When following a large, community-focused social media account, it can be easy to overlook the fact that it is run by an actual person, or if you’re like us, you wonder how such a thriving and well-loved account began. Today we go straight to the source with Javier Mejia, founder of the nearly 40,000-follower-strong @IGersBoston Instagram account, to get some answers. Below, he discusses his inspiration, how he manages it all, and the astounding support of the local photography community.
1. How did @IGersBoston come about?
In December 2011 during a trip to New York City, my cousin, who at the time was 13 years old, introduced me to Instagram. I immediately got hooked and started following people whose work I found inspiring. As I explored, I came across a few “@IGers” groups based in cities like Chicago, London, and Seattle, and really liked that concept of community. Excitedly, I tried to find the @IGers community for Boston and to my surprise, it did not exist.
I decided to reach out to the leaders of some of those groups and after a few emails, I was encouraged to start @IGersBoston. Fast forward three and a half years to the present, @IGersBoston has become the largest, most active, recognized, and beloved Instagram feed in the Boston area and one of the largest IGers communities in the world.
2. What are its core principles?
It’s all about the community: bringing exposure to photographers regardless of their level of expertise or device of choice, forging partnerships and alliances with established Boston-area institutions to create benefits that can be passed right onto the community, and showcasing the beauty of our beloved city of Boston to the entire world is also at the top of the list!
3. What goes into your decision process for choosing features? Any tips for people who want to improve their chances of being chosen?
The primary goal is to highlight the beauty of our city. After having reviewed tens of thousands of images hashtagged #IGersBoston over the past years, our eyes are now highly trained in spotting potential winners among so many daily submissions.
In addition to finding a great picture, we take into consideration other factors such as the location of the picture, as we don’t want to be too repetitive. Same goes for the author, as we want to feature and bring the spotlight to as many talented photographers as possible and not just the same ones all the time. It is a delicate balance that, when considering the relatively small size of our city, can be challenging at times.
As far as tips, we like to see creativity, looking at the city from different angles and perspectives. Use the entire square when posting your pictures.
4. How did you build your team of moderators?
About a year after @IGersBoston was born, I thought it would be beneficial for the community to bring perspectives other than my own into the Picture of the Day selection process. Since then, there has been a total of six moderators. I identified them as great candidates because of the way they interacted with others in the community, as well as for the quality of their Instagram feeds.
Last year I tested the waters with a Moderator for a Month program that allowed some @IGersBoston community members to experience the role. Overall, I constantly try to come up with ways to enhance the experience of our audience.
5. Do you get any weird interactions because of @IGersBoston?
I wouldn’t necessarily call them weird. The vast majority of the interactions I experience are very positive. It is especially rewarding when people on the street recognize you, introduce themselves, and share their appreciation for the community.
The growth and increased influence of @IGersBoston in the region has allowed me to meet and partner with some of the most established Boston-based institutions. To see these organizations recognize the value of our community is simply remarkable to me.
As with everything in this world, no matter how hard you try, there is always going to be some people who disagree with your choices and be very vocal about it. Thankfully, thus far, that number of people has been a very small percentage.
6. How have the turnouts to your InstaMeets and other events been?
Turnout has been amazing! Focusing on this calendar year alone, I have organized three events. The first one was a @IGersBoston talk at the flagship Apple Store in Boston. We were invited by them to talk about the history of @IGersBoston and provide some tips about photography.
Surprisingly, within 12 hours of making the announcement on Instagram, all the initial seats allocated for the event were booked and the additional 10% for the waiting list filled out as well. Apple had to increase the limit twice within 24 hours to accommodate demand and then decided to close the entire third floor of the store to accommodate the group. In total, 250 people attended, and this number was limited, [otherwise we’d need a] special permit and police presence.
The second event was for the World Wide InstaMeet 11. For this, we partnered with the Museum of Fine Arts to host the InstaMeet at the museum and provide complimentary admission to all participants. 150 people attended #WWIM11.
The third event was a collaboration between Cathay Pacific Airlines and @IGersBoston; 60 people participated in this InstaMeet, in which we had a brand new DSLR camera prize for one of the lucky attendees. Linked to that event, the entire @IGersBoston community also had the opportunity to participate in a photography contest and win two round-trip tickets from Boston to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific. One of the InstaMeet attendees won that contest!
Currently, I am working with MIT’s “The List,” Harvard Art Museums, the JFK Presidential Library, and the Massachusetts Office of Tourism, among others, on upcoming events for late summer, early fall. All very exciting projects.
7. What’s your favorite social media account?
Great question. I have a few favorite feeds that I really admire and enjoy. My top 5, in no particular order, are:
Jason Peterson (@jasonmpeterson)
Jannet Jeffries (@thepistachioeffect)
Karan B. (@sendingstache)
Sam Morrison (@samthecobra)
Jose Silva (@jnsilva)
8. Are you ever tempted to post your own work on the @IGersBoston account?
One of the rules I apply to myself and my moderator team is that we are not eligible for Picture of the Day features. However, going back to one of our core principles, we want to showcase the beauty of our city, and sometimes one of the team members has an image that meets all the criteria.
To show my appreciation for the time our moderators volunteer and to bring some of the spotlight to them, I implemented a Team Member Feature of the Month program. Sometimes, the team will encourage me to share one of my own images, but I usually refrain. I do get to use my images occasionally when posting announcements for events, challenges, contests, etc.
9. Do you feel that quick-sharing apps like Instagram have changed photography for better or for worse?
I think Instagram has not only changed photography, but also society, interaction, and perception. With Instagram, everyone is a photographer. From professionals to amateurs and the occasional user, everyone is capable of producing or capturing something truly special and sharing it with others. What’s important here is that everyone perceives themselves as photographers.
My opinion is that Instagram has changed things for the better. It has opened the world of photography to everyone and in doing so, a new wave of creative minds has been able to share their work with people all over the world. It has made possible friendships, relationships, and interactions that otherwise would have been unlikely to ever occur. In some ways, you could argue, Instagram has changed the world.
10. What makes Boston and its Instagram scene exceptional?
Definitely its people. The Boston Instagram community is very passionate, creative, and very active. They are friendly, approachable, willing to help and share tips with others. They forge friendships, shoot in groups regularly, support and push each other to improve all the time. It also helps that we live in one of the most beautiful, historic, and culturally diverse cities in the world. We are #BostonStrong!
One last word from Javier…
We are always open to working with others and invite everyone interested to reach out to us with their ideas. To see the best of Boston and be part of our growing community, join us at @IGersBoston on Instagram!
[Intro by Ariel Olivieri, interview questions by Kimo Gray.]
Metter Media LLC is a Boston-based social media management company that implements community-based, localized social engagement strategies for small businesses and corporations alike. Need help with your social media? Email Lauren today.
