Girlfriend Australia - April 2016__

2,844

SowhatgrabsEmma’sattention?“Theiconicsiteswillgatheralotof

wanderlust, like the Brooklyn Bridge, Machu Picchu and the Eiffel

Tower”. She also loves pics of delicious looking food. What you post

about needs to be something you really care about – you need to find

a topic that excites you. “Push your comfort zone,” says Emma.

“Sitting on a couch won’t bring you anything new to Instagram.”

Try new things and see what works for you. You know – you gotta do

you. “Don’t follow my footsteps,” adds Emma. “Find your own way!

Create your own path. Find things and people you love and enjoy

them in your own way.”

Gear up

Before you run out for exxy

gear, remember – all you need

is a smartphone. “It’s not

always the tools but how you

use them. I use my phone for

a lot of the shots,” she says.

But if you do wanna go

profesh like Emma, she uses

a Lumix DMC-GX8, which

connects to her phone via

WiFi so she can ’gram in, well,

an instant! For underwater

pics, Emma uses a GoPro.

Get personal

Ifthepicstarssomething

that makes you happy, it’s

likely to make others

happy, too.

“Look for inspiration in your

friends – those people who

surround you and love you

can be and do great

things when you really

pay attention.” Emma’s also

inspired by scenery, but it’s

all about making each post

personal.“Ilovemixingboth

amazing scenery and my

personal outfits and that’s

why I love sharing my

travelling photos on

Instagram–itmakesitso

easyandmorepersonal.”

Filter finesse

If you’re a fan of filters,

Emma suggests using the

VSCO app to get the best

options and tweak the

brightness and contrast

of a photo. It helps give it

alittleextrawow!

Enjoy the IRL moment

Emma’s fave ever post is of

herself looking over the

ancient city of Machu Picchu.

But don’t let getting that

perfect Instagram photo

ruin your IRL experience.

“Feeling good about the

moment you took

the photo is

much more

valuable than all

those likes it’s

going to get.”

Emma’sInsta rules

LESS IS MORE WITH HASHTAGS!

Turns out

hashtaggingasmanywordsasyoucanthink

ofisnotthewaytogo...whowould’vethought!

“Justkeephashtagstoaminimum,”saysEmma.

“Keepitrelevantorfunny.”

DON’T SPAM.“Refrain from posting every

hour on the hour. People will get annoyed quickly.”

Postonetotwoimagesaday, give or take,

dependingonhowmuchyouhavetoshare.

WRITE A SMART BIO.“If you feel a quote or

somethingfunnyrepresentsyou,thengoforit.”

ButEmmaalsobelievesatinybiodoesn’t

define you. If you feel the same, stick to

thebasics(whatyoudo,whereyouare

from and what you love doing).

DON’T POST ENDLESS SELFIES.

That’s what

your other fave app, Snapchat, is for. If you’re

goingforapicofyourself,trymovingaround.

“InmostofmyphotosIcanneverstandstillso

I’llusuallybecaughtrufflingmyhairall

over the

place.”Thiswillmakeyourpicstandoutmore

than just another smiley face.

DON’T OVERTHINK IT.^ youIf

do,you will miss

the moment to get the pic – and won’t actually

enjoy the moment yourself. No point posting

DâPRPHQWIRUHYHU\RQHHOVHWR HQMR\ LI \RX GRQ

W

even remember it being special!

I want in!

Feeling good

about the

oment you took

that photo is

much more

valuable than all

those likes it’s

going to ge

Passion is errythang

girlfriend.com.au 37 girlfriendMAG

GF feature

WORDS

MARIE YORK

PHOTOGRAPHY

GETTY IMAGES; INSTGRAM.COM/EMMALUCEY