A Hobby… a Habit… a Career? A Documented Life

Image: Mink Mingle (Unsplash)

We live in a time where our motto is “I share, therefore I am”[9]

Image: Ian Schneider (StockSnap)

We have always wanted to share, but now our first focus is to have a photograph of our experience.[9]

Image: Ryan McGuire (Gratisography)

Conversation < Documentation

We interrupt experiences to document a moment; through a camera we create a visual diary, “a way to mark our short existence and hold it

up to others as proof that we were here.”[11]

Image: Ryan McGuire (Gratisography)

Social media platforms are the home of our documented life – they are filled with self-portraits [4] – better known today as

SELFIES

Image: Sean DuBois (Unsplash)

“The idea of the Selfie is much more like your face is the caption and you’re trying to explain a moment or tell a story.”

- Frédéric della Faille [11] Image: Silke Remmery (Flickr)

A visual diary can have many focuses –including

FOOD “I think photographing food is a more accurate way to document life…you have

more of a direct connection with your food, so it forms a more essential memory of an occasion.” - Carl Rosenberg [6] 

Image: Ali Inay (Unsplash)

Photos tagged “food” on Flickr have increased by 10 times, adding up

to more than six million in the last two years. [6] Image: (Kaboompics)

Photographing food is sometimes considered ‘a means of self-motivation,’ a lifestyle choice. [6]

Image: Machu (Flickr)

For some it becomes a pathological habit, as the urge to photograph meals interferes with careers or relationships and can be

a source of anxiety. Due to self-pressure some find it impossible to suppress the urge to photograph. [6]

Image: (Kaboompics)

Some invested in photographing food have made it into a career – either by gaining popularity and followers on social media platforms, blogs or even becoming an author and publishing food photographs.

[6]

Image: Arne Halvorsen (Flickr)

Online platforms allow people to turn documenting hobbies and habits into a career. [3]

Image: Jason Howie (Flickr)

@inspiralized An Instagram user who photographs food, earns more than $80k per year . With the popularity of her photos, she has got the opportunity to create a product line, sponsor, publish and make guest appearances on shows. [8]

@feralcreature An Instagram user who shared her outfits through selfies gained thousands of followers, turned into a top fashion Instagram account – with the opportunities this recognition has

brought she has made taking selfies into a full time career. [8]

Image: (Kaboompics)

Some people take documenting their life to a whole new level = Meet Daily Vloggers

(Video Blogging = Vlogging) [10]

Image: 55Laney69 (Flickr)

COMMON VLOGGING

CATEGORIES [10]

Fashion & Beauty Family Life & Pregnancy

Video Gaming Extreme Videos

Image: (Unsplash)

Image: (Pexels)

Image: Morgan (Flickr)

Heather Buckley (Flickr)

Making video blogs has become increasingly popular as vloggers are able to create YouTube channels and can share their documented lives with thousands and in many cases millions of viewers. [5]

Image: (Kaboompics)

Successful vloggers on YouTube make over 2.5 million USD. The highest earning YouTube vlogger is PewDiePie, a gaming comedian who makes 12 million USD with money for ads, product sponsoring and mentions – some use their fame to launch product lines. [2]

Image: Grant (Flickr)

"If a vlogger endorses a product it gives it more weight than if it was just featured on the page of a magazine”

- Jessica Walker, a Digital Marketing Specialist [5]

Image :Ken Hawkins (Flickr)

Anyone with a iPhone and an internet connection can become an Instagram food/fashion photographer or a vlogger, but how come only a few succeed to make it a career? [5]

What is the key to success?

Image: Ke Dickinson (Flickr)

SELF-BRANDING Without branding, we camouflage ourselves. [1]

Image: Suresh Eswaran (Flickr)

In order to turn documenting life into a career, one has to be: 1.  Distinctive

2.  Recognizable 3.  Meaningful

[1] Image: tschundler (Flickr)

David Beckham for example is much more successful and well-known amongst his competitors – why?

He invested in Self- branding [1]

Image: Tasayu Tasnaphun (Flickr)

Image: (Kaboompics)

YouTubers and Instagram users are the CEOs of their own companies. If they can capitalize on what makes them different and wisely take advantage of the power of their influence, they can secure their career; even if this means they are willing to sacrifice their privacy in the process of doing so. [7]

Image Sources (In Chronological Order)

