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Here\u2019s another way that influencers aren\u2019t #justlikeus: they never use the filters that come with Instagram. How utterly pedestrian.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a well-known fact that Instagram\u2019s toolkit doesn\u2019t always cut it when you\u2019re trying to stand out in a sea of other digital content creators who have access to the same exact Valencias and Clarendons.<\/p>\n
As such, influencers, marketers, and regulars have flocked to apps like VCSO<\/a> that allow for a bit more customization.<\/p>\n Then there are tools like Snapseed<\/a> and Lightroom<\/a> that allow users to customize on the fly \u2014 and make those little tweaks that somehow make Instagram feel like a legit catalog.<\/p>\n What’s more, these customizations have become a new way for influencers to monetize their platforms. Here’s a little background on the wild world of “presets.”<\/p>\n The Atlantic<\/a><\/span> recently published a great piece looking at the business of influencers. And, it\u2019s not what you think. While you may think of #sponcon like those waist training belts or laxatives rebranded as a wellness cleanse, or affiliate deals as the income drivers in the IG space, there\u2019s another way to monetize: filters.<\/p>\n Influencer Maddy Corbin told The Atlantic<\/a> that she developed her own set of presets based on months of playing around inside Adobe\u2019s Lightroom app. Corbin says that it took her months to develop a style that represented her aesthetic (a pastel pink-tinged look) that she now presents on the platform as #MADDYCORBINPRESETS<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s essentially like selling merchandise on your platform \u2014 and Corbin says it helps her connect with her followers.<\/p>\n To use a preset, customers purchase it through an online store and they\u2019ll receive a downloadable link. From there, they open the file and copy it into their Lightroom account and can start editing photos just like their favorite influencers.<\/p>\n The benefit is, buying presets allows you to sidestep the creative experimentation phase and get to editing photos the way you want them to look. The downside, at least for fans, is that the filter doesn\u2019t exactly become available inside the Instagram app.<\/p>\n Is influencer marketing dead?<\/p>\r\n Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n On the seller side, selling custom presets requires setting up an e-commerce store and promoting your digital assets in the same way you might sell your T-shirts, or whatever else you sell.<\/p>\n Additionally, it\u2019s not just influencers like Corbin behind this new business model, there are companies that sell filters to influencers. Take, for example, FilterGrade<\/a>. They\u2019re a company that sells packs of preset filters that you can buy directly\u2014or they\u2019ll put together custom filters for you that you can then resell on your site.<\/p>\n Career photographers \u2014 people who aren\u2019t necessarily influencers, but have a mastery of photo editing\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 are also getting in on the game.<\/p>\n We came across countless blog posts documenting how to use these filters as a way to drum up some passive income.<\/p>\n How to become a micro-influencer on Instagram<\/p>\r\n Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n Popular Science provides a step-by-step guide to DIYing your own preset filters<\/span><\/a> in Lightroom, which, in all honesty, isn\u2019t especially difficult.<\/p>\n Lightroom is a super intuitive platform, ideal for photographers at every level. So the idea that you\u2019d buy settings from another person seems like a waste of cash.<\/p>\n If you want to get into this, there\u2019s another thing to consider: how your customers use the filters. Rachelle Swannie<\/span><\/a>, an influencer who sells packs of two presets for $25 says she routinely checks her presets in action by searching with the associated hashtag.<\/p>\n The thing is, if pictures aren\u2019t looking so good, people won\u2019t be inclined to buy them \u2014 it\u2019s like using a model to sell something \u2014 you\u2019re getting the ideal, whereas when real people post that shirt in action, you\u2019ll get a sense of how it might look on you.<\/p>\n Influencer marketing and the rise of fake followers<\/p>\r\n Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n The market is clearly flooding. According to the photo blog, Fstoppers, buying presets is, well, a waste of money<\/a>.<\/p>\n The short story is \u2014 you\u2019ll get to copy a look from Instagram and that\u2019s about it. Photographer James Popsys says, if you\u2019re buying presets, you\u2019re eliminating the creating process and you skip the part where you learn to create your own look by playing around and editing.<\/p>\n It seems that the reason for buying them is more what Corbin told The Atlantic: preset filters are perfect for creating a connection between the influencer and their fans.<\/p>\n This crowd might not be the demographic who feels compelled to learn digital photography best practices but wants to make their Instagram look more professional.<\/p>\n How to become a brand ambassador on Instagram<\/p>\r\n Find out now<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n That\u2019s the big question. Clearly, buying presets is frowned upon in the art community, which makes sense. Not that there is a shortage of teens that may want to gram like their favorite digital stars, but their time may be better spend leveling up their own skills. But, there\u2019s also the chance that these purchases could lead to a desire to make their own.<\/p>\n We found that outside of Instagram, there are a ton of Etsy users selling themed presets in their shops. Prices range considerably, but most are cheaper than what Rachelle Swannie charges for two presets.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to begrudge anyone who uses their own skill set to make some extra cash online \u2014 it\u2019s all about those revenue streams, man.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s the followers that have us wondering \u2014 why not try it yourself? Creating your own IG aesthetic may be more challenging, but it\u2019s also a great way to get new followers who like what you\u2019ve got to offer.<\/p>\nAre custom Instagram filters worth the cost?<\/h2>\n
What is a Custom Filter? How Does it Work?<\/h3>\n
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\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n Why buy presets?<\/h3>\n
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\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n Is the preset economy going to stick around?<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n ![\"Adobe](\"https:\/\/images.sftcdn.net\/images\/t_app-logo-l,f_auto,dpr_auto\/p\/eff0a8be-9b2a-11e6-a97f-00163ed833e7\/1822439494\/adobe-lightroom-iphone-logo.png\"){kind=logo}
\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n Adobe Lightroom<\/span>\r\n Download free<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n