The Insta Retreat

(or, what once was for Instagram and now is so much more)

In 2016, after major burn out, I came back to my teenage love of making and creating and revelling in art. By mid 2018 I knew it was something I was serious about, and might even turn into a side hustle of sorts. So, I bought a course called Gloom and Glow by someone who was new-to-me, Sara Tasker. It was a photography course, aimed at teaching you to make those gloriously moody mid-winter photos, those deep in the heart of that magical forest photos, dramatic and full of narrative.  I had great aspirations of using the skills she taught to make taking photos of my art feel to the viewer as emotive as making the work felt to me (even if I lived in eternally bright and sunny Australia). I had not long opened an instagram account just for my art - I fell in love with Sara’s teaching style, so when she released The Insta Retreat, I was there for it all.

At this stage I was still working a full time muggle job, as well as volunteering 20+ hours a week for a human rights organisation, so although I had great intentions with my emerging side hustle, I found myself not devoting as much time to it as I had hoped. I loved the content of The Insta Retreat though, and tried to implement bits and pieces as I was able. Flash forward to the end of 2019 when two people very close to me passed away within a fortnight of each other. I was bereft, wrapped tight in grief, accepting all the lessons about the fragility of life, and knew that things had to change. I needed to pursue my dream and joy, and work towards being a full time artist. One of the first places I turned was to The Insta Retreat.

Far from a regular course, you see, once you are enrolled, you not only have forever access, you get to participate with every round, and you get ongoing updates, access to new trainings, and even more wonderful, group business coaching with Sara and the brilliant Sally Hardie. More than four years later, I still find the Insta Retreat incredibly valuable, and, spoiler alert - although it is centred around Instagram, and being a creative on that social media platform, it is  so much more than that.

So much of the content can be applied elsewhere - to other socials, yes, but visuals and copy for  your website, your newsletter and community communication. Deeper still, the magic of this community, the coaching, the maturation of content and concepts also extends to self care of your creative soul in a world obsessed with productivity, building community, and damn it, just reminding you to revel in the joy of creating.

Sara built her brand, Me & Orla around Instagram, but her reach, engagement, and following (see what I did there?) has become so much more than sharing photos and advice for a social media app. Yes, she is a veritable Instagram-goddess, but she is a passionate creative with a style and ethos that speaks right to my core. There is an open willingness to share and delight in the moments, not things. The views through windows, your unexpected reflection, and the gentle emotion of the story behind the communication - be it visual or words. Her genuine passion for what she does, and the care she takes in looking after her community are inspiring.

In a recent podcast with the lovely Claire Coupland, Sara summed it up well

“I help people to tell their stories online through words and in pictures”

I have my own small but glowing (and growing) art business in no small part to the practical and aspirational content of The Insta Retreat, because it was through that platform that I made my first sales and began to feel brave enough to take up the mantle of full time artist. More than just The Insta Retreat though, I am so grateful for the community of creatives she has built, and the deep support that comes from fostering connection in that way. Like a mycelial network, I know the growing oak of my business is supported and nourished, inspired and sustained by this beautiful labyrinth of generous creatives, and together we are quietly building a world that is a little kinder, slower, built on genuine connection, and ever more magical.

The Insta Retreat was once for Instagram,

but now it is so much more. 

I believe in this course so much that I am an affiliate - if you would like to join The Insta Retreat and have access to years of content and the most up to date advice of how Instagram can absolutely still be a game changer in 2023 (and advice you can seriously apply to many other areas of your business, be it full or part time or a hobby at this stage) sign up through this link and I will send you an exclusive desktop wallpaper to spark some joy in your computer time!