How to be better at instagram

We all love being loved and love being known and acknowledged, the human attitude of being in good books of others is a need, healthy though we mark it as insecurity. How true it is a matter of how you approach. The explosion of the internet and the beginning of a new era called social media may keep our parents a little way off and help them to stick to old traditional ways of being in a family and extend when needed. We the millennials sadly are losing the track of being behind the line. Yes, we are way more connected to people than ever before and it's way too easy for many companies to understand you as a person before you going to give an interview and getting recruited. I guess you don't believe me? It is indeed a fact of today's world that the company you wish to work for may have scanned your social presence and the way you interact with your audience at a personal and public level way before you even submitted an application to get accepted. Many of my clients may not judge my skill based on my social followers and presence but they do love to know more than the work factor.

Now coming back to the question of how well-skilled are we to have a well mannered social life on a social media platform? You may either just made a profile to be on the path of the upcoming influencer or someone who is just there to know the world more than the mere four walls of your usual office or studio. There are a few things which I have observed which many other blogs will guide you to do to brings one's attention (the one you admire) or connect someone for any collaboration related activity. They tend to miss the pointers one should follow to keep the sanity alive. Let me be very honest, texting is worst way to put your thoughts in place mainly in social media platforms, you miss your tone, you use too many words, you do sound pushy and needy though your agenda was to be humble enough unless you are some copywriter whose profession revolves around curated bunch of words provoking one to raise the tone in its mind. Huh..! we all can't be yet it is important to understand what to do and where to stop to lead to any misunderstanding.

Lately, Instagram, post been taken over by Facebook has made it algorithm quite challenging for many new users to gain traffic and paid promotion does involve money but it is not meant for everyone to put it from its one pocket. Well, organic marketing follows the old school method which many find taxing. My friends and else I have heard many tactics people tend to follow to gain attention or followers but they often forget what not to do. The worst thing you will like to do to yourself is getting yourself in the "avoid/block/report" book of others.

FOLLOW FOR FOLLOW

Many articles have suggested the act of following an account and in return, they may follow you back and when they don't, one ends up unfollowing. The scratch my back policy is annoying and random followers are not going to lead your agenda anywhere, people are smart and smart ones are patient and they are very particular about whom they follow and by whom they wish to get followed.

Design a well-thought profile providing something back to your viewers, that is good enough for the trespasser to "Follow" you!

DIRECT MESSAGE

Instagram is a great platform to connect to people and the option to connect someone on a personal level gives leverage to share your thoughts and opportunities. Sadly many tend to misuse it. The sheer interest to gain the "special" attention and making random conversation may sound a great move to have a conversation and I don't deny many do like it, but I am targeting people who are running a business/blog over the platform. Be respectful to people, be honest about your reasons to connect. A lure statement about one's personal life and the very act of getting too personal without even knowing the person is not cool.

GETTING INTRUSIVE

We need to understand every person has a right to privacy, and one has to respect it even if you do not like it. Instagram has evolved in the past many years sadly people have gone reverse. It is a platform where people love sharing life, emotion, ideas in a visual format and they may not be here to make friends. I have seen much where people love to get too intrusive to understand me more than what I have to offer. Sadly they go sexual, sexist, communist, yes people do so!

Understand your line which you are not supposed to cross.

There has been a drastic fall of ethics where people forget when to not to cross the very line. Social media might have brought us closer but we are losing the concept of mutual understanding and respect. Freedom of speech is now a social abuse and bullying. We are now more prone to venerability, my real concern is how we are shaping the coming generation, I find it really scary and I will be honest, social media is, in reality, might give you a company strong enough to make you feel self-satisfied and entertained, sadly it is making us more lonely than ever.

We, humans, are not meant to be alone, as a social and communal animal that we are and however we say we like our "Me time" we grow with others, we evolve with others.

Hii, I am shovona, a freelance commercial photographer who resides in the economic hub of India, Mumbai. As an artist, I undergo the above almost every day and I am here to support others to let them feel cool about anything happening in life.

Feel free to contact me for any portrait, corporate, food, product photography related queries or just drop a hi! at

shovonakar@gmail.com

#freelancephotographer #mumbaiphotographer #portrait #femalephotographer

FIve must have things as a freelancer

As a freelancer, we challenge each day we live and pass by. There is a roller coaster we ride on each morning and we don't exactly know how it will end up, all we know is we want the day to be worth it. Freelancing is like a dance, choreographed differently with each passing hour. The beauty stretches from having a cold day to something exciting we were not aware of, emails from an unknown client wishing to collaborate for a sum good enough to someone just fishing around. As the sole heart of your own company, it teaches you so much.

