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

VEGAN BROWNIES WITH AQUAFABA CHOCOLATE FROSTING + A COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!

VEGAN BROWNIES WITH AQUAFABA CHOCOLATE FROSTING + A COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!

How do you follow up an international best-selling debut cookbook called Vegan in 7? With another fantastic vegan cookbook of course! Well, at least that’s what you do if you happen to be Rita Serano, vegan chef, cookbook author and plant-based instagram queen.

After the phenomenal success that was Vegan in 7, Rita decided not to rest on her laurels, but instead to write another cookbook - Vegan for Good - packed full of inspiring and delicious vegan recipes for longer, lazier weekends as well as busy, hectic weekdays. Seeing that I got my hands on Rita’s fab cookbook early, I thought I’d share my impressions of Vegan for Good and tell you how YOU can win a copy for keeps. Sound like a plan?

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4 ESSENTIAL FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY LIGHTROOM CC MOBILE PRESETS

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4 ESSENTIAL FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY LIGHTROOM CC MOBILE PRESETS

After you’ve asked me for months, I’m excited to share that my popular Lightroom presets are now finally available for Lightroom CC mobile, and the best part is that you won’t need to paid for an Adobe Creative Cloud or Lightroom subscription to access them! The only thing you need is the FREE Lightroom CC mobile app, which is available to both ios and android users. So now you can edit your food photos on your phone on the go. Plus, if you know me, you're probably aware that I like to go over and beyond for my tribe ;) and hence the bundle includes a few tiny little extras including a special introductory discount code (valid until 27/02/19 only!). Read on to find out more….

EASY VEGAN CAULIFLOWER WINGS + A COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!

EASY VEGAN CAULIFLOWER WINGS + A COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!

When the adorable Sasha Gill, from @thesashadiaries contacted me in late 2018, asking if she could send me a copy of her soon-to-be released debut vegan cookbook, Jackfruit & Blue Ginger, I was touched. I was even happier when Sasha and her publisher Murdoch Books kindly agreed to send an extra copy to one of my lucky audience members. That’s because it’s through sharing cookbooks full of delicious recipes with YOU that I get to say THANK YOU for being here and reading my ramblings. Now - enough gushing! Shall we take a closer look at what Jackfruit & Blue Ginger is all about and how you can win a copy?

VEGAN JAPANESE BUDDHA BOWL + A COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!

VEGAN JAPANESE BUDDHA BOWL + A COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!

It’s been a little while since I shared a plant-based recipe with you guys and seeing that The Little Plantation is first and foremost a vegan food blog, I thought it was about time I got back in the kitchen and prepared something for you. I shouldn’t actually say that this vegan dish is just ‘something’ and instead name it for what it is: EVERYTHING.

Now before you think I’m a conceited cook, I’d like to let you know that today’s recipe is in fact adapted from the brand new cookbook BENTO POWER: BRILLIANTLY BALANCED LUNCHBOX RECIPES, conceived, shot and written by my incredibly talented instagram friend, Sara Kiyo Popowa. You may know Sara on instagram as @shisodelicious where she shares her lovingly made, colourful plant-based bento box meals. But, does the idea of plant forward Japanese inspired bento boxes translate into a great cookbook? I’ll tell you what I really think and let you know how you can win a copy.…

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LONDON FOOD STYLING AND FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY FOR DSLR AND MOBILE PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

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LONDON FOOD STYLING AND FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY FOR DSLR AND MOBILE PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

Want to learn food photography and food styling? Want to have not one, but two experienced teachers and professional food photographers show you everything you need to know about food styling, shooting like a pro on your DSLR, editing in Lightroom and taking gorgeous food photos on your mobile phone? Then listen up because my London food styling, food photography for DSLR and mobile phone workshop is now open for registration.

Together with experienced commercial food photographer, educator and food blogger Lauren Caris from That’s Sage I will be hosting 3 action packed days focusing on food styling, food photography (for DSLR and mobile phone cameras), visual story telling and photo editing. In addition we’ll be exploring how to make the most of your social media channels, how to grow your instagram and increase your blog and website traffic too! Want to find out more? Then please read on...

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FREE 12 DAY WINTER PHOTO CHALLENGE 2019

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FREE 12 DAY WINTER PHOTO CHALLENGE 2019

Creating the best FREE 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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MANIFESTING MY GOALS, WISHES AND INTENTION FOR 2019...

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MANIFESTING MY GOALS, WISHES AND INTENTION FOR 2019...

Do you get a bit reflective towards the end of a calendar year?  I do, big time! In part because it’s always incredibly sobering to think that yet another year has passed, but also because it’s so helpful for me to analyse what worked, what didn’t work and what to focus on during the new year.

When I started blogging I had a practice where I shared my food blogger wish list for the year ahead. I did it for the year 2015 and 2016 and then fell out of this practice, settling instead for quietly writing the new year’s wish list in my journal. I call BS on that because sharing the list publicly makes me work harder, gives the wish list more power to manifest itself and provides me with a sense of accountability.

Hence here it is, my wish list for 2019. You ready?

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ONLINE FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY AND FOOD STYLING COURSE 2019

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ONLINE FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY AND FOOD STYLING COURSE 2019

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.