"Content creators are cringe," says the stranger that's boosting your engagement.
You have to get "embarrassing" to get good. Plus, dollar store photography gear and the benefit to giving your inanimate subjects a human-like backstory.
What posts are sitting in your drafts right now? And what’s actually stopping you from posting them? (Or perhaps…whose opinion is stopping you?)
As creatives, we all know that split-second hesitation before hitting “share.” That voice in your head that whispers, yikes…embarrassing.
You picture your follower list—the friends, family, or loose acquaintances you haven’t spoken to in years who might secretly judge you for doing something they themselves don’t have the courage to do.
(Ironic, right?)
We hold ourselves back because our fear of judgement feels stronger than our desire to share. And this week’s featured guest would argue that trying to protect yourself from judgement might be costing you far more than you realize.
Inside The Process, content creator and founder Lavinia Rusanda opens up about what it really looks like to build a career online without waiting to feel impressive first. We dive into undercharging, online criticism, algorithm pressure, and the very real consequences of letting insecurity call the shots.
Also in this edition, we’re sharing photography gear you can source from the dollar store (in this economy, we’ll take it!), plus a creative prompt on anthropomorphism that might shift how you tell stories altogether.
Happy reading—and please, post that draft!
—Emily & Chloë
3 THINGS | DOLLAR STORE PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR
3 Things: These Photography Essentials Are from the Dollar Store
We love a shiny new gadget as much as the next photographer, but we also love keeping groceries in the fridge and the bills paid on time. These multi-purpose dollar store items are permanently stocked in our kit, and there’s a very real chance you already own all three. Here’s how to use them strategically on set:
1. Lint Roller
Before you fix it in post, try fixing it in real life. One quick swipe removes all those mystery fibres from clothing, rugs, backdrops, and even your camera bag. If you’ve ever sat at 200% zoom cloning white specks off black pants, you already know the pain. Trust us—she’s worth the $3.
2. Lip Balm
We know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t a beauty tip; it’s a lighting trick (although, it does double as a helpful cuticle rescue during cold outdoor shoots!). A little dab can create a soft reflective highlight on surfaces or add a natural sheen to skin in a pinch.
And if you’re going for that dreamy, romantic look, try applying a light swipe of lip balm or vaseline to saran wrap before stretching it over your lens. You’ll get that hazy-atmosphere-filter for a fraction of the cost.
3. Binder Clips
Not just for keeping your shoot-day snacks fresh! These little clamps tighten loose clothing, secure backdrops, tame extension cords, hold DIY reflectors, and fix fabric that refuses to cooperate. They’re small, inexpensive, and they wear almost as many hats as you do.
Have any dollar store gear you can’t shoot without? Let us know in the comments—a judgment-free and budget-friendly zone!
THE PROCESS | LAVINIA RUSANDA
The Process with Lavinia Rusanda
Content creator and founder Lavinia Rusanda (@laviniarusanda) started posting on YouTube at just 13 years old—long before brand trips, PR packages, or full-time income were part of the picture. What began as a hobby eventually grew into a full-time creative career, a podcast (Loud Talk with Lavi), and the launch of nine2five (@nine2fiveskin), a skincare brand she formulated and funded entirely on her own.
But the path from “posting for fun” to building a business wasn’t exactly seamless. In moments when it would’ve been easier to pull back, Lavinia leaned in. In our conversation, she opens up about self-doubt, recalibrating her worth, navigating public opinion, and why content creation alone was never enough to satisfy her.
Her story might make you think twice about what you consider “too embarrassing” to post—and whether the real risk is not posting it at all.
Read the full piece here:
Key Takeaways from Lavinia’s Process
On the benefit to being “embarrassing”
The false narrative that “content creation is only impressive once there’s visible proof of success” can make it an intimidating path to pursue. Lavinia’s experience pushes back on that idea:
“It’s embarrassing that I’m posting makeup videos online to 50 people—until I get my first PR package or brand deal. Then it’s not so embarrassing.”
As Lavinia sees it, it’s actually more embarrassing to never try at all.
On finding confidence online
When asked how to build confidence online, Lavinia offers three pieces of advice:
Take back control
“Post the selfie or video you’re insecure about,” she says. “That’s taking back control over your confidence.” Waiting until you feel perfect only hands your power to something external.
Separate your identity from the metrics
“If you pour everything you have into a video and no one loves it the same way you did…you feel that.” But one post doesn’t define you; and those trickier outcomes shouldn’t stall your progress.
Zoom out
“People are comparing themselves to you while you’re comparing yourself to them,” Lavinia says. “It’s a constant circle.” Zoom out and notice the beauty you admire in other people, then offer that same generosity to yourself. With kinder eyes, ask what’s worse—someone’s fleeting opinion, or the long-term regret of never putting yourself out there?
On comparison and trends
Lavinia doesn’t believe you need to reconstruct your identity every time a new aesthetic appears. Experiment with the trends that genuinely excite you—not the ones you feel pressured to adopt. Experimentation should feel playful, not performative.
On handling online negativity
“People will take two seconds to watch your video and comment something mean and petty.”
“Let it sting a little,” Lavinia explains. “Energy in, energy out.” If the comment took two seconds of effort to formulate and write, don’t give it your whole day.
Read more here:
The Process with Lavinia Rusanda
At 13, Lavinia Rusanda started posting on YouTube. By 14, she treating it like her full-time job.
CREATIVE PROMPT | ANTHROPOMORPHISM
Creative Prompt: Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is the act of giving human qualities—like memory, emotion, or perspective—to inanimate objects, non-human animals, or nature. It’s not about turning an object into a caricature; it’s about using your imagination to reveal the emotional weight and backstory it might carry. In both writing and photography, that shift—from appearance to meaning—is what makes your work feel layered.
Creative Prompt:
Choose a physical object that has meaning to you—it could be an heirloom, a favourite item, or a souvenir tied to a specific time or place.
Now, answer the following questions in a short paragraph from the perspective of the object:
Where are you from?
What have you witnessed?
What do you wish people knew about you?
If you’d like, imagine that object as the subject of a photograph or short film. How would you tell its story visually, and why? The challenge isn’t to make the object beautiful, but to make it interesting—and understood.
If you try this prompt yourself, feel free to share your paragraph in the comments below.
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