? Not really…

3. @PrettyEntertain How does your approach to IG differ from your approach to Pinterest?

Answer:

Carli Kiene: I use pinterest as a personal style board! There is much potential in @Pinterest though!

4. @SaveTheDatePC Thoughts on curated accounts?(with attribution) for people like me (Podcasts) that don’t have their own images?

Answer

Carli Kiene: If it’s already working for you, then why not?! If you’re giving credit and getting approval, great!

5. @Birdie_List Are there certain themes of pics your followers like better? Is there a pattern?

Answer

Carli Kiene: Great question! We try to post photos in which the viewer can put themselves in the pic. A great example is when Tiffany & Co hired us, we noticed they chose a lot of silhouettes, or far away. I love when the image can tell a story so the viewer can say “Oh that could be ME!” 🙂 Does that make sense? 🙂

6. @PrettyEntertain How about using IG to promote my blog posts? Is that a thing people do or will I look dorky for using IG wrong?

Answer

Carli Kiene: Nope! You could definitely promote your blogposts! Post a photograph and then give us a blurb! Great idea!

@CaseyFPhoto I use it to promote posts – the link in profile is to my blog. I tell people check out the link to see more.

7. ?@danieladegrassi Have u tried the App Hyperlapse on IG? The Fast Forward App for videos. I hear it’s a great marketing tool.

Answer

Carli Kiene: I haven’t tried Hyperlapse yet but I have seen some impressive work from it! I need to try it! Thx!

@RosieReedBeaOoh! I’ll check out. per #shutterstock looks like the new wave of 2015 is utilizing video to promote biz.

8. @EventsDEEsigned Is there a way to post to IG from your computer? I have only been successful from my phone.

Answer

Carli Kiene: Great question! As far as I’m aware, there isn’t… but maybe someone else can answer this question better?

@JulieAlbaugh You can add to laptop but limited features. Add to your browser but it only let’s you like pictures & follow people. Won’t upload pictures.

9. @FrillsBridal Do you try to keep your captions short and sweet? I can get wordy & I worry that people start to tune out haha

Answer

Carli Kiene: No! haha It depends on the photo honestly. I really enjoy writing so if I have something to say, I’ll say it! To my point, if you have a great following, they WILL read what you write! If they don’t, no harm no fowl!

10. @PrettyEtertain What’s the etiquette for sharing others’ pics on IG? Like a photog’s pic of one of my wedding details? OK w/ attribution?

Answer

@CaseyFPhoto Include the photographer’s screen name in the caption and tag them in the photo.