Instagram Helps Senior With Photo Career

Northwest Academy senior, Ilana Newman, has taken to Instagram to showcase her photography and has already earned more than 2,000 followers.

During the last year, Newman decided she needed to find new ways to show off her photographs.

“I made the account last winter,” Newman said. “It was so inspiring to see all these incredible photographers on Instagram who are mostly around my age or even younger. They are all so creative and talented and that has inspired me.”

Newman says she has been interested in photography for as long as she can remember, but that she really got into the medium during her sophomore year when she took Heidi Kirkpatrick’s black and white photography class.

“I feel like she’s a natural,” Kirkpatrick said. “She just got it right away and she continues to improve because she’s always practicing. She’s got what it takes.”

According to Newman, having so many followers puts pressure on her to produce new content. Posting everyday helps her gain more followers and maintain the ones she already has.

“I’ve learned that the more you shoot, the better you get, even though sometimes I hate the photos I take,” Newman said. “I go through phases where I’m proud of my work, and times that I hate it.”
Instagram has helped Newman nab some of her first paid photo shoots.

“People can see my photos, and through that, I have done some senior photo shoots,” Newman said. “I’m really excited to keep going with that, both the fine arts and paid shoots that I’ve started doing, I want to do more of that in the future.”

One of Newman’s favorite parts of Instagram is the community. She has found new idols, inspiration and even made new friends from all over the country.

To follow Newman search be.a.llama on Instagram.