Instagram Husband (From His Perspective)

We’ve all heard about the Instagram Husband. If I could count the number of times people have sent Matt and I that article, well… I can’t. It is too many. Not surprisingly, Matt has his own thoughts on the subject too. He’s not one to hold back. So today, I’m giving him the floor to share what it’s like to be an Instagram Husband from his perspective. As my other half behind the lens and partner in this little venture called Visions of Vogue, he deserves at least that. And a whole lot of baseball (which I explained here). It’s not all a romantic walk on the beach!

From his perspective…

Four years ago I had an idea. At the time, it was a fairly simple idea. A hobby for my wife. Little did I know this idea would materialize into what it is today; a little blog you’re reading at this moment plus an Instagram account with well over 100 thousand followers. Similar to said blog, I also didn’t know this idea would materialize into a hobby for myself. No, I don’t consider being knowledgeable about crop tops, designer handbags, and ombré hairstyles a hobby. But for more spring style inspo, here’s what she’s been talking about lately. My hobby has become photography.  

Once upon a time my preferred photography style were maximum filtered landscapes quietly displayed on my personal Instagram. My style has drastically changed since then. Not sure how you quantify it but it normally requires crouched over in an uncomfortable position on a sidewalk somewhere. These photos tend to draw a lot of attention, presumably due to my stunning wife wearing an outfit not suitable for the temperature or people mistaking me for The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

People call me an Instagram Husband. I’m not. I used to be, but I graduated to Blog Husband. A Blog Husband is an Instagram Husband on steroids. Looking back, I would yearn for the days of only taking 100 iPhone photos outside a restaurant. Now my Sunday’s consist of back to back to back to back to ba….you get where I’m going with this. Let’s just say I haven’t watched NFL Red Zone since 2012. Being a Blog Husband is hard work and dedication. I’ll be the first to admit it hasn’t been easy. But the fundamentals of a Instagram Husband or a Blog Husband are the same. They both require a lot of patience. The baseline for most of our disagreements, out of context, would be laughable to most. Out of focus photos, hairs out of place, being too low, being too high. At times it wasn’t fun or ideal, but we kept coming back.

Jenna and I have really grown over the duration of the blog. Our relationship has gotten stronger, and we’ve developed some degree of chemistry and telepathy. Jenna has also obtained a very particular set of skills. These skills include but are not limited to: walking in place, wearing more jewelry at a time than most women own, changing in and out of dresses in the car, and standing on restaurant chairs (to get an aerial photo of brunch).

I on the other hand know more about Instagram than any man on Planet Earth. I’ve become bi-lingual in shutter speed and aperture. And I can beat anyone in a game of Twister due to the dozens of contorted positions I’ve held for minutes at a time in attempt to capture the perfect pic.

So my advice to those just beginning their careers as Instagram Husbands and Wives? Make it fun. Don’t take it too seriously. Joke around. Laugh about the terrible angles, the photos without thigh gap, or doing an entire shoot with jewelry on backwards without either of you noticing until you’re ready to post. You’re going to get laughed at, stared at, cat called at. Shrug it off. When Jenna asks to take photos, I’ve never declined. Because there’s something about the perfect photo and creating perfect content that makes her smile. That’s your goal as any loving spouse. Find what makes them happy, do it, and do it again.  Does she like spending entire nights at sporting events and breweries? Probably not. But I like to think she cooperates to support my interests. The best I can do is reciprocate.

I’ve been doing this for 4 years and I don’t feel like I’m good at it. People tell me how great the photos are, but I don’t see it. Quite frequently the photos are blurry, the lighting is still bad, and I apparently have an uncanny ability to make Jenna look fat (so she says). We take hundreds of photos for each outfit, usually averaging 30 minutes per shoot, and if Jenna can pull five out of there I’m thankful. Usually I’m convinced that she just uses the first dozen photos, but that’s neither here nor there.

While Jenna and I have an exclusive relationship, if you don’t have the luxury of an Instagram Husband, I’m available for hire. I have a fancy camera, large memory card, and can be paid in beer. Just don’t expect me to take photos at flattering angles, I’m still working on that.

Are you an Instagram Husband or do you have one? What has your experience been?

Linking up with Leopard Martini, Marie’s Bazaar, Coming Up Roses, Mash-elle, and Dashing Darlin