instagram algorithms
K J Espinel
IS ORGANIC GROWTH ON INSTAGRAM STILL POSSIBLE ...

NOTE: This blog post is part 18 of my INSTAGRAM SERIES - content all about helping YOU manage your way around instagram. In the INSTAGRAM SERIES I've touched on subjects such as why am I losing followers on instagram , how the instagram algorithms really work and how to get paid influencer work on instagram. Just click here to find all the other parts in the series. 

'What if organic growth on instagram is no longer possible? What if I post my most amazing images on instagram, use the best hashtags, leave thoughtful comments but still don't gain new instagram followers?' It's a question one of my creative community members asked a few weeks ago and one that somehow lingered in my mind. Like her, many of the talented and committed creatives I speak to daily are struggling to gain real traction on instagram or worse, losing followers week after week, month after month.  

IS ORGANIC GROWTH ON INSTAGRAM STILL POSSIBLE IN 2018?
mastermind, instagram algorithms, instagram tricks
K J Espinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW INSTAGRAM ...

NOTE: This blog post is part 17 of my INSTAGRAM SERIES - content all about helping YOU manage your way around instagram. In the INSTAGRAM SERIES I've touched on subjects such as why am I losing followers on instagram , how instagram is trying to get rid of (food) bloggers and how to get paid influencer work on instagram. Just click here to find all the other parts in the series. Now on with today's post!

DISCLAIMER: One of my lovely creative community members, Roberta alerted me to the article I will be referencing through this blog post. Thank you Roberta. So grateful.

It has been a while and a half since I've penned a piece for the instagram series; that's because it's been all kinds of busy behind the scenes at The Little Plantation HQ. But with instagram's unprecedented move to speak openly about how their algorithms really work and whether the shadow ban is or isn't a thing, I HAD to create another part in my popular blog series. So according to this article here's what they said in a nutshell and - more importantly - here's what it means for you as a (food) blogger, instagrammer and influencer. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW INSTAGRAM ALGORITHM
mastermind
K J Espinel
1-DAY SMALL BUSINESS MASTERMIND INTENSIVE

Have you started a blog or small business that is earning you money, but not as much as you'd like? Are you unable to find direction in your business and need support nailing your focus point? Do you feel isolated as a solopreneur and lacking a community of like-minded people who totally get what you do and can help you progress? Do you know a lot about your business but not so much about reaching your ideal customer and getting more clients through the power of a website, blog and social media? Then my first 1-day small business mastermind intensive may be just what you're after! 

1-DAY SMALL BUSINESS MASTERMIND INTENSIVE
K J Espinel
NEW INSTAGRAM STORIES FEATURES! WHAT THEY MEAN ...

NOTE: This blog post is part 11 of my INSTAGRAM SERIES - content all about helping YOU manage your way around instagram. In the INSTAGRAM SERIES I've touched on subjects such as why you're losing followers (and what to do about it), how to grow your instagram following and the one thing no one talks about in food blogging. Just click here to find all the other parts in the series. As for today, I'll talk in detail about the new instagram stories changes and, more importantly, what these changes mean for YOU if you're trying to make it as food blogger or instagram influencer.

Love instagram or not, the one thing no one can call instagram is boring, stagnant or uninventive. Nope, this platform is ALWAYS constantly and continuously reinventing itself, pushing boundaries and thinking outside the box. And the new instagram stories features are - yet again - instagram showing off its innovation and creativity.  

NEW INSTAGRAM STORIES FEATURES! WHAT THEY MEAN FOR BLOGGERS
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HOW MUCH SHOULD AN INSTAGRAM CONTENT CREATOR EARN? + SAVEUR COUNT DOWN PART 3

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HOW MUCH SHOULD AN INSTAGRAM CONTENT CREATOR EARN? + SAVEUR COUNT DOWN PART 3

NOTE: This blog post is part 22 of my INSTAGRAM SERIES - content all about helping YOU manage your way around instagram. In the INSTAGRAM SERIES I've touched on subjects such as how to get paid for posting content on instagram, how the algorithms really work and is your instagram account worth following. Just click here to find all the other parts in the series. Now on with today's controversial (?) post...

How much should an instagram influencer slash content creator earn? How much should we charge for our work as photographers, food writers, stylists? It's a question I get asked quite a lot and one that recently came up inside my creative community. I've written about the topic before, more broadly, but that blog post feels like ages ago and hence a few years older and wiser, I thought I'd tackle the question again on instagram and here on my blog AKA my home turf. 

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EASY VEGAN TOFU SATAY BOWL + WHY SIMPLICITY IN FOOD IS EVERYTHING

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EASY VEGAN TOFU SATAY BOWL + WHY SIMPLICITY IN FOOD IS EVERYTHING

Today I'm writing about food on instagram, why simplicity in food is everything and why I do what I do as part of my 3-day Saveur Awards countdown. However, if you're here for the delicious vegan tofu satay recipe, I don't blame you. Just scroll down to the very end to find what you're looking for ;). 

