Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Brian Murphy @livinginthedetails

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

I studied architecture, worked in corporate accounting, then took a leap of faith into the restaurant industry where I worked my way up from prep cook to managing partner/owner. I was recruited to be a Culinary Arts Instructor at a high school, where I still teach today. Photography has always been in my blood, and what budded when I started photographing food for restaurant marketing has grown into a side business.

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

My philosophy is that I find beauty in everything – from traditionally beautiful things like flowers and sunsets to non-traditional beauty like the years worth of rust on a metal chain by the ocean. My feed is composed of glimpses of what I find beautiful – usually presented from a unique perspective. Landscapes that capture movement through long exposures are featured on my Instagram feed, as are details and perspectives that make the ordinary seem extraordinary. People, architecture, water, skies, animals – nothing is off limits, making my feed a bit of a chameleon. I feel that there is too much beauty out there to limit myself to one “look” or one subject. “Life” is my subject, and I am the filter I use.

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

My Instagram name stems from a quote I read while studying architecture at Arizona State University. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe said, “God is in the details.” and I had always heard the more commonly quoted, “Devil in the details” version. This resonated with me, and proved to be true over and over again. I am a “glass half-full” type of person and have grown to appreciate the details that make everything happen. The crafting of a product, the thoughtful packaging a quality product arrives in, architectural details, the wings of an insect, etc. – all driven by small details. Details matter in the end, and it is the person or company that pays close attention to the details that typically succeeds.

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

I usually shoot with an SLR camera, so the bulk of my edits come from Photoshop. I do use VSCO, Snapseed, and Camera+ for edits in-phone as well. I like to darken blacks a bit while lightening the highlights in an image – of course these aren’t hard and fast rules, as I firmly believe that every image needs to be edited individually. I do not set up a standard filter for my images, and my Instagram feed displays exactly that. I’m rather diverse that way – offering the best style for the shoot, the client, or for the mood/tone the subject is demanding.

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

@gettyphotography kills it when it comes to landscapes. @moodygrams is a great hub that offers one fantastic shot after another that set a mood or tone – not of any one subject in particular, which I appreciate. @freyaeverafter_ for her attention to detail and lovely images. I had a couple of Great Danes, and seeing the images she creates with her animals is inspiring.

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

One thing fellow Instagrammers have to try is putting the phone in a non-traditional spot to get a unique perspective. Turn your phone upside-down and get on the floor to get a different look at something.

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

I like that my crazy attention to detail and the work I do to get a quality image is rewarded. I have a unique eye, and often notice things that others don’t – it’s great when that benefits a brand, an industry, or simply brightens someone’s day.

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

Number one is edit your images. Too many businesses and brands don’t edit images, making them flat, lifeless, and average at best. Next, change perspectives – get really close to a part of that plate of food and make the viewer want a little more. Truly showcase those fresh ingredients that the chef spent so much time procuring. Showcasing the little details of your business can enlighten and intrigue guests and potential guests.

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

Quality content and original content are priceless. Pulling stock images from an Internet search cheapens a concept, a brand, and the hard work a business owner or company is doing to build sales.

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

A quality campaign on social media takes time – often time that a brand/owner/manager doesn’t have, so I like when they outsource to someone like myself. I will completely nerd out on a product and find the best place, time of day, model, etc. to showcase it and give it the best possible treatment. I thoroughly enjoy the work, and the brand wins because they have a catalog of powerful, authentic images to use for their marketing purposes, team building, etc. I think it is a smart way to work, for all involved.

Topics:

• Animals & Pets
• Architecture
• Art
• Cooking
• Design
• Education
• Fashion
• Film, Music & Books
• Food & Drink
• Gardening
• Hair & Beauty
• Health & Fitness
• Nature & Outdoors
• Photography
• Technology
• Travel

Country:

United States of America