CULTURE
The Photo Dump and Perfectionism
By: Lianna Gourmos Edited by: Bella Gallus
The art of the “photo dump” is compressing the chic chaos of life into an album as a marvel for social media users. The nonchalant nature of normal life on camera is pleasing to both the eye and the soul, as the ideal photo dump captures the magic in ordinary moments. Fashion and beauty companies all over the world have adopted photo dumps as an advertising technique, yet their marketing success depends on how the image choices highlight the company’s product integration into everyday consumer life. In order to counter perfectionism masked as candidness, organic detail should exceed aesthetic beauty when it comes to crafting a photo dump.
The “candid shot,” which was once an art of patience, has become a tool of deception. Candid photography can be traced back to 19th-century street photography. These shots emphasize raw emotions and “proving that the heart of people and life [are] found in between the planned, curated, and staged events,” according to photography company In Our Image. Candid shots are a trademark of the Instagram photo dump, and romanticize mundane moments through a creative lens. However, when taken with an iPhone by a social media influencer, candid photography tends to be planned.
It is quite common to hear the phrase “take a candid!” amongst social media-savvy teenagers and young adults today. Arushi Sinha for Vogue says that “in many ways, the Instagram photo dump sets out to achieve a goal that is diametrically opposed to its very existence,” highlighting how photo dump culture should contrast Instagram’s once-perfectionist appeal to posting. In an essence of nostalgia for Facebook albums and even scrapbooks, photo dumps aim to “capture a leaning-against-the-lockers-after-class cool that is manifestly against the very idea of curation,” Sinha says, proving that the seemingly random images that comprise an Instagram “carousel” are carefully curated to embody a niche theme. As a result, the perfect influencer life and the realistic snippets of the ordinary have been intertwined by candid photography. With this paradoxical practice of “planning the unplanned” overtaking social media, is the true purpose of the photo dump being forgotten?
Anyone can take a photo and post it online, but it takes a creative eye to capture ordinary moments and make them appealing to an audience. Amidst performative perfectionist culture, model and artist Blanca Soler (@blanca.soler on Instagram) curates photo dumps that authentically intertwine her fashion career with her love for art through candid shots. One of Soler’s recent photo dumps, captioned “Black swan,” includes a dingy-lit hallway, a close-up of a sandal, a black swan in a pond, and a photo of Soler from a recent shoot. Soler displays her artistic spins on common objects through iPhone photography and aligns her talents with her modeling career. The images she selects for each of her photo dumps blends her glamorous moments with her everyday life. Soler also frequently posts photos of her with family members, as seen in another one of her Instagram posts that features throwback pictures of Soler and her sisters as children. Soler gives her followers insight to her personal endeavors, making her admirable for her relatability, despite her romanticized modeling career. The media often forgets that influencers are real people with stories, but the photo dump’s flexibility has the power to change that.
Meanwhile, outside the influencer scope, Syracuse University student Kathyrn Hendry (‘25) (@kathrynhendry_ on Instagram,) who is studying marketing and creative advertising, has no problem catching the eye with her unique photo dumps. Hendry documents her authentic life as a flourishing university student on Instagram. “I thought I crafted my [photo] dumps without any rhyme or reason, but I just looked at my Instagram and noticed that I do usually start off a dump with a picture of something that doesn’t involve a person,” Hendry says. Scenic images are common in photo dumps, and can illustrate how the creator sees their world. In addition to this, Hendry says she is fond of the memories she captures because of the people she shares them with. “I think my love for my friends is expressed through my [photo] dumps,” she says. Taking an emotional approach to a photo can impact viewers at a greater level than a shot that holds no personal value. Hendry’s ability to showcase who she is and entice an audience through her photo dumps will certainly benefit her future career, as she hopes to work as a copywriter for a creative advertising agency.
Social media influencers and common users are not the only ones who have adopted the art of the photo dump. Countless fashion and beauty companies have also turned to posting photo dumps on their Instagram pages, as to integrate their products into daily life through candid photography. While some of these “candid” photos may be somewhat planned, this marketing strategy makes products more realistically appealing and increases their value to customers, according to an advertisement psychology study conducted at the University of Southern California. The photo dump advertisement is a perfect example of the creative response, in which products appear to be imaginative and ahead of the curve. A few weeks ago, the Glossier beauty company celebrated the release of their You Rêve + Doux perfume by hosting an influencer event in New York City. The event was showcased on their Instagram through a photo dump, which included a series of moments varying from closeups of influencers holding the perfume to wide shots of guest speakers and stunning decor. The perfume appears to connect people in an exciting form, and the product is celebrated in a unique aspect that appeals to potential consumers.
Color contrast is also a significant contributor to what makes a photo dump advertisement appealing, as it captures attention quickly. Another recent Instagram post by Glossier introduces their Lash Kit by featuring a closeup of eyelashes, shots of the product itself, and a selfie of a model who appears to have just used the Lash Kit. The main subjects of the photos all contrast against a plain background as to pertain to Glossier’s constant simple, visual theme while still highlighting the Lash Kit. The photos used in both of the mentioned posts are not necessarily perfect, but they appear to be embedded into realistic life situations. Through their approach to the photo dump, Glossier has established itself as a rising giant in the beauty industry.
A strange comfort comes with the realization that models and celebrities, despite their seemingly-perfect lives displayed on social media, do in fact have ordinary aspects to their exterior glamor. When crafted with the intent of showcasing moments that hold genuine importance to the creator, photo dumps are an innovative method for influencers and brands to highlight their relatability and appeal to a wider audience range. Perfectionism in photography is no longer valued by common social media users as it once was, but maybe it’s for the best. Staged moments may be captivating for a short period of time—it’s the organic ones that remain interesting forever.
