Angela Shae's Guide to Creating Engaging Photography Reels

This article is 100% written by AI about Episode 34 of Workflows with Angela Shae.

Hey there, Workflows listeners! Scott Wyden Kivowitz here, and in our latest episode, we had the pleasure of diving deep into the world of Instagram reels and social media strategies with the fantastic Angela Shae. As many of you know, I'm a big advocate for photographers incorporating video into their social media presence, and Angela’s insights truly hit home.

As a former wedding photographer who transitioned to the founder of Social Templates Co., Angela’s journey is both inspiring and instructive. Facing burnout, she shifted gears to support creatives like us in carving out our virtual space. If Instagram reels have been your sticking point, Angela’s advice on using beat-matched templates could be a game-changer. The idea isn't just to create content but to craft beautiful moments that resonate with our audience – and Angela stressed that a valuable caption can take that connection even further.

Navigating Instagram as photographers means engaging our audience effectively. Angela’s tip to use text as hooks in our reels and nudging viewers towards our captions is clever – it’s about starting a conversation, not just broadcasting our work.

One discussion that I found particularly enlightening was about stepping in front of the camera. We photographers are so used to being behind it that the transition can be daunting. Angela’s approach is pragmatic: start with the bare minimum and let your comfort grow. She reminded us that by sharing behind-the-scenes content, not only do we create authenticity, but we also forge stronger relationships with other vendors, which is invaluable.

I couldn't help but share a personal anecdote in our talk – the fun I’ve had with my 9-year-old daughter as she helps capture behind-the-scenes content for me. This not only engages the younger generation but also offers them a peek into our world.

Now, let’s talk about the technical side of things. Angela underscored the importance of an organized system. Keeping your footage categorized, especially separate folders for client work, can be so beneficial. It’s all about balancing quality with efficiency.

We also ventured into the territory of automation - ManyChat has been a game-changer for me. Tailoring communication to my style and client workflows has never been smoother, and Angela wholeheartedly agreed on its effectiveness.

Lastly, we both lamented over the quirks of social platforms – you might have heard me grumble about TikTok’s rigid caption editing. Typos? They can tank your engagement, something Angela emphasized as well.

Angela Shae's experiences and strategies resonate deeply, especially her take on shareable content and fostering authentic connections. For those looking to streamline client interaction through social media, leveraging ManyChat within Instagram DMs, like we discussed, could revolutionize your client engagement strategy.

Thanks to Angela Shae for joining us in this enlightening conversation – it’s always a joy to connect with those who share the desire to uplift and educate the photography community. And of course, thank you to all of you for tuning in. We’ve got a lot more rich content on the way, so keep those workflows evolving and your cameras rolling! Until next time, keep finding new ways to engage and inspire your followers, one reel at a time.