Do you have a love-hate relationship with Instagram? 

I do. 

While it’s such a fabulous platform for showcasing our work, it has also created an unnecessary race.

When we come across a photo with 2000 likes, we begin to wonder what we are doing wrong and what those accounts are doing right to get so many likes.

When we see accounts growing every day, we begin to think that our work is not good enough.

...and then begins self-doubt, comparison, and frustration. 

 On the other hand, when we see our numbers growing, more followers and the count on our account go up, there is a sense of celebration. True? 

We all want to grow on Instagram, but the frustration and comparison can make it stressful and turn that creative space into a negative experience. 

It can even suck away the joy of creating. 

 Which is why, in this episode I’m sharing how to grow on Instagram but with the right approach

– an approach that can help us stay way from comparison, take pride in our creativity, grow our community and bonus, even attract the right clients.

Whoop!

There’s always a right way and a wrong way. Let’s choose the right way to build our community on social media so we can stay healthy, happy and continue to create with joy without the pressure of numbers.  

When we build our community with intention, purpose and positivity, our community becomes our strength.


Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/10-how-to-grow-on-instagram/

Photography is so much more than just holding up a camera and taking a shot. It has many moving parts that can not only make or break a photo, but also determine our efficiency and quality of work. Correct? 

 Have you ever felt your back ache after standing for hours, trying to nail that flatlay?

Have you ever started editing and realised the photo was not sharp?

Have you ever struggled trying to include yourself as the human element in a photo?

Have you ever worked for hours on an action shot only to find out later that focus was not on the action part? 

Have you ever wanted to get more efficient and create more photos in the same given time? 

If your answer to any question is yes, this episode of the podcast is for you. 

In this episode I share photography tips and practices that have been life changing, gave me full control over what I created, improved my workflow so I could work better with clients, and enhanced my photography skills. 

When you’re in control of what you create and how you create, you make your audience experience exactly what you want them to experience. Here are practices that can help you create like a pro! 

When you take the reins in your hands, you truly create art as the artist you are and set out to be. 

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe on whichever platform you’re listening. If you’re on iTunes or apple podcast, it would fabulous if you could leave me a rating and a review.

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/ 

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/9-food-photography-game-changers/

If you’re looking to come up with your own photography process, streamlining your workflow, getting efficient & saving time, checkout my free guide called the 10-step photoshoot  https://crafty-author-336.ck.page

Do you photograph everything you eat at a restaurant and bribe the kids to let you shoot for just a little longer before they dive into that delicious cake?

 Do you sneak out time from your busy schedule just to take that one shot of steaming chai OR the vanilla cake you just took out of the oven OR that chicken you cooked for dinner?

 
Are you forever thinking of what to cook next, photograph next, the composition, props.

So much that you even dream of it at night.

 And while you’re dreaming, you wonder what it would be like if food photography wasn’t just a hobby but a full-time job, a business. 

What if you could photograph and get paid to do what you love? 

 But you wonder, and then get overwhelmed esp. by the $$$ part & leave the thought for another day.  

If the thought of turning your hobby into a profession OR your part-time business into a full-time business has even once crossed your mind, this episode is for you.

The question about switching careers is one of the most frequently asked because it is a tough decision. 

I share with you the biggest leap of faith I’ve ever taken & how I moved from a long career in architecture and a 6-figure salary to my love for food photography, what can come your way while thinking of a career change and how you can power through it.

 Don’t be on the threshold or in a dilemma. Find a clear direction by asking yourself 3 questions, if you’re thinking about changing careers. 

 You never know what waits for you on the other side of these questions. 

Perhaps, a life of passion and a life of your dreams.


Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/podcast/

Has it ever happened that you’ve known someone on Instagram and when they meet you they say, “You’re exactly the same in real life as you’re on social media.”  

 .. That, my friend, is called branding.

Branding is the way the world sees us and the image they hold of us. 

And branding is not just for business owners, it is for anyone who creates work and puts it out in the world, either as a passion or profession.

 So, whether you create photographs, recipes, cookbooks, etc., the world has a perceived image of you through your work. 

You’re already a brand, even if you don’t know it or consider yourself one. 

 If you are a creator, and your work is out on social media or being shared in other ways, you are a brand.

 Which is why, the message we put out through our work is so important, because that is what builds the image, the brand. 

 Afterall, who doesn’t like to make a good impression, or be told, “Your work is a reflection of your personality.” 

“Your work is honest to who you are.”

If this interests you, in the latest podcast episode I’m sharing the first steps needed to build a personal brand so that you can create the image you want the world to have of you. 

Whether you’re a hobbyist or professional, this episode is for you because ultimately, you’re a creator. 

Your brand must breathe you in & out. Here’s how you can make that happen in 4 easy steps. 

 
Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

 Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/the-first-step-to-build-a-brand/

So, your dream client reached out to you

..And they want you to photograph their new range of food products

..And they are paying well. 

Win-win. Whoop! 

 You are excited! What a terrific opportunity.

