- Words by Devon Paige Smith Photography by Lia Crowe

Full-time professional content creator害羞草研究所�害羞草研究所攊t害羞草研究所檚 a title Jared Vandermeer is still getting used to. But it害羞草研究所檚 one that害羞草研究所檚 quite fitting after he spent the last year fully immersed in creating content for his social channels.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 definitely been a whirlwind,害羞草研究所� says Jared, who in the last year has gained over a million followers, posted over 700 videos and has a combined billion views across social media platforms害羞草研究所攚ith much of that content filmed right here on Vancouver Island.

害羞草研究所淢oving to the island was the best decision I made, I害羞草研究所檝e never looked back,害羞草研究所� Jared says. 害羞草研究所淏eing here has been such a huge part of me getting to where I am today.害羞草研究所�

Jared, who grew up in Edmonton and started a marketing agency there, had no plans on leaving Alberta害羞草研究所攗ntil the pandemic hit.

害羞草研究所淐OVID-19 was really the catalyst,害羞草研究所� he explains. 害羞草研究所淏efore the pandemic I spent most of my time working with clients at the agency and I had my day-to-day routine. When the pandemic hit, and a lot of my restaurant clients, in particular, really pulled back on a lot of their projects, I had time and space to refocus my creativity.害羞草研究所�

After he made the move to southern Vancouver Island, and while COVID-19 was keeping most people close to home, Jared started exploring more content creation locally.

害羞草研究所淎t the beginning, more than anything, creating content for my social channels got me out walking, got me out of the house,害羞草研究所� he laughs, adding that exploring local nooks and crannies is what really got his creative juices flowing.

害羞草研究所淚 had the inspiration of the island right here in front of me. The water, the ocean, the forest. Just being able to go for walks every day and not having snow on the ground for five or six months, it was all new. There害羞草研究所檚 no interruption to the inspiration here.害羞草研究所�

And Jared has many favourite spots on the island to dial in his creativity.

害羞草研究所淭he inner harbour in downtown Victoria is great害羞草研究所攊t害羞草研究所檚 just so vibrant and there are so many different people down there, different types of architecture, great scenery. I also love getting out on trails, and down to beaches all over the island.害羞草研究所�

And asked if he misses the snow, he laughs, as most islanders would: 害羞草研究所淎bsolutely not.害羞草研究所�

With a background and wealth of experience in marketing, it was no surprise that Jared害羞草研究所檚 content began to hone in on a specific subject matter and audience in the last year.

害羞草研究所淢y passion has become teaching people how to create content and create a brand without any major investment. My mission is to show other creators and businesses that they can be successful by creating content with only a phone or camera, some dedication and some creativity,害羞草研究所� Jared explains. 害羞草研究所淚 was tired of all the shortcuts and latest trends, and I wanted to focus on the things I knew really worked for me, and this is where I ended up.害羞草研究所�

On his channels, much of his content relates to photography, and showing his followers tips and tricks for better and more creative picture-making on both digital SLR cameras and iPhones. He also shows his followers how to edit creative video content for Instagram and TikTok, and he gives his followers ideas for compelling product photography.

More than anything, Jared says, it害羞草研究所檚 the type of content he enjoys creating most.

害羞草研究所淪howing people how to take cool photos and make neat videos is fun for me. And I know if I害羞草研究所檓 having fun, the content I害羞草研究所檓 creating does well.害羞草研究所�

Jared believes that害羞草研究所檚 where a lot of burgeoning creators go wrong: 害羞草研究所淭hey feel like they have to jump on the latest trends or try to film content that害羞草研究所檚 popular but maybe isn害羞草研究所檛 of interest to them. And the audience can always tell if your heart isn害羞草研究所檛 in it. As long as you害羞草研究所檙e having fun creating, your niche and your audience will eventually evolve. It害羞草研究所檚 a natural process.害羞草研究所�

Along with having fun, Jared attributes his growth over the last year to seriously committing to content creation害羞草研究所攖o filming it, editing it and posting it.

害羞草研究所淚 make sure I害羞草研究所檓 posting every day, at least once a day. That was a shift for me. I realized I really had to commit to it. I also film and edit content almost every day. It害羞草研究所檚 more than a full-time job.害羞草研究所�

So, what lies ahead for someone who is now a full-time professional content creator?

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 going to stay true to the audience that害羞草研究所檚 gotten me to where I am today害羞草研究所攖hat害羞草研究所檚 important to me. I want to bring my content to a new level while I continue to show people that content creation is accessible to everyone and that you can do some incredible things with just the phone in your hand.害羞草研究所�

You can find Jared on Instagram @jared_vandermeer, on TikTok @jared.vandermeer and on YouTube: JaredVanderMeer.

Jared害羞草研究所檚 simple tips for content creation success:

害羞草研究所� Commit害羞草研究所攎ake time for content creation and take it seriously.

害羞草研究所� Plan for quantity害羞草研究所攑ost at least once a day, twice if you can.

害羞草研究所� Take risks害羞草研究所攑ost everything, even if you don害羞草研究所檛 think it will do well (often, that害羞草研究所檚 the content that ends up surprising you).

害羞草研究所� Don害羞草研究所檛 overthink it害羞草研究所攑lanning too much is a content killer, because the content starts to feel unauthentic. Hone in on an idea and run with it.

害羞草研究所� Most of all, have fun with the content you害羞草研究所檙e creating. Your followers can tell.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
Like Boulevard Magazine on and follow them on