Very few people in eyecare are famous enough to be on first name only basis, but Sophia of The Monocle Muse has unquestionable status as such.  With over 11k followers and counting, her online reach bridges optometry to the fashion industry as a larger audience. Before she ever decided to attend optometry school, Sophia got her start working in the optical of an optometry office near her undergrad to help pay down student loans.  She was studying biology, but really drawn to both business management and a career in fashion. The doctor she worked for helped put it all in perspective: optometry is a unique opportunity in healthcare where business and fashion are as much a part of the field as medical care.

Despite the glamorous photo shoots taking her around the world with collaborations with The Eyewear Forum and major brands like Kiehl’s and Macy’s, Sophia works hard to follow her passions and create content for The Monocle Muse blog and Instagram account. She is a full time practicing optometrist, working 5-6 days a week every week.  A creative eye and research on how to snap the perfect picture has made her Instagram feed as polished as any full-time working model.  When photographing eyewear, she spends as much as twenty minutes styling the perfect flat lay image to show off the frame in the best light.  Her tips for success include:

* Lighting is everything! The best app can’t make up for poor lighting, so chose the location and time of day you shoot carefully.  Natural light is always the best for color constancy and vibrancy.

* When shooting the flat lay image with your camera or phone, get as high above your target as possible and shoot with your camera held parallel to the ground, pointed directly over your shot.

* Tell a color story.  Let the frames guide you on natural objects to include in your shot to add dimension and depth.  A green frame pairs perfectly with plants. A brighter orange? Try shooting with oranges or lemons on your table top. An opened magazine can also create a cohesive color story if you are struggling to accessorize!

Her tips on social media marketing and image creation are sure to help inspire your own optometric Instagram feed, whether it’s your personal or your office account. But it’s not all about the fashion – we also nerd out about dry eye treatments. Who knew The Monocle Muse was a champion for punctal plugs?! Meet Sophia, the boss and the brand behind The Monocle Muse on this week’s podcast!