Everyone was posting their graduation pictures around that time, and I had done a yearbook-style shoot. We were all at a school event, and I noticed everyone was on their phones, so I decided to post my photos right in the middle of it. The timing worked out perfectly—the photos took off and started getting hundreds of likes, reaching into the 200s and 300s. I tagged the person I photographed, and since she was heavily involved on campus, graduating, and active in multiple organizations, that helped boost the post even more. Everyone was already engaging with her graduation content, so it created a lot more exposure and ended up being a really strong first impression for my photography brand.

I stay updated on TikTok trends and challenges by actively engaging with the app every day. I scroll through the For You Page and check trending hashtags to see what sounds and challenges are popular. I also follow popular content creators to keep up with what’s new.