The #myvibrantholiday Challenge + 30 Holiday Photo Ideas for Instagram
Instagram and I have a pretty complicated relationship. I mean, I started my Instagram years before I started blogging seriously and used it like any normal person would: to share 10 overly-filtered photos a day of Rosie and the food I was eating. No pressure to have a perfect picture or feed and no stress on how many people were unfollowing me. Just photos of my life.
When I started blogging seriously, I started a long journey on redefining my Instagram account. I knew I had to treat it more like a business and put a bit more effort and thought into the photos I was posting, but it was a struggle to find the balance between gaining followers, sharing “perfect” pictures and remaining authentic to who I am. I think I finally have figured it out (for the most part) because in the last four months, I’ve grown my account from 5,000 followers to 13,000 followers and have a healthy engagement rate to boot. My growth on Instagram has opened MANY doors for my little business and the community I have found there is by far one of the most supportive ones out there.
FURTHER READING: 6 Reasons Why I Follow you on Instagram
One of the biggest challenges I faced when starting my Instagram was trying to figure out what to post and how to build a community around that. It took me a while to figure out that hashtags were the key to Instagram community…the right hashtags, that is. Obviously, there are a lot of them out there, but finding the right ones was a challenge. So, I decided to start my own.
I started the #myvibrantlife hashtag a couple of months ago and today I realized that there are over 1,000 photos using it! THANK YOU! I never though I would have 100 photos using the hashtag and it has been SO inspiring and wonderful to see so many people using that hashtag to connect through Instagram. I am constantly in awe of the beautiful and vibrant lives you all lead and the time you take to share that with me.
So, because it’s my FAVORITE time of the year and because I am loving the #myvibrantlife hashtag community, I wanted to extend a little hashtag challenge to you all for the rest of the month!
Introducing…the #myvibrantholiday hashtag challenge
So, starting from now until January 1st, I’m going to be running the #myvibrantholiday Instagram challenge for anyone and everyone to participate in. It’s my hope that this will be a great way to build and strengthen our community outside of this blog and to connect each other through visual photos. I hope that by scrolling through the #myvibrantholiday feed, we can all find inspiration and motivation to fully embrace this holiday season and to live it as vibrantly as possible.
This hashtag challenge is for you if…
If you’re struggling to figure out what to post ON Instagram
If you love all things Christmas/Holidays and could look at pictures of holiday lights all day long
If you want to make real friendships/connections on Instagram!
Here’s how it will work:
When: Starting now and running through January 1st!
Who: ANYONE! You do NOT (I repeat do NOT) have to be a blogger to use this hashtag! Friends and family, please use this hashtag as well! It’s for all of us!
Rules: There are no real rules for this challenge or prompts, either (although I’ll include a list of photo ideas at the bottom of this post!) Simply follow me (@heytherechelsie) and tag any of your holiday photos with #myvibrantholiday on Instagram! Be sure to check the feed often and connect/comment with others using it! And please, keep all photos family friendly!
Sharing: I’ll be sharing my favorite photos from the feed every week in the Hey There, Sunday newsletter and here, on the blog! (By using the #myvibrantlife hashtag, you are agreeing to let me repost your photos on my site or social media profiles, with credit given to you, of course!)
Prize: For every photo you post using the hashtag, you’ll be entered once to win a $20 dollar gift card to a place of your choosing!
Feel free to share the challenge with others so that we can spread the holiday cheer as much as possible!
30 Holiday Photo Ideas for Instagram:
Need some ideas for some Instagram Photos for the challenge? No worries! I’ve got a list 0f 30 ideas for you below:
- Your Christmas tree
- A Starbucks red cup
- A holiday wreath
- Your favorite holiday lipstick color
- Your holiday party outfit
- Holiday cookies
- A winter landscape (your backyard, a hike, etc.)
- Your pets dressed up in holiday costumes
- Wrapping Paper
- Wrapped presents
- A Pointsetta
- A holiday lights display
- A holiday card you’re sending out to family and friends
- Elf on a Shelf
- A Christmas Tree farm or lot
- Holiday inspired nails
- A holiday mug with hot cocoa
- Your favorite holiday movie
- Holiday center piece on the table
- A holiday tablescape
- A fresh snowfall
- Holiday pajamas
- Family in matching holiday outfits
- An advent calendar
- Holiday socks or slippers
- A fireplace
- A gingerbread house
- A shot from your holiday party
- Your favorite holiday drink
- A gift idea or guide
I am SO excited to see all your holiday photos on the ‘gram! Let me know what your favorite hashtags are in the comments below!
