Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Austen Parker @austenparker

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

I am a celebrity makeup artist and beauty director based out of NYC and Miami.

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

I primarily feature beauty and lifestyle content, however also have started sharing human interest content since the COVID19 pandemic. Since I work at as professional makeup artist, all my work has come to a standstill (in the same fashion as so many other industries have been affected by COVID19). I decided I wanted to put my time to good use and try to make a difference – leading to the creation of @COVIDCarePackages on IG – a platform with one goal: to show our #HealthCareHeroes and first responders how appreciated that truly are for keeping our collective society afloat via care packages. Within 12 hours of launching, we already had great brands like @SparklingIce, @CBDLivingWater, @FitVine_Wine, and @AuNaturaleLife supporting the cause by providing enough product for 50+ care packages – landing us a feature in @BeautyIndependent within 2 days of launching. My mission is to make this a nationwide (or even a global) movement to encourage members of their own communities to spear head sourcing and coordinating care packages within their own communities for their local front line healthcare professionals and first responders.

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

@austenparker is simply my name Austen Parker – I am so glad I snagged it up early on though since having one’s full name available as a username on IG is a luxury these days!

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

I absolutely love using ColorStory and ReLight. They both can completely transform an already great image into something even more amazing/eye-catching.

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

There are too many to name, however if I had to pick one, I would say @gossmakeupartist (Wayne Goss). He videos really helped me familiarize myself with different brands and products that ended up becoming staples in my professional makeup kit.

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

I have made invaluable relationships on my IG (believe it or not, some of my best friends and clients are the result of finding me on IG either at @austenparker or from my other page @theparkertwinsmakeup).

7) What’s your favorite part about StarNgage? Any exciting campaigns that you have joined through StarNgage before?

I haven’t had a chance to participate in any StarNgage campaigns yet, however am excited to get the ball rolling and start working with brands on here soon!

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

Decide right from the get-go what your goal is before launching a campaign – is it stellar content creation you’re after? Increasing brand awareness via influencer advertising? Pumping out sales? Figuring out what your campaign goals are right from the beginning paints a clearer picture in regard to the types of content creators and influencers that would be most beneficial to work with. To maintain authenticity, make sure the content produced/influencer platforms you work with are very on-brand with your product or service. Furthermore, try not to set too many parameters regarding the content creation – have an open dialogue with the influencers you’re looking to work with, and come up with a game plan that is going to read as authentic/genuine on their unique platforms. So often do I see paid partnerships that read too aggressively as advertorial – which ultimately does not bode well for either parties by diluting the authenticity of feature(s).

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

Outside of my previous commentary, it is important to remember that IG is a visual platform – viewers look at the image/video one posts, and decides if they even want to pay any further attention to the feature within a matter of seconds. If the content is not eye-catching enough, it is not going to get the kind ideal engagement or interest that you’re hoping for.

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

I love building genuine/mutually beneficial relationships with the brands that I work with. I would say my favorite part of partnering with brands is simply the root of what partnering is all about (at least for me) – introducing my audience to products or services that I genuinely endorse, and want them to know about.

Topics:

• Art
• Design
• Fashion
• Food & Drink
• Gardening
• Hair & Beauty
• Health & Fitness
• Nature & Outdoors
• Technology
• Travel

Country:

United States of America