Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Aaron Yen @foodyensation

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

Hi! I’m a 3rd generation Canadian from Vancouver Canada. I’m studying statistics at the University of British Columbia during the day, and organizing food events at night. Marketing is where the passion is at. If entrepreneurship gets me somewhere, then the good life would only be a few steps away! The Vancouver I’ve grown to love is known for a wide range of culinary cultures. Nowhere else can you find a high Japanese bar beside a French style cafe and an American burger joint! There is a bustling culture that is just starting to ripen, and the food scene has yet to explode!

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

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE NOMS! Feasts, festivities, fads! Every post has a story, in-depth descriptions, and most importantly, features of the people across the table. @foodyensation is built on meeting people and creating connections in real-life through supporting them. It’s the engagement with new people, businesses, and different cultural facets that bring life to each photo. The colors are meant to pop and give off the vibe of the experience on-site. The aim is to showcase a variety of cultural facets in every post to generate a holistic outlook on Vancouver’s culinary world.

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

It took five months to think of a name that did not have any references to Vancouver in it, like everyone else. Friends upon friends pitched ideas and threw things together over an uncountable number of dinners and hangouts. Strategies, word lengths, readability… so much overthinking. And then one random day at a Thai restaurant, one of my friends who never experienced the sweet spices of Pad Thai had her first bite. After she exclaimed “This is sensational!”, it hit like lightning. @foodyensation is a play on 3 words: “food” which makes things clearly focused, “yen” which is the stamp of personality as my last name, and sensation thanks to that very memorable meal. Just like naming a baby, things really kicked off from there!

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

As a commuting student, I never have the time to fully commit to using studio-level design products. The best edited shots were created out of hour long bus rides to and from campus. When I was less experienced, I started out with VSCOcam by setting light filters and tweaking the contrast settings. As I gained a better understanding of the theme of the account, I turned over to Snapseed to get my photos closer to the envisioned perspective. One interesting tip: recreate the feeling of the vibe you are feeling while you are editing in order to capture the soul of the image. Sounds cheesy, but if it means editing a bar scene photo in a cafe filled with people at night, that bustling sensation is better captured post-edit.

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

Without a doubt, this is the hardest question. With every post featuring a different new friend, there are too many to name! I care a lot about the people with stories because not everyone can afford the expensive lenses or have the commitment towards being a professional Instagrammer. And to that, there are a few Instagrammers who are as deserving of a spotlight as me: Teresa Chang (@thefoodiescouple), Dominic Wong (@please_feed_the_panda), Nathan Dong (@bokehbites), and Jess Lieu (@misosoup321). Through thick and thin (mostly thick… waist wise), we have shared group chat stories as friends through the food network that Instagram started for us. It’s not always about followers.

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

A true foodie asks this question at least three times a day. Among the feasts, crazy liver dishes, and bubble tea escapades, the one most striking thing that everyone has to try at least once in their lifetime is any if the seafood pizzas off the Steveston wharf. There’s a real sense of the coastal history of fishing culture through the array of shrimp, crab, smoked salmon, and scallops just sprawled all over the thick cheesed layers.

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

Being part of something beyond taking photos and telling stories is what makes Instagramming meaningful. When you give a recommendation through an article and people listen, there is great power in adding value to other people’s lives. What makes food blogging amazing is the fact that everyone needs to eat; there are people from all walks of life who appreciate a good meal. When people are out and about dating or hanging with friends, everyone is really just eating and trying new restaurants. Having a say for the different dishes and experiences is the gift that comes with being social.

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

Embody a personality that suits your position. Showcasing that you’re the fun guy at the party is what makes sushi more than just sushi. Knowing the niche of what people want is where engagement really shines because that’s the place where people can relate to their interests in what you have to offer. Authenticity comes with transparency. Make it clear to your customer what you have. Don’t rely on your name to pull you through because all companies are constantly changing to cater for the constantly changing customer.

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

Getting to a level where people respect your reputation takes effort, commitment, and consistency. All of those things are built on careful planning and constant activity. No person goes viral on a single post because there are a hundred posts for every one that you release. What brings people in is knowing that there is a standard level of completeness in what you do. Don’t stop what you’ve started, and be ready to face challenges you never thought possible. But that’s where the growing happens. A person earns a greater influence through trying new things and developing. People who are static never deserve to make it.

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

THE FREE FOOD AND THE STORIES! It’s one thing earning money and paying for food, but it’s another being a respected guest who adds value to the restaurant beyond just being a customer. The stories and inspirations behind the scenes are what give brands life beyond just having a good eat. The thing I like most is the “partnering” aspect because there’s always room for mutual benefit. You can’t get something like that through just working hard.

Topics:

• Cooking
• Food & Drink
• Photography
• Travel

Country:

Canada