Flawless flat-lays featuring every product from high-end honourables to pharmacy favourites have seen Wendy_Online Instablogger Wendy Nguyen catapulted into the spotlight – with the social media influencer reaching an impressive milestone of 50,000 Instagram followers last week. And this number is growing fast, with Nguyen raking in a further 3600 followers just seven days later.
A constant source of inspiration for beauty aficionados, BEAUTYDIRECTORY tracked Nguyen down to discover more about reaching Insti milestones, career highlights, and her flat-lay tips and tricks.
Congratulations on reaching 50K! What does this number mean for you?
This number is a huge milestone for me! I never thought that a hobby would turn into something that so many people enjoy too.
What have been some of your main highlights gained from being a successful Instagrammer?
Meeting other like-minded people and bloggers is always fun! And getting the opportunity to meet people who I’ve always admired in the beauty industry is the icing on the cake.
Have there been any low moments?
There have been times when I’ve felt creatively burnt out or unmotivated to create new content. But during those times I reassess what I’m doing and look for inspiration to get back into my creative groove.
Do you work on Wendy_Online full-time or do you do it on the side?
I do it on the side. I also work full-time as a digital content editor at MAXMEDIALAB, planning and creating content for different brands’ social media pages. I’m lucky that my full-time job relates closely to what I do on my personal page.
Are you planning on launching a website?
It could be on the cards! Watch this space.
How long does it take you to put together a flat-lay?
It really depends – sometimes it can take five minutes, other times it can take a good hour.
Do you need any special equipment in order to achieve the perfect flat-lay?
Nice, natural, diffused sunlight is probably the most important thing to have. A bit of Blu-Tack is always handy to keep things in place, and tissue to get rid of any stray fingerprints which might ruin the shot.
Do you tend to use your phone or a camera to take pics?
I tend to use my iPhone 6 for pictures on my page, but for client work I will always use a DSLR (Canon 5D Mark III).
What are your favourite filters and photo-editing apps?
A couple of my favourite apps are Afterlight and VSCO Cam. I always brighten, sharpen and up the contrast and highlights of my pictures to make sure they look crisp and bright. I always make sure to reduce the warmth of the picture because yellow, warm tones can be unpleasing to the eye.
What has been your most successful post to-date?
Surprisingly it’s not a flat-lay, but a simple one where I am holding a bouquet of nude liquid lipsticks in front of my Celine bag. It got 10,000 likes. Closely followed by a Laura Mercier post on 9500.
Why do you think it was so successful?
I think it’s a bit over-the-top with a luxe element. And who can say no to a pinky nude lippie?
When did you first launch your Instagram account?
I started my Instagram account about two years ago as a personal page.
Did you always post beauty flat-lays?
Not in the beginning, but after I posted my first beauty flat-lay I was hooked.
Have beauty and make-up always been a strong interest for you?
Definitely! I worked on a make-up counter for a while which really fed my beauty addiction.
When did you notice your Instagram numbers growing?
I noticed a big growth about mid last year when I developed more of my own style.
What are your top tips for helping grow a successful Instagram account?
Engage with your followers and create shareable content. The more your images get shared, the more it translates into followers on your page.
Where are you hoping to take your Instagram account?
The next milestone I’d love to reach is 100,000. And who knows what that will lead to!
Nguyen is represented by MAXCONNECTORS. For all enquiries, email Jill Birmingham on jill@maxconnectors.com.au
