Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Sorrel.
Hi Shelby, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I created my Instagram account in 2011 as a sophomore in college — I always loved photography so I was so excited for an outlet created just for that! For the rest of my college years I was the friend standing on chairs at restaurants, embarrassing my friends and having them pose for photos, and was always chasing down the newest restaurant/mural. As a local Austinite, I have had the privilege of seeing the city boom with new restaurants and fun spots — my Instagram grew along with it. My passion for photography, people, and food sprouted into a fun, bright Instagram feed where I share everything from food to travel to beautiful interiors to my morning coffee. I worked in Corporate America as a Paralegal, then switched to retirement where I was an Account Coordinator doing Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans at one of the largest insurance brokers in the world. I transitioned rather quickly into the Social Media space, where I was so excited to finally be paid for my expertise. After a few months, I quit that position in August of 2018 to go full-time with my Instagram account and haven’t looked back since.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Full transparency, it absolutely hasn’t been. I did almost everything wrong when it comes to what someone should do when going full-time in any capacity. I quit my job with a plan of working part-time for a large blogger in town, while also running my account and getting it to where I could take it full-time, but she let me go on the first day, and goodness it was THE biggest blessing. I was immediately pushed out of my comfort zone and had to figure out the ins and outs of what being a full-time Influencer looked like, and I wouldn’t have been able to dedicate as much time to it had I continued working for another blogger on the side. I used up all my savings, pulled out all of my retirement, and gained about 16k in debt to stay afloat and chase my dream. Currently, two and a half years in, I am almost debt-free, have opened up a new retirement account that has more in it now than it did when I withdrew it, and have what I would consider to be a healthy savings account.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I would say I specialize in colorful food and travel content. I love to capture spaces and interiors, as well as delicious spreads of food from local Austin restaurants. I am proud of the photography eye that I have, as I consider it to be fairly unique and different than others.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Wow, this list could go on and on! I owe a lot of my exposure to the Austin food scene to Lindsay with @eatingatx. She asked me to grab lunch one day, and began inviting me along on her food adventures/to new restaurant openings. I was able to expand my content to spots I couldn’t have even fathomed, and she was a huge part in helping me get on the map. My parents are extremely supportive of my dreams and have always cheered me on, and I always felt a sense of comfort knowing they were always there if I needed it. I have been incredibly lucky to have the best dang friends ever in the Instagram community here in Austin and to have had loving partners who walked alongside me through the stress, tears, joy, incessant photo taking, and everything in between. I am thankful to any and all of my friends who have provided words of encouragement when I needed it, helped me shoot content, and who believed in me when I felt like throwing in the towel. I’m honored and privileged to have the most incredible support system full of friends and family, which are one and the same.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@shelbysorrel.com
- Website: www.shelbysorrel.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shelbysorrel
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