Mingle, M. (2015, December 23). [Slide 1]. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/EiPJjVgP5-U Schneider, I. (2016, May 11). [Slide 2]. Retrieved from https://stocksnap.io/photo/Z6L2A29ERN McGuire, R. (n.d.). [Slide 3]. Retrieved from http://gratisography.com/#people McGuire, R. (n.d.). [Slide 4]. Retrieved from http://gratisography.com/#people DuBois, S. (2015, February 23). [Slide 5]. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/8G5DLKTadEU Remmery, S. (2014, December 18). Lion Selfie [Slide 6]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/qaa1N7 Inay, A. (2015, February 25). [Slide 7]. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/y3aP9oo9Pjc [Slide 8]. (2015, February 12). Retrieved from http://kaboompics.com/one_foto/885/woman-hand-taking-picture-of-doughnuts# Machu. (2009, November 23). Starbucks [Slide 9]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/7hFabR Woman taking a photo of cup of coffee with Apple iPhone 6 [Slide 10]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://kaboompics.com/one_foto/1199/woman-taking-a-photo-of-cup-of-coffee-with-apple-iphone-6# Halvorsen, A. (2009, June 8). (Hot) Burger [Slide 11]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/6vbtTs Howie, J. (2012, September 1). Instagram and other Social Media Apps [Slide 12]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/d41HES Workspace on a Blanket [Slide 13]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://kaboompics.com/one_foto/1444# 55Laney69. (2015, May 30). Roman [Slide 14]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/tSLmLr Morgan, L. (2012, June 16). Gamer Teen [Slide 15 - Bottom Left]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/cg5GLh Pexels. (2014, March 11). Fashion Girl Makeup Paint [Slide 15 - Top Left]. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/fashion-girl-makeup-paint-3119/ Selfie Generation Father [Slide 15 - Top Right]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/selfie-family-generation-father-9746/ Buckley, H. (2009, September 20). Whiteair extreme sports stunt bike Brighton [Slide 15 - Bottom Right]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/fxh2Qz Old Canon on the Wooden Desk [Slide 16]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://kaboompics.com/one_foto/1123/old-canon-on-the-wooden-desk Grant. (2015, January 19). Pennies for Your Thoughts [Slide 17]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/qSf3JZ Hawkins, K. (2011, February 15). City Java Magazine Rack [Slide 18]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/9iTcY6 Dickinson, K. (2012, April 16). Keys [Slide 19]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/bUGzLb Eswaran, S. (2011, June 19). Standing Out [Slide 20]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/9VcW5f Tschundler. (2008, August 24). Mirror [Slide 21]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/5gfvGW Tasnaphun, T. (2010, June 20). [Slide 22]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/8c6L4Z Top view of old camera and notebook [Slide 23]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://kaboompics.com/one_foto/1318/top-view-of-old-camera-and-notebook#

All Images Used have a Creative Commons License

Works Cited 1.  Chamorro-Premuzic, Tomas. The Future of You. Harvard Business Review. N.p., 01 Jan. 2013. Web. <https://

hbr.org/2013/01/the-future-of-you/>. 2.  Berg, Madeline. The World's Highest-Paid YouTube Stars 2015. Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 14 Oct. 2015. Web.

<http://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2015/10/14/the-worlds-highest-paid-youtube-stars-2015/#6355a5af542c>.

3.  Dhawan, Erica. How You Can Use YouTube to Turn Your Passion into a Career. Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 17 Dec. 2014. Web. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericadhawan/2014/12/17/how-you-can-use-youtube-to-turn-your-passion-into-a-career/#3179a1e92a9f>.

4.  Erickson, Christine. The Social Psychology of the Selfie. Mashable. N.p., 16 Feb. 2013. Web. <http://mashable.com/2013/02/15/social-media-and-the-selfie/>.

5.  Harvey, Declan. Meet the Vloggers: Self Employed and 'worth a Fortune ... BBC UK. N.p., 13 Nov. 2013. Web. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/24726895/meet-the-vloggers-self-employed-and-worth-a-fortune>.

6.  Murphy, Kate. First Camera, Then Fork. The New York Times. The New York Times, 06 Apr. 2010. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/dining/07camera.html>.

7.  Peters, Tom. The Brand Called You. Fast Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2016. <http://www.fastcompany.com/28905/brand-called-you>.

8.  Trending NY. How These 6 All Stars Turned Instagram Into a Full-Time Job. Elle. N.p., 17 May 2015. Web. <http://www.elle.com/culture/tech/news/a28322/instagram-all-stars-trending-ny/>.

9.  Turkle, Sherry. The Documented Life. The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Dec. 2013. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/opinion/the-documented-life.html>.

10.  Universal Life Church Monastery. A Look Into the World of Vlogging. Universal Life Church Monastery Blog A Look Into the World of Vlogging Comments. N.p., 09 May 2016. Web. <https://www.themonastery.org/blog/2016/05/a-look-into-the-world-of-vlogging/#hrZV8SiVmi4pOaFt.99>.

11.  Wortham, Jenna. My Selfie, Myself. The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Oct. 2013. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/sunday-review/my-selfie-myself.html?pagewanted=2>.