Monday, March 14, 2016

Ten Tips, Tricks, and Things You Should Know When You Join The Bookstagram Community

A couple weeks ago I asked people on my Instagram what they wanted to see on my blog. The majority of you wanted to see tips on bookstagram, how to run a bookstagram, and all kinds of other things related to bookstagram. There are lots of things I could tell you about being a bookstagrammer, but I thought I'd start out with ten things you should know when you join our growing community.


  • You Do Not Need a Big Camera 


Most of my pictures are inside, and I don't feel the need to use a "big" camera. I usually snap pictures throughout the day with my iPhone 5C. Once in awhile I get out my Canon and I usually use it for outdoor shots. So don't worry about having the proper camera for it. Just take pictures.

  • The Bookstagram Community is VERY Friendly
Most of the time we're all a bunch of fangirls/fanboys who are just taking pictures of books because we feel like it. Some of us take better pictures than others but you can probably find us all in a bookstore screaming over a book we've waited a year (OR longer) for. So go ahead and comment and freak out on pictures. We're all just a bunch of crazy people obsessed with fictional characters. 

  • Lighting is Important 
Yes your photos might be indoor and yes I said you don't need a large camera but lighting is important. I take most of my pictures from the time the sun goes up to four o'clock(ish). If you're taking a picture let the light in. Trust me it makes everything better. 

  • You Are Not Going to Get 10k Followers At The Drop of a Hat
It took me almost a year to get 10k. You aren't going to join Instagram, and a month later have tons of likes, comments, and followers. Don't go around asking for F4F, SfS, L4L and all that cause you're just going to get on everyone's nerves. On top of that, you only have that person following you because you are following them -- it won't feel as great when you reach your goal. Or at least it's that way for me. Shoutout Sundays are okay but don't do it every week and don't do fifty of them -- cause you'll gain some but you'll also lose some. Just be patient and post good photos. People will find you.


  • There Will Be Haters
This is more like life advice. Sometimes people can come off and be really rude and nasty and start this big fight in your comments. Ignore it. Also you might receive nasty DMs. Ignore those too. Bookstagram is generally a close community, so not many people bother being nasty. If you want to respond don't be nasty back do as Selena Gomez says and "Kill them with kindness."

  • You Don't Need a Theme 
Sometimes a really organized feed is great (if you like it that way, then keep it) but most of my favorite accounts are the ones where they take pictures all over. I don't mean you need a different setting for every photo. Have a few different places to take pictures in your house and feel free to explore new angles. Take pictures in different places, and of different things. Not every picture has to be a book I'm sure you have other interests. Use different filters and try not to delete pictures because they don't "fit". Don't take pictures a certain way because you get more likes when you do it that way. Be creative and have fun with your shots. 

  • People Are Going To "Copy" You
I've seen some people accuse others of being a copy cat but just how different is every feed? We are all taking pictures of books people. There are times when you can see someone blatantly copying you (that moment where you flip from that account to yours and think wow we have similar ideas and then realize they took the picture days after yours went up and they've been doing it for months), but most times they probably aren't paying any attention to you or they think you're awesome enough to copy. Just don't worry about it. Stealing pictures is a different matter. If someone has stolen your picture feel free to yell at them.

  • Your Need For Books Will Increase 
When I started my bookstagram a little over a year ago, I had a barely filled half shelf. I now have an overflowing full shelf and two huge stacks of books sitting by it. You'll also start wanting more book merch, mugs, funko pops, candles, and maybe even a cat. So you know that quote about books being the cheapest vacation? Well it's a lie my friend.

  • You Will Have Friends All Over the World
I can't tell you how often I hear "Don't trust people on the internet" or "don't talk to people on the internet".... I have made friends on the internet and they live all over. Literally. I may never meet them -- but I talk to them on a daily basis, and they're always ready to listen to me. It's one of the benefits of being in the bookstagram community. 

  • Bookstagram Will Open A Lot of Doors In the Book World For You
At the beginning, my parents complained about how often I was on my phone -- but it's opened so many doors for me that they encourage it now. Being a book editor is my dream job, and bookstgram has helped me get my foot in the door. A lot of publishing companies look for successful bookstagramers to share the books they're publishing because they know we have influence in the book world. By publishing companies I mean Disney Hyperion, Harper Collins, Putnam Books, Penguin Random House, and others. Not to mention all the smaller authors out there who are willing to partner with you for pictures and book reviews. So when someone complains about how you spend too much time reading and being on Instagram -- ignore them. It's almost like having a small business.

A little bit of my wisdom for you. I hope you guys enjoyed reading this, and if you're reading this thinking you should start a bookstagram please do! I'm so happy I decided to join the community :)

Also, if there is anything in this post that you'd like to know more about feel free to comment and ask. Feel free to tell me what you'd like to see/know in my future posts too!

4 comments:

  1. Lovely post, Korinne! I adore your account on Instagram and have been struggling with the whole, "theme" thing for awhile! (Everyone seems to have one and it FREAKED ME OUT that I didn't). I'm SO glad you think that a theme isn't always necessary. *sighs with relief*
    Kat ��

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  2. This is great! I love the bookstagram community and you thoughtfully expressed how great it is to be a part of it. Thanks for the advice :)

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  3. Thank-you for the great advice! As you might already know, we are new to the Bookstagram community and I think this will really help us out!

    --Julia

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  4. This was such an insightful post. I started bookstagramming last year and I know I am not going to reach 10k followers over night, but I am beginning to see that a small community is starting to develop on my account. I stopped posting pictures to gain followers, and decided to focus on the people who are supporting me everyday by taking the time to comment on a picture or like something I posted ages ago.
    I want to have a space where people genuinely trust my opinion and recommendations. I agree with you that the general bookstagram community is really friendly! I love it!!

    Nihaad - Read & Seek

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