Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Sohail Ahmad @theseasonalgent

1) Tell us a little about yourself. What are you doing now and where do you come from?

Hey guys, my name is Sohail Ahmad and I am the creator of the menswear blog, The Seasonal Gent! My blog originated after I graduated from college and noticed a need to educate young men such as myself about the importance to dressing well and looking good, all on an affordable budget. I realized that most guys did not really know how to dress themselves and also that a majority of men’s fashion blogs focused on high fashion. For the guy who’s just graduated from college, purchasing from high-end designers might not be an option. And therefore, I sought out to fill the need of introducing today’s modern gent to affordable brands and discussing topics such as fit, color theory, patterns, etc. I also believe that how a person looks contributes to how they feel and building confidence, which is something I want to help increase. So it’s always been about more than just fashion.

During this time I had many friends telling me that I always dressed well and should do something more with my interest in fashion. The idea of starting a blog had been mentioned a few times and at first I was hesitant since I didn’t realize the need of educating as mentioned above. After getting over that hump though, the interest and growth have been very organic and I’ve loved doing it ever since.

2) What are your topics of interest? What do you post on Instagram the most?

My main topic of interest is men’s fashion and what I post about the most on Instagram. However, I also really enjoy inspiring people, so you’ll notice that some of my posts have inspirational messages instead of talking about the outfit that I’m wearing in the picture. It’s great to have the creative freedom where I can serve multiple purposes with my brand.

Outside of menswear, I love working out and am an avid CrossFitter. I know I know, rule number one about CrossFit, always talk about CrossFit, but seriously I love it! It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself and the place you’re most likely to catch me when I’m not taking pictures for the blog.

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

This is special because it really was a light bulb that went off and one of the defining moments that led me to creating the blog. I was sitting in a coffee shop enjoying my chai latte (don’t judge haha) when I was thinking about how I really enjoyed mixing up my outfits for each season with different colors, patterns, and textures. For example, I love layering in the fall and winter seasons. And out of that was born the name, TheSeasonalGent. The rest is history.

4) What are some apps you use to edit your photos? Share with us your photo-editing routine!

Typically, I use the manual editing features in Instagram to edit my photos. Saturation is one of my favorites because it helps to make the colors in your pictures pop. I’ll also use VSCO occasionally, which has more features to play around with.

5) Any Instagrammers whom you really like? Which Instagrammer inspires you the most?

That’s a tough one because there are so many! If I had to choose though I’d say Justin Livingston (@justinliv), Nathan McCallum (@isnathan), and Rudy Mancuso (@rudymancuso). Justin because of his simple yet effective taste in fashion and I just love the aesthetics of his feed, Nathan for all of the globetrotting pictures to tropical destinations, and Rudy for absolutely hilarious entertainment.

I’m pretty inspired by Christian Guzman (@christianguzmanfitness). Not only do I love fitness, but also to watch someone execute and hustle for their dream at such a young age is really inspiring.

6) If there’s one thing your fellow Instagrammers just gotta try now, what’s it gonna be?

I think it would be really cool to do a campaign where everyone does an unfiltered “day in the life of” capture on the Instagram Stories feature, emphasis on unfiltered. Nowadays, many people find themselves comparing their lives to what seem to be the picture perfect lifestyles’ of celebrities and influencers, and in turn feel a general sense of dissatisfaction and unhappiness. However, in reality most people only portray their most perfect moments on social media, which is not an accurate depiction of everyday life. Maybe it is for some people but not for the majority. Influencers have a unique opportunity because of their vast influence to spread positivity and bring happiness to others, and I think it would be awesome for all of these people, including myself, to show an unfiltered version of themselves in order to increase awareness of this trend and to bring authenticity to the platform.

I mean let’s be honest, I’m currently writing this in my pajamas at ten on a Tuesday morning with my hair all over the place. And no, they are not Gucci pajamas. #blessed

7) What’s your favorite part about being an influencer?

My favorite part about being an influencer is being able to create a loyal following and inspiring people over shared passions. If you would have told me a year ago that I’d have an authentic following of people who engage with my content and send me messages about how they enjoy what I’m doing, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

I recently had someone reach out to me saying they were a fan of my work when in fact I am a fan of theirs. It’s an amazing feeling when someone appreciates something that you created.

8) What are some of your top tips to brands for running campaigns? How do you maintain authenticity?

I think it’s really important for brands to consider influencers with smaller audiences and the people who are just starting out. I have plenty of blogger friends who do not have huge followings but hold influence within their circles, so there’s definitely opportunity there for brands looking to extend their reach.

I also think it’s advantageous for brands to allow the influencers to have creative freedom when it comes to styling products. This not only allows for the brand to be displayed from different perspectives but also gives the influencers authenticity. I did a recent collaboration with a watch brand where I had complete freedom to style the watch and choose the shooting location. It turned out to be a great campaign where I was true to myself and also able to showcase the brand in a different way.

9) What would your advice be on the importance of quality and original content?

There are so many user accounts and people trying to build an audience not only on Instagram but also on other social media outlets; and therefore, high quality is of the utmost importance. Simply put, your pictures have to be sharp and visually appealing to capture someone’s attention, which is why I aim to work with experienced photographers.

In terms of original content, my advice would be to stay authentic and add value to others. You can try to be someone you’re not and gain followers, but eventually it’s going to catch up and you’re going to be unhappy in the process. If you’re able to build an audience by staying true to yourself, even if it’s at a slower pace, at least you’ll be happy with being authentic and knowing that your followers are choosing to follow your content for who you truly are.

10) What do you like best about partnering with brands?

I really enjoy partnering with brands because it’s a great opportunity for me to showcase their story with my own unique twist on the product. It’s a win-win for both of us and always leads to strong relationships. It’s a great feeling when brands reach out saying how much they love the blog post or how I styled a product that makes it so fun to partake in!

Topics:

  • Fashion
  • Health & Fitness
  • Travel

Country:

United States of America

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