LYRAH PANARIGAN
DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR
Social media is the go-to place to look for the latest memes, trends, and moments shared by your friends and family. Platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat have changed the way we interact with the world, attracting teens and adults with its many features. Its vast, global audience allows for companies, big or small, to market their products and skills, a strategy that some of our own students have used to express their creative talents.
Brand New & Original
Scrunchies and bracelets are the new “it” factor amongst many teenage girls, and for junior Kehvee Teshima, owner of instagram account @shibuistrands, brings her styles to the ongoing trend.
“[I’ve] had an interest in making crafts since I was young. It’s been my hobby for as long as I can remember,” Teshima said.
Shibui, japanese for describing the aesthetic of simple and subtle, is the focus of Teshima’s account, which allows her to share her passion, experience entrepreneurship, and connect with others across the United States. While she doesn’t currently offer international shipping, she’s shipped her products to customers in over eight different states.
“I have not seen many accounts of those who make their own products that are from our school or age group, I believe my account is unique as everything is handmade myself,” Teshima said. As there are other places to buy similar items, she continues to share her craft on Instagram and the e-commerce website Etsy, with affordable prices.
Liked, Commented, and Shared
Social media platforms help create buzz for many freelancers and their skill to reach the same audience that a bigger company would have. Photography, with the help of social media, develops a newer landscape of aspiring photographers with different styles.
“The art of videography and photography has been booming because you get to see the world how other people see it, so it’s really cool how people manipulate colors, maybe edit some different way, [or] add effects,” said junior Joshua-Jerzy Vallesteros.
Whether its a personal account, music, blog or business, Instagram allows users to create multiple accounts for other purposes. Vallestero’s @jerzyv.photographyy account was created for extra photos that he didn’t want to post on his main account.
“It’s a hobby, but later on I want to major in videography so photography is a good way to help enhance my skills,” he said.
Vallestero’s started off taking pictures at his cousin's wedding and now provides photoservices, specializing in candid photos, profile shots, and landscape portraits at low-cost rates.
“It’s gonna be a good profile to show off to other companies, [to display] how I grew up with photography and how I, over the years, learned new skills and effects,” he added.
Senior Aaron Quillopo’s @pinnacleportraits account is used to “reach the photography community here in Hawaii and around the world,” he said. Inspired by well-known fashion and portrait photographer Jessica Kobeissi, he’s enjoyed taking photos and has honed his skills through MeneMAC and photography teacher Cher Takemoto’s class.
“After posting my work online, people started to direct message me about [taking pictures for] senior portraits and it all kind of started from there,” he said.
Quillopo’s photo service provides many couples, families, and individuals with quality portraits at reasonable rates. He also takes photos for freelance models working on building their modeling portfolio.
“Those photoshoots are an exchange of skill for both parties,” Quillopo said.
Having the account has allowed him to not only connect with other people, but to build his photography portfolio as well.
Wanting people to see the world through her eyes, freshman Leigh Medina’s instagram account @leighasmedina was created to share her interest in photography.
“I wanted to hear [their] feedback on it, and that feedback is kind of what keeps me going with it,” Medina said.
Being involved with MeneMAC and inspiration from her sister has gotten Medina into a lot of photography and art.
“I’m definitely learning stuff in MeneMAC, we learned how to frame things properly [and how to] take photos that have meaning, and that's something that I really enjoy doing,” Medina said.
Preferring her skill in portraits than landscapes, Medina hopes that her account brings opportunities to expand her artistry to a wider audience.
“I don’t want to charge people… if it’s something as simple as taking a photo of someone that means something to them, I just wanted to do that for free,” Medina adds.
Reposted & Resold
Pew Research Center reports that for U.S teens, 79% of girls and 76% of boys shop online, but more than 70% from both genders prefer shopping in stores. Teens, mainly girls, create Instagram Boutiques (a.k.a BTQ’s), an account that sells unused or unwanted articles of clothing, sold lower than the retail price.
“I figured that it would also be a good way of making some extra money, now that college is around the corner,” Senior and owner of account @rhiasthings Rhiannon Perry said. Perry has a lot clothes that she no longer wanted, and created her account to sell it to others who would wear them.
“Prices sometimes are negotiable. [For example], if a top I bought originally for $10 and by the time I decide to sell it, it was in medium condition, I would probably sell it around $5.” Perry said.
If clothes end up not selling, she donates her clothing to Kidney Clothes, a charity that promotes the awareness of kidney disease. When purchased, Perry then consults her client for a meet up or shipping to deliver the item, with payments in cash or through PayPal.
Most businesses encounter many changes in market strategy, and for senior Theresa Ng, owner of the account @theresas.things, she started her BTQ by selling Brandy Melville stickers. “I didn’t know you get them free so I bought from this girl at school… then I was like why don’t I just go to brandy and get some and sell them and make a lot [of money]… I wanted to sell brandy stickers because a lot of people were on that train.” Ng currently sells clothing from brands like Brandy Melville, Hollister, Forever 21, and uses the profit she receives on food or boba drinks.
“[For boutiques,] we sell what we think people will buy… I used to only sell stickers but then that did not work anymore so I started selling brandy clothes and reselling too because more people wanted that,” Ng said. Ng prices her items based on the retail sale and subtracts the tax, mainly based on the condition.
“It [is] probably cheaper if you buy from boutiques than actual stores, but sometimes boutiques sell really used stuff and its subpar quality so you give and take,” Ng adds.
NOW TRENDING
As social media continues to connect businesses and people, many can still find their niche online through boutiques, photography accounts, and many more. “Anyone can make one and it’s not that hard to start it,” Ng said.
For photographers, starting your account can be “very discouraging and frustrating… but [where] you find mistakes is also where you find growth,” Quillopo said.