Something we often neglect is to embrace the aspect of itself we pass by. We are low, we happy, we are jealous and we are angry and more.

Here are five things we must have to understand, it is totally fine to have such feelings.

JOY

I love the fact of doing a job I love to do and earn something I feel is worth every effort, well once in a blue moon I do get clients who respect my job and conditions and the joy is a forever feeling I wish I can have.

Getting up early in the morning and adding my thoughts over my blog and social media to help freelancers and anyone again brings me joy. I love to add value to my life and it helps me to add value to myself.

Jealousy

As Google says: In fact, the feeling of envy refers to wanting something that someone else has, such as a fast car or a house in the Hamptons. Jealousy, however, is more aptly described as the fear of losing something (a lover, promotion, friend, etc.) to someone else. "Jealousy is an anticipatory emotion.

As a freelance commercial photographer, I feel jealous almost from time to time, but this very feeling pushes me to do something worth the feeling. Now it is not prerogative to be a freelancer to have such a feeling but it is something we do have it a little more than having a full-time job. We may end up seeing our mates be better in life and enjoying the basic leisure, traveling every next month to a destination we thought off and having that so-called pseudo perfect life. It is indeed a healthy thing to have and avoiding to over drool is something you have to have control, we are devoid of the fact of what they are up to in life and indeed one should ponder to understand how we can fix ourselves.

FEAR

This is a constant thing we live with, so uncertain is our life, but don't blame it to your job indeed a person with a 9 to 7 even goes through it. The ever-fluctuating economy does less harm to freelancers than the other. Again drooling over a myth or fact that tomorrow doesn't exist is everyone's problem, but this very fear let us be present at whatever we have and we are doing.

The pro is it pushes us to do more, to add value to our lives.

The con is it at times forces as to sit and do nothing.

Extreme of both is what we need to fear not the very feeling of it.

Sadness/loneliness

Many often interpret one's sadness and loneliness as something antisocial, if you read and flip back the pages of the masters of its own art, this secluding act has let it discover the true potential. I am not stating it to be a good thing to have but I feel it's one of the must things to have as an artist of its own tools. Many articles have supported Metime to be productive and a self-interpretation is a must for the brain to ponder and generate ideas. When you are free of distractions and your mind starts adding the blocks together, it's indeed productive in a way you have never thought of. I am no psychologist to give you a detailed insight but I have found myself doing some amazing things when I feel left alone.

Anxiety

Ohh, well these things are a sum whole of everything and adding anything to it not worth it. It's indeed a feeling for many but in case you suffer I highly encourage you to consult a doctor.

Hii, I am shovona, a freelance commercial photographer who resides in the economic hub of India, Mumbai. As an artist, I undergo the above almost every day and I am here to support others to let them feel cool about anything happening in life.

Feel free to contact me for any portrait, corporate, food, product photography related queries or just drop a hi! at

shovonakar@gmail.com

#freelancephotographer #productphotographer #portraitphotographer #femalephotographer

WHY DO I BLOG???

because....

Blogging is a trend past many years since the accessibility to INTERNET came into existence. I remember very well one of my BROssss was writing and sharing his poems (way too difficult for me to understand back in those days) over his page. Anyway back to me... The freedom, the evolution blogging gave was really awesome and is really awesome.

BLOGGING became VLOGGING and more and more social media came into existence. Personal branding became important, though it depends the way people presented themselves in whichever mode they chose to be out in public. Freedom of speech as per our constitution was on the way to get more fancied, at times very serious and other times it was meant to be on a lighter note.

The evolution non-sarcastically started bending the knowledge which was been integrated into us from various television channels. People having the power to share their personal views in mind lead to the revolution. In-short we get to know the reality a little more than the brands wishes us to know. Adding to the benefit of having more transparent views it added a star value to the individual and led to the start of non-conventional stardom.The numeric in terms of followers, subscribers and viewers mattered. It was the thing which determined the "Non-Conventional Stardom Value".

If you are in India you have seen the growth of being badass from VJ Bani to something like Dhinchak Puja (seriously....)

Anyway, that's the power of being non-conventional and Blogging aka Vlogging.