WHEN INSTAGRAM BECAME THE HOME OF FOOD PORN

When Instagram launched in October 2010 it was all about sharing instant shots of yourself in the here and now. Think polaroids for the online, digital age. Posting candid, real shots is exactly what instagram pioneers did, that is, until they didn't anymore.

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ROASTED GRAPES WITH THYME RECIPE + THE THING ABOUT SAVEUR

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ROASTED GRAPES WITH THYME RECIPE + THE THING ABOUT SAVEUR

WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD START A FOOD BLOG IN 2014, 2017 OR WORST STILL 2018?

It's that very question we all ask ourselves when we sign our names on the dotted line and commit to squarespace for a 12 month period. Why do we ask ourselves this question? Because the odds are stacked against us. The chances of anyone seeing anything we produce on our food blog are pretty low and the chances of 'making it' as a food blogger even slimmer.

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TOFU AVOCADO SALAD IN COLLABORATION WITH SAPIENSTONE (AD) + FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROPS PART 4

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TOFU AVOCADO SALAD IN COLLABORATION WITH SAPIENSTONE (AD) + FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROPS PART 4

As an avid home cook and a food photographer everything starts with great food and a great work surface. If you think of it from the home cook's perspective if makes sense, right? Your ingredients have got to be right to create the dish you crave, but you also need a reliable, sturdy worksurface that makes the preparation process smooth and easy.

As a food photographer those two thing matter just as much - it's hard to shoot beautiful images if the food doesn't look right. And as for the worksurface it is ALWAYS a major consideration when I think about the mood and feel of a food photography image. It's the foundation from which I build my scene and tell my story. In fact if you read this blog post, this one and this one you'll know how incredibly important surfaces are in food photography and food styling. 

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IS YOUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT WORTH FOLLOWING?

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IS YOUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT WORTH FOLLOWING?

NOTE: This blog post is part 21 of my INSTAGRAM SERIES - content all about helping YOU manage your way around instagram. In the INSTAGRAM SERIES I've touched on subjects such as how the instagram algorithms really work, the three real reasons your instagram account is not growing and is organic growth on instagram still possible. Just click here to find all the other parts in the series. Now on with today's postand with that cheeky blog post title...

With soooo much choice of stunningly curated feeds and insanely gorgeous pictures, how on earth do we decide to take the leap and click the FOLLOW button on instagram? Is our decision to follow an instagram account much more complex than all these popular articles acknowledge? Or will a little hashtag make or break me on my favourite app after all?! 

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12 DAY FREE AUTUMN INSTAGRAM PHOTO CHALLENGE

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12 DAY FREE AUTUMN INSTAGRAM PHOTO CHALLENGE

Creating the best FREE instagram photo challenges are one of my most favourite things to do, EVER! Honestly, they are sooo much fun, full of creativity and make me feel THAT much closer to YOU, my fellow food photography fanatics. Having said that I have noticed that there are A LOT of food photography challenges happening on instagram of late and - when people move one way, I kinda like to move the other way ;).

This means that this season's Autumn instagram food photography challenge in this 12-day format will be one of my very last. Even more reason to sign up then AND tell your friends about the challenge isn't it ;)?! Learn about food photography, food styling and be part of the BEST online creative community a food lover could ever be! Ready to make a commitment to your learning and master the perfect insta food flatlay? Then please read one... 

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EASY VEGAN TARTLETS + LONDON VEGAN MEETUP

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EASY VEGAN TARTLETS + LONDON VEGAN MEETUP

If you're here for my super easy 4-ingredient no-bake vegan berry tartlets, please scroll down to the end of this blog post to find what you're looking for. If you want to read more about our vegan meet up, then no need to scroll, you're in the right place :)...

What's better than connecting on social media platforms like instagram and facebook groups? Connecting in real life of course (or 'IRL' in short if you wanna be really cute)! Which is why, after 2 long years of thinking about it, I'm hosting my second London vegan meet-up this Autumn. I'm not running the show on my own though, instead I'm roping in support from Viola - you may know her from this blog post we did together, and/or from her highly successful Sunshine Eatery instagram account - and Nisha, one of my awesome and sweet community members who you can find here. Now the question is, would YOU like to join us in South East London for our vegan get together? Then be sure to mark Saturday, September 15th 12 - 2pm 16th 11am - 1.30pm in your diary and read on for lots more info: 

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ONLINE FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY AND FOOD STYLING COURSE

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ONLINE FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY AND FOOD STYLING COURSE

After having so much fun teaching my first on-line interactive live food photography, food styling and visual story telling e-course I've decided to do it all again and welcome you to join me for my second LIVE interactive online food styling, food photography and visual story telling course!

To be honest I hadn't planned to launch the online food styling course again until the new year, but following the lovely feedback I received from the students who signed up for the course over the summer (see below) and my desire to make the course even better this time around, I can't wait to start teaching you all I know about food styling and food photography sooner rather than later. Want more info? Then please read on.