Taline Gabriel shares her Instagram Secrets!

I don’t think there’s a food blogger out there that hasn’t been inspired in some way by Taline’s incredible styling and eye for beautiful pastel hues. Aside from the beautiful trademark fruit stars that adorn many of her dishes, she’s one incredibly talented and innovative plant-based cook. Not only has she created a best-selling App Hippie Lane, T now has her very own cookbook. I caught up with her after attending her incredible launch (just one week after my own!) at Smith Made – a vast and stylish interiors store on the North Shore.

The questions on everyone’s lips – how does she take such AMAZING pictures? Here are her top tips for curating the perfect Instagram feed:

1. What is you top tip for creating a beautifully styled food photo?

   Make sure you have something beautiful to photograph. All the best food styling tips cannot help you if your content is less than average. Pay attention to your food – the texture, the arrangement in the plate / bowl, the colour and the appeal. TIP: edible flowers and seeds can really help to lift your plating if it need some extra little magic :)
   

2. Your favourite food styling props?

   I’m pretty simple when it comes to capturing my food, with a preference for minimal styling. A few beautiful spoons and forks, and marble / concrete / metal backdrops is all I really need\Your favourite Ingredient? I have so many! But being an avocado freak, I’d say a perfectly ripe avocado – Full of nutrition, good fats and it’s delish creamy texture, a good avocado is perfection. Extremely versatile and deliciously satisfying, avocado goes well with many savoury dishes, including salads, breakfast and warm meals and adds texture to smoothies and desserts. An allrounder!

3. What do you like about Instagram compared to other social media platforms?
   

   I love that its focused on photo sharing with a view to connect over shared interests vs personal content on Facebook and Twitter. I love all things creative, with a sharp interest in design and aesthetics so it suits me perfectly.

4. Savoury or Sweet?
   

   SWEET!!
   
   

5. Your favourite go-to meal after a busy day?
   

   I usually make a quick 5 minute pesto and get the ingredients together for my Green Goddess Bowl – easy, delish and packed with nutrition.
   

6. What are you favourite Instagram accounts you regularly stalk?
   

   I have a love affair with European bloggers. Alison Wu (@alison__wu) and Nina Olson (@nourish_atelier) for food. I love travel also, and find endless inspiration on Debi Flugge’s page (@debiflue). 

7. When did you realise your Instagram had become “successful”?
   

   Within the first 3 months of commencing, back in 2015! It grew quite quickly so I knew I was doing something right. My followers have always led the way for me, showing me with their responses whether I’m on point or not. They give me valuable insight into trends, and whether I’m onto something hot / or not :)

8. What apps do you love to edit photos?
   

   I use VSCO for beautiful moody filters and Lightroom to help lift the lighting in my images. Between the two, I’ve got what I need to post on Instagram.

9. From an insider in the industry what’s the number one pattern you see amongst successful Instagrammers accounts?
   

   The ability to curate a beautiful feed. The content is crucial, but it’s really about seeing your feed as a gallery and being able to set up the images side by side in a way that appeals to the masses. Light, space and composition need to considered, as well as the quality of the images and careful consideration of content. 

10. Your favourite recipe from the new book?
    

    Oh that’s a hard one! I can’t choose I love them all… Hmmm so many! The Brunch Board for Breakfast, the Kale Salad for a light lunch, the Lentil Nourish Platter for dinner with the family and a Cart Wheel for dessert – perfecto!

Get your hands on her beautiful first book Hippie Lane in all good book from April 1st 2017, RRP $39.99

Source: the-fit-foodie

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