See You on the Gram: Interview with Influencer Patricia Pan!

“I had no intention in getting into social media and the world of Instagram. It was funny start because I was dating a guy who was an influencer and he would ask me for my opinion on which photo he should post. He then showed me how he edited his content and I started to do the same with my feed. I found it a start of a new hobby, but it turned out to be an accidental start of my influencing career," says Instagram influencer Patricia Pan. The funny thing is, I have found that most of my peers (myself included) have found what we love to do unintentionally.

I think when people start doing what they love unintentionally, it makes for the best work! As Patricia's photographer, I have learned new things about social media styles. Choosing the right background (not too busy but not too plain), lighting (the golden hour), and angles (straight on usually works best) are all important pieces of crafting your image.

When asked how she got started on a professional level, Patricia said “I realized I wanted to take Instagram to a professional level when reputable brands started reaching out to me to collaborate with them. It seemed so unreal at first and I am forever grateful to work with many great brands.” Her social media aesthetic is also one to swoon over because of all of the tones.

“My aesthetic would be described to be neutral, minimal, and causal in a cityscape environment. I want my audience to be able to look at my feed and be able to relate and be inspired. I want my followers to be able to buy the same products and clothing pieces as me or go to the places and do the same activities as me,” says Patricia.

Creating a cohesive feed is tricky because you don't want your feed to look too busy, but at the same time, a super curated feed does't look natural and can create a "fake" look. I love Patricia's feed because its the perfect in-between.

She describes her personal style as minimalist. One of my favorite things about Patricia is her fashion style, it totally speaks ‘fashion girl! “I love my basics because I have the freedom of dressing them up or down. I am a strong believer in investing into the classics: pieces of clothing I believe that will always be in fashion. As for colors, I tend to gravitate towards neutrals, blacks, and whites. I also believe one statement piece can really add dimension to any simple outfit," says Patricia.

We often find ourselves shopping from the same stores because we actually have very similar styles. I myself like to wear a lot of neutrals and so does Patricia. The great thing about that is that we borrow each other's clothes if we needed to. The funny thing about that is that we sometimes end up looking like we are wearing the same outfit! It's a little battle of "Guys VS. Girls: Fashion Edition". Shooting photos also becomes easier because we use the same locations as well.

While working in social media comes with many responsibilities, every influencer has their favorite part of the job. For Patricia, she likes “Meeting creators who share the same interests and passion as I do. The people I meet on social media are some of the most supportive individuals I have ever met. They are so sweet and always have great vibes.”

When I ask her what her favorite projects have been, she replies: "So far, my favorite project has been Mejuri. Mejuri creates the cutest pieces of fine jewelry that can be worn every day."

When Patricia and I shoot, we also try to get detail shots (like the dad sneakers) as well because they add another layer of content and fashion inspiration as well. Framing the details is important and creating contrast so the details stand out.
This red rug worked perfectly against her white sneakers to show them off. As a photographer, it's good to play around with color, see what looks cool to you and try it out.

This also means that sometimes, creators have a lot of projects going on and sometimes it can stressful to constantly put out content – I know I have had my fair share of deadlines as well. “There have been several times where my projects have overlapped. It can be stressful because I am a full-time graduate student, but it is definitely doable. Planning and be organized is key," according to Patricia.

Patricia’s social media talent and passion for content creating is incomparable. Not only does she have a distinguishable perspective but she is as real on social media as she is in real life. Because of this, Patricia will become your new favorite person to follow! See you on the gram!