As long as I have the desire to be one, I will try to decode myths, I will be more honest and I will be more reachable.Plus I don't earn from my social channel, its completely self sponsored

Sadly the truth post being one recognizable is to start getting molded the way your sponsors wishes you to be.

Making your content more and more opaque, cause all the hard work you have put to get the celebrity status is on the stake of either dancing on the given tune or loosing it for all.

I am a freelance portrait, food and product photographer, who runs a company of herself under the name of SHOVONA KARMAKAR and with utmost pride I have a GST number to display on my client bills to let them know how legit and how serious I am with my agenda to solve their visual problems aka I am a freelance professional. Mumbai being the financial capital and with opportunities which other metro cities cannot provide, I shifted myself to here from Kolkata in 2013.

The path to where I am right now sounds cozy even to myself and I am sure to you too, but past many years things where not rosy, and I mean it. I may have started sharing my understanding about blogging pretty late but I guess I have enough at present to share to people looking for answers. Freelancing happened to me by accident and as I have been experimenting myself with my life to be what I wish to be in future. I alike my batch-mates was running behind marks as it mattered then and wanted to join a firm and live a safe life completely unaware of the fact what my future had it for me and I am more than happy to be here.

Blogging matters to me to have an opportunity to let people know what it takes to be one and how it effects ones life. It's not as easy as living in it's comfort zone and dreaming big, sustenance is a question we keep asking to our self every second and at times literally every second. I may or may not have answers for everything you wish to ask and know but I will try and I will learn things my way on the path.

Things one can understand from me of how to deal and go about. The list is long, the facts are personal and view is subjective.

So here it is...

1

Well unless you are born into someplace which belongs to your own industry or have a God father to show you the way, things are going to be difficult, I assisted someone and I don't think it was a right thing to do, though my experience was somewhere I regret but as it was not in my hand I think I can totally forgive myself. As eventually time passed my desire to make something out of myself in the industry led me to meet some awesome people who helped me generously.

Connect to as many people as possible.

The desire to work led me to grab as many brands as possible in my portfolio devoid of what they paid me. The early years were truly difficult, I at times hardly made enough to pay my rent but the desire kept it going, I managed to bring the minimum needed to sustain.

Create content, generate as many ideas as possible, don't run for a style. Style is something which should come to one gradually, one's experience and understanding should get reflected which is gonna make it something fresh and will help you to stand out of the crowd.

2

It takes decades of experience and thousands of validation from others to let you have the power to earn whatever you wish from every project been thrown to you.

Negotiation, is important to understand what they have to offer you, its is not smart to loose on an experience in-case you are rigid but yes don't let yourself way to low for others to not to value you enough.

Money is the way you will sustain, sadly money is the only way you will dare to dream.

Ask the person contacting you what he/she has to offer you and calculate the basic minimum you think you require to do the job, even if your a new-bibe don't be shy to say NO..! in-case the offered price is way too unpractical.

3

Freelancing is literally a lifestyle that you plan to lead like and its very much like life, totally unexpected, your annual income is not fixed, your taxable income is going to fluctuate. Your daily schedule is nothing you at times can be very proud off and you are more prone to uncertainties in life and almost in every corner. Insurance is your friend and saving is more than priority.

In past few years of being a freelancer, I broke my heart multiple times and it do affected my work, I lost a dear friend and I almost closed my shop though I restarted with a plan and power I wish to keep it to myself and the biggest fear of all, I am an adult with old parents back in hometown and they may not wish me to send them money but my on going struggling phase doesn't let me have enough opportunity to visit them, though I should. A job gives security which doesn't exist as a freelancer and the sooner one is comfortable with its reality with the perks it also gives, the sooner it's going to make your life easier.

The very security rest in our hand and specially in our mind and we need to practice enough as long as possible.

We are mere human, we will do mistakes and that's a part of evolution and we can't avoid it.

4

Don't buy because its cool, its trendy, conscious decision making is a habit which will give you benefits in long run and I am pretty sure you will thank yourself, but give space and opportunity to self to make enough mistakes. Buying tons of clothes is not a very smart thing to do unless you are into the very profession which asks you to do so. Buying endless memberships doesn't make sense unless you use them. Buying gadgets is quaky but be sure what you wish to, keep in mind, it will be obsolete in few months (that is the nasty trick of technology industry.)

I have invested quite an amount in terms of Lakhs in my venture and I am happy to say I have revived the money, but I had to be smart when I did, I literally jumped myself from a basic DSLR to Processional series, got myself a pro tripod and set of strobe lights from Elinchrome (that was the only thing in my budget) a semi pro Rode mic and few pro sd cards and hard drive... well a different article for my equipment list. In-short I had to invest a little more but it was worth it.

