A perfect recipe for your socially awkward person looking for a voice in today’s age. As a new book blogger on Instagram, this was the perfect read for me. We are in a world where every opinion matters, but you want to be true to yourself, but you want to be heard, BUT you want to express your inner self – CONFUSION! This book makes you take a step back, tells you that you can do this and you can do this NOW.

The book is very well organized into chapters that really talks about each aspect of being an Instagrammer but still doing it because it makes you happy. Connection, communication and community – she sums it up into three underrated secret weapons that each person should focus on.

It doesn’t matter if you’re good at it or not, matters if you’re happy with it. – this is the main point of the book and I LOVE IT.

She gives you pointers like showing your face to the world to have them trust you, how to create your own pictures, and tips on how to photo edit.

I would really recommend this book to all those that are trying to start a new blog or a social media page. It makes you slow down and think about why you’re truly doing it versus just get it down. The message of the book was to be patient, be happy and be you. Find you. I can’t wait till this book comes out, with all the artistic photos, it’s the perfect table book – for flipping through and as a conversation starter!

Hashtag Authentic is a book all about Instagram. Sounds simple, right? But it’s really more than that.

Social media is a huge part of our modern lives. And striking a balance of beauty, creativity, and authenticity on an account can be difficult. I wasn’t sure what to expect on this title, but the book was charming and practical. It covers topics such as photography tips, how much/little to share, finding your online tone and voice, and much more.

The digital ARC was difficult to read because of the formatting... it was a blend of text and images from the actual pages of the book, and in some sections the text was out of order due to the layout. I’d caution against getting an ebook of this title until you can verify corrections have been made in that regard. Personally, I’m considering buying a physical copy of the book for the beautiful photos, and to slowly savor the advice offered.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance digital review copy of this title.

Ever want a glimpse into the creative mind of a female British Instagram star? Then I would certainly recommend this book.

The author has created a deeply personal brand that celebrates low light, coffee love, and unique angles. It is comfortably curated while still giving off an authentic vibe.

Slow down and discover your true creative longings with the help of this book.

Thanks to #NetGalley, I had an advanced PDF to read and review.

*All opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. *

Thank you so much NetGalley and White Lion Publishing for allowing me access to Hashtag Authentic via ebook. I feel so inspired to go and capture my life. I have always loved photography. Starting with the disposable cameras. I couldn't wait to get them developed. That is something Sara touches on, just the incredible patience you had to have because everything took time. No instant gratification.

There are a lot of great points, and questions Sara uses to get you into the mind frame for storytelling with your photos. It makes so much more sense when she phrases it as she does. This book is so perfect for people who are new to blogging, and photography. It is all about what you want to make if it, and what makes it you. I am seriously so impressed with it. This is one I highly recommend for everyone! Sometimes you can get lost in followers, and what makes others happy. Sara helps you get back into concentrating on what makes you you. I believe there is something for everyone here.

This is an interesting book about photography with the underlying specificity of Instagram. As I am a photographer myself, I did not learn a lot about photography as it is mainly for beginners, which is totally fine. I was more interested in the instagram part and the advice about it starts near the end and I would have liked to have more insight about how to have a better engagement (not just some advice in points).

I was scanning NetGalley a couple of weeks ago and the person on the cover of the book looked familiar to me. (Sara is correct when she says that you should share photos of yourself on your Instagram account from time to time so people can know the person behind your Instagram! If she had not shown photos of herself on her Instagram, I wouldn't have known it was her book and would have kept on scrolling.) When I read the description, I realized that I follow her on Instagram! I enjoyed the premise of this book and her views on how to get more engagement on your Instagram. I liked the excercises she asks you to try and the photos throughout the book were lovely. Reading the book on a small tablet does not do the book justice I'm sure and some of the sentences in my ARC copy were off and hard to follow. This book encourages you to try to gain more engagement not followers, which is what I'm looking for. You can stage photos if your surroundings are feeling uninspired, but you can still be authentic. Have a reason for the photo and share the story behind it. Be yourself.

An interesting book, full of wonderful illustrations.
It's well written and there're a lot of great ideas and suggestions.
It can be helpful if you have an Instagram account and want to improve the quality of your contents.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Quarto Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC

This is a beautiful book which will be useful for anyone who wants to cultivate a more beautiful instagram. This book includes everything and anything you would need to know.

