To Influence or Inspire?

I remember the first time I was introduced to Instagram. I was in my early twenties sitting at a restaurant with my friends as they were scrolling through their feed. I questioned them about the app and they were surprised I didn’t use IG since I was a photographer. But during that point in my life, I didn't even own a smart phone. I honestly loved my Samsung phone and didn’t want to transition to a touch screen. Two years later, I finally broke down and bought a smart phone and IG was one of the first apps I downloaded. As I started using the app and discovering what it can do, I found out quickly that this app wasn’t for me. I did not enjoy having to crop my photographs into a square format, using the trendiest filters, or have to use hash tags to get my photographs seen. I found this app was constraining my creativity and putting my artistic expression into a box. It wasn’t until IG changed their format abilities, I finally started taking it seriously.

As I began devoting more of my time into this app, I realized the influencer phenomenon. I watched as people went to beautiful places and explored our national parks. I watched as they cooked the picture perfect meals and explored in their trendy vans wearing the latest fashion. Honestly, I yearned to do the same. Instead I found myself in a class room studying Graphic Design. At the time, I was frustrated with school and all I wanted was to be outside to pursue landscape photography.

It wasn’t until I moved to Yosemite National Park that I witnessed for myself what being a true influencer was all about. Before I dive into that, let's discuss what is the meaning of influence.

The definition of influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something. Being an influencer, one has established their credibility and have access to a large audience. Therefore, can persuade others to act on their recommendations. For me, that is a lot of pressure for a person to possess. In Yosemite, I watched as influencers went to beautiful locations, taking their portraits in front of an iconic monument and then abruptly leaving. This didn’t sit well with me because there was not a true genuine enjoyment of nature present as IG portrayed.

Not to mention being an influencer is a lot of hard work. Getting out to beautiful locations and wearing the cutest outfits, having the perfect hair and makeup is truly exhausting. Further more, I saw what being an influencer can to do one’s mental health. I witnessed influencers talk about the difficulties of always documenting their lives and how much work it is. Some of them having mental breakdowns when their content that they spent hours creating didn’t get as much attention as they wanted. I watched how it changed some people who were authentic and kind to narcissistic behavior.

With this new realization, I understood that the influencer lifestyle was not all what is was cracked up to be and I am grateful I didn’t follow that path. I was too much of an artist. I no longer felt the pressure of posting IG pleasing photographs that forced me to crop an image a certain way or edit in the latest trends. I no longer felt the pressure to wear “trendy” clothes or look “perfect” to be in front of the camera in nature. When I am out exploring this earth, I am wearing practical clothes that will keep me warm or cool from the elements. My hair is usually a curly windblown mess and my face is makeup free; sun kissed by the sun. With a camera in hand, all that matters is the freedom of being outside, the joy in my heart, and the inspiration found. Nature is where I found myself through my art.

With that being said, I want to inspire fellow artists to create the art that they WANT to create and not be influenced by Instagram’s latest trends.

Let’s discuss into the meaning of inspire. Inspire means to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. Inspiring someone is far more important to me than influencing because with inspiration comes creativity. Creativity is the fountain of one’s imagination. With creativity comes challenges, problem solving, discoveries, and joy. Creativity opens the mind to new ideas and opportunities with innovation. It is a space where we can express ourselves to the world with no shame. It is exercising an art form that pushes and opens the human mind to new thoughts and ideas.

I hope my art inspires people to pursue their creative outlet without any fear. To face the creative challenges and find their joy in the journey. To me that is far more important than being an influencer. Creativity is a sacred space where we can truly be our authentic selves.