Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Ann Shuman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The internet has always been something I loved. I felt more accepted and inspired on the internet. As an outsider growing up in school due to my alternative style and music choices. From being a teenager on Myspace and Tumblr, to creating my own blog in 2012. Once Instagram became a thing, I knew it was something bigger. The photos I used to create for other platforms like product reviews, flat lays, outfits, etc. I started doing them on Instagram. In the last 3 years, I grew a lot more by being consistent and staying in my niche. I am so incredibly grateful that nowadays I work with brands I could never dream of working with, like 8Greens, Free People, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Osea.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh no, definitely not. Being a content creator/influencer the name itself already has a bad name as people just simply don’t understand it. It’s a billion-dollar industry. People love to hate on it! I think people don’t truly understand what it takes. If not represented by an agency, you are self-employed. This goes from answering emails, sending invoices, reading contracts, shooting photos and videos, editing, sending it in for review, etc!
Besides that, engagement is very important and Instagram has been up and down lately with showing content to your followers which can definitely affect your performance with partnerships with brands which can be stressful. 🙂
And the occasional internet trolls but delete & block is the way to go!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Being an alternative as a content creator definitely makes it harder to work with brands but I think I created a niche that works well as I am very focused on self-development. I love making people feel good. It is something I always loved doing. Ever since being a teen, I have been reading self-help books, doing positive psychology courses, etc. I also worked as a nurse in a hospice-type setting for a few years back in The Netherlands where I am from. Often followers will send me a DM saying how my profile is their safe space. It makes me emotional thinking about how I could create something like that online. I am very proud of that, especially as social media for a lot of us can be very toxic and a comparison to others’ black holes.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am Dutch and born and raised in the Netherlands. I moved to Austin in 2019! English is not my native language.
I think a lot of people assume you are a social person when putting yourself out on the internet like that. But I am the most introverted you can be! I spend a lot of time alone, my husband’s work hours are till later in the evening and this often gives me a lot of the alone recharging moments I need.
I recently launched an affirmation card deck that I created with my best friend Liza. See my website!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bykellyann.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/kellyannshuman