If you’re on instagram, you need this book. Hashtag Authentic is every bit as magical as Sara’s feed and more. Of course the photos are stunning and it’s packed full of tips and tricks. But what really surprised me is the writing. Having read Sara’s blog for some time, I knew she was a great writer, but this book showcases just how good she really is. While it is an instructional book, it almost weaves a story and you find yourself lost among its pages. And one thing you’re guaranteed to believe by the end of it is that you too can have a beautiful instagram feed. Regardless of your body shape or size, your less than perfect home furnishings or lack of photo-worthy pets or kids. It’s all the motivation you’ll ever need to create an instagram feed you love.

Whether we like it or not Social Media is the current way to get publicity for whatever it is that you are trying to promote, be it a book, an event, or yourself.

And although Sara's photos, through out this book, are well composed, and beautiful, in a cold sort of way, they all look staged. But, perhaps that is what photography is. Oddly enough, she tells you to take photos that speak to you, which is usually how it works.

The thing about Instagram is that people see a style, and they all mimic it. The style that Sara is exhibiting is beauitful, but I have seen so many people copying it, I think that they are not getting what she is saying about using your own voice.

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Screen-Shot-2019-01-29-at-1.46.15-PM.png" alt="instagram" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4933" />

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Screen-Shot-2019-01-29-at-1.46.05-PM.png" alt="Instagram" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4932" />

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Screen-Shot-2019-01-29-at-1.46.54-PM.png" alt="instagram photos" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4931" />

The thing is, that everyone uses Instragram for different things. I am friendly with a group of Bookstagrammers, as they are called, who review, or talk about books. There is also an authors loop, where I meet authors. Her advice is to engage, and that is very true. Once you have found what it is you are passionate about, and want to tell someone about, then once you find your people, engage.

It is not just about putting up pretty pictures.

This book is good for people who are having trouble finding their voice. That need to think about what they want the Instagram account for.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I picked this up to review because I love using Instagram as a platform for sharing my personal life and the books I love and want to share. I appreciate that this guides the user/reader into finding out more about themselves as a first step towards providing and creating more engaging and authentic content. I think that's a valuable practice even if you aren't actively trying to increase followers and the prompts Tasker has for doing that internal work are valuable. At the same time she guides the reader on how to see things worth photographing, and brings attention to what you see in the world already, which is valuable to learn if you want to know how to take better pictures. This is a great resource for anyone looking to find a better connection with their social media audience.

A lovely book with lots of fabulous pictures and pro tips. Can see myself dipping in and out of this one time and time again.

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Hashtag Authentic: Be your best creative self via your Instagram online presence

I have Instagram but I don’t spend any time on it. I’m just too busy with my other stuff to ever make it there. So when I saw this book I thought it would be a way to get a look at one perspective of it, and maybe learn a bit about it. Well, that I did, and then some in this informative book by Sara Tasker. She shares how she got stared herself and gives lots of great tips on how to improve your Insta if you are posting there. She gives ideas on how to get started, finding your style, and finding your voice.

There are lots of tips on composition and composing for Instagram and getting better pictures in general. Plus lots more. So if you’re really into Instagram and posting there, you might want to check this out. I think it will have something in it for you to improve your posting. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, author Sara Tasker, and the publisher for my fair review.

3.5 Stars

As a blogger this was just THE Book to read!
The pictures in it were full of skill and love and I remember myself just skipping around to look deeper into Sarahs great photographies and thinking by myself how I can improve my own game!

The book is divided in several chapters, all of them helping you gaining more control over your social media canals, your photography and creativity in such a great and understanding way that I had full „to-do“-list the moment I finished reading this cute guide.

I’ve learned a lot about how I can improve my creativity, which things will lead to success and which ways I should overthink when spending so much on my social media accounts. I liked how Sarah doesn’t hide behind pseudo tips - but really opens her own tricks for all of us to use and explains why some will function for everyone and some will not.

It was a great book for everyone wanting to up their photography or instagram game. For beginners, starters and also for people who just want „THE“ guide for growing their account further. I also think I will look into my daily life and the nature in a totally different way than before. For me this book was a piece of long lost happiness!

I know that I will try out a lot of Sarahs tips and I can’t wait to see if they really are that useful in a reality test.

(The last twenty ages were a bit hard to read because all the sentences in the Arc were thrown in chaos, but I bet that will be no issue in the finished printed copy)

A beautiful book, filled with amazing photography! As a blogger and social media expert myself I thought this book had a lot to offer for people that want to take their Instagramming and general content creation to the next level. In my library I will definitely be encouraging my YA readers that want to use their Instagram or YouTube to create a personal brand to check out this book.