My Little Experiment with the Coachella Influencer Vibe
Alright, so Coachella influencers. We’ve all seen them, right? Every year, my feed just explodes with these perfectly tanned people in amazing, sometimes ridiculous, outfits, looking like they’re having the time of their lives. For a while, I kinda just scrolled past, maybe rolled my eyes a bit. But then, I got curious. How much work actually goes into that perfect shot? Is it all just effortless chic, or is there a whole production behind it? So, I decided to try a little experiment myself.
My goal wasn’t to actually go to Coachella – way too expensive and crowded for my taste. Nah, I just wanted to see if I could replicate that “influencer” look and feel for a single post. Just to understand the process, you know? Here’s how my little project went down:
The Grand Plan and The Messy Reality
First up, the outfit. This was a journey in itself. I spent a good couple of hours scrolling through past Coachella looks. So much glitter, so much fringe, so many complicated crochet things. I didn’t want to buy a whole new wardrobe for this, so I tried to piece something together from what I already owned and maybe a couple of cheap finds from a thrift store.
- Digging through my closet: Found an old flowy top. Okay, start.
- Thrift store hunt: Managed to snag a cheap, kinda bohemian-looking skirt and some chunky plastic jewelry. Score? Maybe.
- The “vibe”: Tried to make it look intentional and not like I just threw on random clothes. Harder than it looks, folks.
Next, the location. Obviously, no desert polo fields for me. I had to get creative. I ended up choosing a local park that has some nice, slightly wild-looking grassy areas and a decent sunset view if I timed it right. Not exactly the Sahara tent, but hey, work with what you’ve got.
Then came the actual photoshoot. This is where things got… interesting. I roped in a friend to be my photographer, promising them pizza. Bless their patient soul. We must have taken, no joke, over a hundred photos. Trying all those classic influencer poses? Let me tell you, it feels incredibly awkward at first. The “looking off into the distance thoughtfully,” the “candid laugh” (which was mostly forced), the “walking towards the camera” – it’s a workout!
Key struggles during the shoot:
- Getting the lighting right: We were chasing the “golden hour,” but clouds kept messing with us.
- Feeling self-conscious: Even in a relatively empty park, I felt a bit silly prancing around.
- Hair and makeup: Oh man, trying to keep everything looking fresh and not like a sweaty mess was a real battle. Those influencers must have some serious setting spray.
Finally, the editing. I’m no Photoshop wizard, but I downloaded a couple of free apps and tried to add that slightly sun-kissed, glowing filter that seems to be mandatory. Tweaking brightness, contrast, saturation… it’s a rabbit hole. I probably spent another hour just trying to make the photos look “effortlessly” good.
So, What Did I Learn?
Well, first off, it’s way more work than I thought. Seriously. That one perfect photo you see on Instagram? There’s a good chance there were dozens, if not hundreds, of rejected shots, a lot of planning, and a fair bit of frustration behind it. It’s not just about having a cute outfit and showing up.
It also made me realize how much of it is a performance. The “authenticity” can feel very manufactured when you’re trying to create it yourself. It gave me a bit more perspective. I wouldn’t say I’m a convert to becoming an influencer, not by a long shot. My back hurt from all the posing, and I mostly just wanted that pizza my friend was promised.
But, I guess I have a tiny bit more appreciation for the hustle, even if the end result is sometimes a bit over-the-top for my personal taste. It’s a proper job for some people, and like any job, there’s a process and skills involved. My little experiment? It mostly just confirmed I’m happier observing from the sidelines. And maybe eating pizza while I do it.