In my case of being a photographer a good upgraded equipment helps my client to have content as per the industry standard and I don't have to rent it out or rely on anyone at times when needed, specially the overnight assignments.

Apart from equipment my investment is also for a good internet connection to see some awesome ventures over YouTube.

Make every penny count...!

5

keeping all the biggest life quotes and motivation speech in front of you, it will still be a struggle to keep self motivated. It took me quite a few months to change the way I think I am gonna write and present my blog, I feel I am more invested in the present one than just typing for the sake of doing so. But evolution is something no one can run away with and maturity comes with time and experience and has nothing to do with age, the fear of loosing your engaging capacity finally forced me to do something different, try something more something which needs effort and little planning.

Motivation is my enemy as I do everything for the sake of being happy about it. Motivation is a mere chemical, a happy hormone which is very infectious, its very much reflected in your effort and communication to all the possible presentation skills.

The problem is everything doesn't motivate us and we are taking longer and longer to get over with procrastination.

My personal advice: go out, walk as much as possible, eat fruits (it does work wonders), sit over a corner with a coffee in your hand and ponder how to fix the very thing going in your head since days, weeks, months or even ages. Or just change your perspective in your room or house and try to push yourself a little to think over the issue and solve it. Getting excited is one thing and working over an issue is another. Create an utmost important and urgent need to do it.

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That is pretty much I had it for the day, there are more coming so don't forget to subscribe and if you wish to see more of my work

visit: www.shovonakar.com

If you wish to stalk me over Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shovonakarmakar/

Email me for any work related query at : shovonakar@gmail.com

#freelancephotographer #mumbaiphotographer #foodphotographer #advertisingphotographer #mumbai #blogging #freelancelife

5 hurdles I had to pass through to be a full time freelancer

I am not a person born with a silver spoon, well not exactly false as my family was always well to do, hardly remember a day when my dad denied to any of my needs unless it was totally impractical which was rare... thanks to my pre-matured brain. haha..!

I will not say I always had my bank account well stuffed but its was never in a bad shape either. So in short I had and having a pretty normal living.

The decision of being a freelancer was not easy for me, I abruptly left my job which was indeed neither paying me well nor doing me any good. I started my company back in 2014 under the name of SHOVONAKAR Visuals and things were never rosy. My family were helpless as they didn't belong to this industry and I just had no clue how to go about it and totally unclear about what is coming ahead.

Here are my 5 things I faced being a new bibe

LETTING PEOPLE KNOW I EXIST: When you come from a background which has no connection with your industry its indeed difficult to start, I was clueless about how to reach people and let them know I exist. I still carry the difficulty to connect to people. I at times remain way to honest which either scares or bore people away and I am totally happy to declare so, no one is perfect! The way I thought to let people know is to have an online presence and with no skills to build a website of my own I had a tumblr blog which acted as my portfolio which eventually came handy to an extent.

BUILDING MY WEBSITE: I must share I got fooled by many folks who promised me a website in just 1000 bucks and I learnt it a hard way that nothing comes that easy. As time passed and got some self earned bucks in my pocket I finally decided to build one on my own terms, I remember my very first website over adobe portfolio was the most silly presentation of my work but it was better than having nothing. I am presently using wix and it has given me enough flexibility to mould the way I wish.

CONNECTING AGENCIES: Well I am not a big shot that people will call me day and night giving me collaboration proposals. I finally decided to connect to people who indeed look for photographers. Art directors in this case. I do wanna share a point as I dreamed hard to reach my goal, the more people came into my life who helped me to reach there. Various platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn came handy.

The sad part is the industry is so saturated its indeed frustrating to break in, I took a hell lot of time to understand how things goes and I don't wanna rant but meeting any never came out to be fruitful, being a woman do added to my hurdle but I accepted the fate as it is.

MARKETING SKILLS: You see marketing in India is difficult, its complicated. Its a mere game of favoritism and how cheap the offer you place in front of your client. Value for money is not calculated much in terms of quality of work rather its quantity. Online and offline marketing is two sets one needs to master, its indeed a good idea to keep all the doors open. Offline is all about how good are you with people but keeping in mind the saturation existing its difficult to break ones bond to place yours. Online marketing is fairly a second vendor job but when you don't have enough fund then the who game is in your hand how you place yourself online. Social media is the key but playing it well is above all that matters.