Oh, but wait.. what? They want the photoshoot in their space. 

But you’ve only been photographing at home, in your own space, in your own time. 

 What equipment to carry? What gear to take? How to prepare? 

You have this dream opportunity but the overwhelm of organizing yourself is making you question whether you are ready for it. 

 You are not alone. 

I’ve been there too & my first restaurant shoot was NOT smooth. 

I’ve been in situations where I’ve forgotten my gear or did not have the right gear. 

 I know that carrying out a photoshoot in a restaurant or new environment can be nerve wrecking, which is why, I’m sharing the basic essential gear that you need to carry to a client photoshoot so that you can shoot in any environment.

Don’t let the overwhelm stop you from working with your dream client or taking the leap you want to in food photography. All you need is to be prepared.


Read more at https://myfoodlens.com/podcast/

Follow Dyutima's food photography on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

 Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/essential-gear-for-on-location-food-photography/

We all have days when we wish we could perform better but a churning feeling inside us takes away the motivation to cook or photograph or engage in anything remotely creative. We want to pick up the camera, but it is a struggle to find the energy or inspiration to do so.

This could be because a photoshoot didn’t go as well as expected OR a potential declined our offer OR we suffered a financial loss in business OR we are doubting our skills OR any other reason.

 As a creative, if you have ever felt discouraged or double-guessed yourself and wished to overcome those feelings but didn’t know how to, this episode of the podcast is for you. 

 
In this episode I’m sharing part 2 of my positive mantras. 

These mantras have helped me a big deal in bringing back my productivity when I felt like giving up. 
They have also given me the confidence to take huge leaps of faith in my creative journey, including launching this podcast. 

If this resonates with your creative journey, if you’re ready to beat the slump, here’s the podcast episode for you. 

If you find this episode helpful, please share it with a friend who might benefit from it. 

Share it in a social media post or on stories because you never know who might need to hear this today.

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

 Show notes available at 

It’s Monday morning.

You wake up at 6am. 

You go for a walk by the river and come back refreshed.

You sit down to work. You already have your tasks mapped out for the day.

You begin. It’s been an hour & you’re killing it, striking off tasks from your list.

And then you take a break for a few mins. 

You casually open Instagram.

You’re scrolling and see a photo with 2000 likes. 

You feel sad, jealous, angry. Ughh!

You continue scrolling, scrolling and suddenly it’s been an hour. 

Not just any hour. 

Your most productive hour - The hour that was meant for you to strike off more tasks from your list, was spend scrolling through Instagram, and it didn’t even leave you feeling positive. 

If this has ever happened to you, this episode of the podcast is for you. 

In this episode, I’m sharing simple but powerful mantras that I’ve gathered from different experiences over the years.

These mantras have helped me break through bouts of slump and bounce back from phases of unproductivity. 

Whether it is about having a positive experience on Instagram or finishing off a photoshoot with more & better photos, this episode is for you. 

This is Part 1 of a 2-part topic. Part 2 comes next week. 

 

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/4-beat-the-slump-positive-mantras-to-increase-productivity-part-1/

If I asked what skills you need to be able to work with brands, the obvious answer would be, technical skills. 

If we are photographers, we need to have a good grip on photography. If we are recipe creators, we need to have a solid understanding of flavors & cooking technique, and so forth.

 But even with the best technical skills, why do creatives struggle to find clients? Why is it so hard to have brands engage the same creatives for their services over and over again? 

 As someone who has never worked with a client only once, always had returning clients, & worked on annual & long-term contracts, I’m sharing the top 5 business skills that have guided me in building trusting and long-lasting relationships with clients and I can assure you, it is not what you think.

 This episode gives powerful insights on how to build relationships that make clients want to work with you and only you!

 Be the creative clients love to work with!

 So, if you want to start working with clients or would like to build a long-lasting working relationship with clients, here’s a POW packed episode for you. 

Read more about Dyutima at  https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Download the free photoshoot guide https://crafty-author-336.ck.page/3ae5b6cf6f

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/5-business-skills-to-work-with-clients/

So, you’re taking a photo of food and it just doesn’t look right. You wonder what’s missing?  You know something’s not working but can’t put a finger on it. 

 
Well, 90% of the times it is the lighting.

Light is the backbone of a good food photo. 

 Today when social media is flooded with a million food photos, where everyone is trying to create one magnificent composition after another, sometimes the most fundamental aspect of a photo, is overlooked. 

 A good photo does not need to be elaborate in composition, but a good photo must always have good lighting.

 In this episode of the podcast, I bring back the attention to the importance of lighting in photography & the power of being able to harness light to create any mood, emotion, or story. 

We also talk about the different types of light, where they fit in visual storytelling, limited access to light if you have a full-time job, and how it can be maximized.

Whether you are or not into artificial light, this episode suggests ways to reduce the overwhelm around artificial light & guides how to select the right kind of light to match your photography style. 

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at  https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/2-the-magic-of-light-in-food-photography/

My Food Lens Podcast Trailer

Read more about Dyutima at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/