Insta-Modeling. Is it Worth it?
About two years ago, I received a dm on my Instagram (@isabellagaleazzi <- minor self-promotion please forgive me) from a photographer asking if I wanted to do a photoshoot. I was completely shocked, modeling was NEVER something I saw for myself. Any photos I posted on Instagram were just for fun and memories, but I decided to say yes for the hell of it. I cannot express to you how grateful I am for saying yes to that direct message. That single photoshoot changed my life. Over the next two years, my page grew from two thousand, to over 50 thousand followers and is now part of my main source of income. I then found myself falling under the category of “Insta model,” something I used to make fun of but now have complete respect for.
“What is an ‘Insta-model?’” Honestly, I used to just associate it with girls who took high quality photos. Now I have a completely different outlook. Instagram has now turned into a models’ portfolio. It is now a massive marketing platform. It is so much more than just a social platform. It is a place for models, influencers, and businesses to grow.
“What’s it like being an Insta-model?” I’m glad you asked. Instagram has a massive platform for models to grow. While I grew my account to over 50 thousand followers, I have been given the opportunity to work and collaborate with some of the biggest names in the business. For example, I created a partnership with Forever 21 and have shot three campaigns for them that have been promoted on their Instagram, website, emails, and my Instagram. If it weren’t for my social media, Forever 21’s social team would have never found me and I would have never been given the opportunity to model for this massive brand.
“What’s the money like?” This is the question everyone is too embarrassed to ask. I’ll be the one to answer so you guys don’t have to ask. It’s good enough to sustain a living, something I never believed was possible. Engagement is everything when it comes to how much an Insta-model makes. An average business/models Instagram should have around 2% engagement. My Instagram account has an average of 12% engagement so I am able to charge brands a lot more for sponsored stories and grid posts. When it comes down to it, here’s the numbers: I make $500 per story post and around $800 for a grid post.
Instagram models should be taken so much more seriously than they are. They have turned social media into a career. If it were never for that initial dm I received two years ago, I would have never found my passion. I would have never realized that I wanted to pursue modeling as a career. I am so grateful for every opportunity that I have been given due to social media and being an “Insta-model.”