NEGOTIATING AND BALANCING THE WORK PRESSURE: Not denying to the fact I didn't freakout on the no. of changes my initial clients game me. It was very demanding and confusing. You see getting into commercial industry is not long lasting as people get emotionally involved with their work and its important to let go as soon as possible. I learnt a very hard way to maintain a balance where I bring my client come to mutual terms. Mind games is a constant affair and living in peace is important.

SO here are my top five things I learnt the hard way about going about freelancing.. If you think I missed something and you wish to add.. feel free to comment below..

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Finally I am a freelance commercial food, people and product photographer and a cinemagraph artist based out of Mumbai India. Feel free to connect for any queries..

Thanks for reading..

See you tomorrow!

#freelance #freelancephotographer #productphotographer #foodphotographer #mumbaiblogger

5 kinds of people you should avoid

We live in an era where reaching out to people is easier than ever. People love being associated with big names and sadly many don't shy away flaunting about it even if the matter is half true.

When I just started my journey into photography I was very enthusiastic about meeting people, seeing few big names in the portfolio was quite impressive, as days and years passed by I started to filter this act of meeting based in various factors.

I may sound ranting but if your are a parent who wishes its child to get into any industry which sells dreams I guess you should read my article. Its gonna be scary, its gonna be discouraging but I am here to say the truth, completely #unfiltered Have you ever thought the amount of controversy and gossip which happens in our day to day life has anything worth to learn from? If you think hard you will see a pattern and it will help you to reach your goal faster.

So here are five kinds of people whom you should avoid in your professional life.

PEOPLE JUSTIFYING THEIR EXISTENCE PRETTY HARD: I have met many people who love to justify their standard based on the kind of association they have rather than the kind of work they have done. Taking names of various big goons in the industry is their passion and somehow they find it intimidating, well yes many new babes do take it in the similar passion as its the sole agenda, but worth to ponder why the person is so pressing about it. Taking few names to prove your worth is worth the say (I do state few of my clients to give the other person a basic understanding) but adding multiple in the entire conversation justifies how not so confident is the person. Such people are just looking for some kind of acceptance and letting such people into your life mold you in the similar fashion.

LACK OF SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE: Social media is not just a fancy world in the professional world, its indeed a proof if you really exist in the market or not and how updated you are with yourself. Sharing work on a constant basis justifies how active you are and where exactly you stand in reality. People shying away most probably don't have work. Running a firm with no social presence is a sole example of how out of work you are. Associating with people with passion looking for work is different but people who claim to be into the industry for a decade with no presence is an ultimate example of one fishing around.

PEOPLE WHO DEMEAN ELSE: Ranting is a part of who we are, a self massage to our ego, to our presence is needed from time to time but if the person is ranting about every experience better to avoid such people. They can't see things or they hardly self analyze. You really don't wish to join their club.

PEOPLE WHO PROCRASTINATE: OK.. I do too procrastinate but no to the level that you are stuck in the same position in the same firm for a decade both in terms of professional and personal life. I have came across many people who tend to avoid coming out of their comfort zone and then pondering on the topic of absence of change in life! Things don't happen when you just dream. Dreaming is a will, its a inner drive but indeed you have to do things in physical to achieve what you wish to. Live with people who loves to solve the toughest problems first, such act makes your life easier and you reach your goal faster. We really live in a fast paced life where even the 5th person commenting over a person's profile whom it looks up to desperately will get passed.

WHO ARE TOO ENGROSSED INTO THEIR OWN BELIEVES: We all have certain set of rules we tend to follow in our life. We have certain set of believes we practice. When the very act starts dominating to the extent that the person wants the other person to believe the same is a good sign to cut off. Such people are often delusional and avoid to put self in else's shoes. Don't expect them to come to their eye level. You know! iTs just irritating nothing else. Rather than living with the agitation and negative energy its best to part yourself away and make your own set of rules, open your mind see the world and observe.

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Hey, myself Shovona, a freelance commercial photographer based out of Mumbai, India. I primarily shoot product, people, portraits and food. I love sharing my freelance life tips and tricks over my Instagram account so do make sure to follow me there. Living a life of my own past 15 years have made me come across many and many have helped me to be what I am today and I am indeed thankful to all. Hope the above helps you too.

With best wishes..

Thanks for reading....

#freelancelife #freelancephotographer #mumbaiphotographer #productphotographer #foodphotographer #stylist