Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Mairo Toom @EstonianWeirdo

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

I’m a guy from Estonia who used to be very shy, but thanks to photography I have learned to live my life fully. Currently I am in army because it’s mandatory in Estonia, but I still check my photos once in a while, edit them and publish them on my social media channels. I have a travellers soul.

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

Once-in-a-while I post my everydaylife, but in most cases I post my photography which are all taken with purpose.

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

I used to have a name in Estonian but eventually figured that it’s too much of a headache for foreigners. How I ended up with EstonianWeirdo, I haveno exact idea, but well, I am Estonian and a bit weird one 😀

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

99% of photos I edit in Lightroom. And for that 1% I also use Photoshop. In case I take a picture with phone to upload to Instagram, I use the options IG have. Although I rarely use filters, I like to change every setting on my own.
To talk about my editing routine, then it would be – take a bunch of photos, put them to lightroom, pick out the best ones and remove others, turn on some music and start editing the ones I decided to keep.

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

I follow LOADS of photographers and models and of course my friends. Also many feature accounts. I can’t say which of them I like most or who inspires me most, but in case I have found your account and started following you, then I like what you are posting. And about certain posts, I only “heart” posts that I actually like. I’m not double-tapping all the posts.

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

I like when people try to do something different. Some weird angles or completely different ideas. Go silly, go weird, in the end, it will look awesome.

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

In most cases it gives you a chance to tell the truth. Commercials are far from truth, but if a “real person” really tests things out and says they are good and worth it, then this is the best advice you can give.

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

Think outside of the box ! Ask from young people and even younger. Kids can come up with brilliand ideas. Marketing (I love marketing) is easy and hard on a same time. If you do something that have never been done, you may reach to millions, if you just make a facebook post and boost it, then you are just stupid and wasting money. So what I try to say is, try to do something differently and if it’s possible with your product, go to streets.

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

Good quality brings good customers. Be the quality good or bad, with good marketing, you will get the same amount of sells at first, but then, at some point, if the product “gives up” too fast, the customer won’t be your customer anymore and nor his/her friends. Mouth-to-mouth marketing is the one you can’t pay for, but is the best one. I think this last sentence tells what I think about original content. Tell the truth. If your product is shit but cheap, then say so. Not everyone want the most expensive one, but at least they know what they are buying.

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

Being able to actually touch and test. If I can for example wear the shoes and jeans a brand sends to me, then I can say honestly how I feel about them and can take photos of myself actually using them.

Topics:

• Art
• Design
• DIY & Crafts
• Film, Music & Books
• Food & Drink
• Hair & Beauty
• Humor
• Nature & Outdoors
• Photography
• Travel

Country:

Estonia