Influencer, lifestyler and incredible mama of three Sophie Vine is all about that living that simple life and inspiring others to do the same over on her uplifting Insta page, @vinesofthewild.
Passionate about nature, sustainability, and slow and simple living, Sophie’s content is empowering mothers everywhere to live a more wholesome, natural lifestyle, and take the chaos out of childhood.
We took a walk on the wild side with this Instapreneurial lifestyler to talk all things motherhood, staying grounded and livin’ the simple life…
What’s your fave Instagram feature and why?
Instagram Stories + highlights. Some people miss the content I post because they forget to screenshot it before the 24-hour expiry. It means I can categorise all the info I’ve posted and my audience can refer back when they need.
What’s your favourite way to wind down?
A simple bath and book.
What’s the most important thing they don’t teach us in school?
Everything about actual life. How to be married or in relationships, how to look after your mental health, how to travel, life admin, taxes, insurance, superannuation (the worst, but oh so important!)
How did @vinesofthewild come about, what inspired you to start posting about the simple life on Instagram?
I started Vines of the Wild during my first year of maternity leave. I found it difficult to find products for my baby that were naturally, ethically and locally made. Not to mention products that didn’t come in crazy prints or colours. I wanted parents to feel empowered to create children’s spaces that felt simple and calm, rather than chaotic in an already chaotic transition in their life. My mission is to support mothers in their strive to live a simple, more natural lifestyle.
“I wanted parents to feel empowered to create children’s spaces that felt simple and calm, rather than chaotic in an already chaotic transition in their life. My mission is to support mothers in their strive to live a simple, more natural lifestyle.”
Has Instagram changed the direction of your life? How did you turn your content into a career?
This is such a hard question to answer. Instagram is certainly allowing me to stay at home with my children a little while longer than I expected which is a much welcomed surprise. I do plan on going back to teach eventually but this has been a lovely detour on the way back to that.
Hopefully the content I put out there is useful or inspiring to others, that’s what it’s there for. It’s still a lot of work though, it’s just flexible with when I work the hours. I would normally teach between 9-3, but with Instagram work I might reply to emails, edit photos, read contracts etc. most nights and on weekends when my husband is home.
I think I’ve managed to turn Instagram into a career by connecting with brands that align with my message and not compromising on that. I work to keep those relationships strong, as I really love it when the same brands continue to want to work together on new projects.
“I’ve managed to turn Instagram into a career by connecting with brands that align with my message and not compromising on that.”
As someone who loves the simple life, do you find that technology can have a negative impact? How do you switch off and stay grounded?
This is probably my biggest battle. I’m constantly wondering how I’m suppose to tell my children how I make my living using technology and screens but they have little to no exposure to these technologies themselves. But I do think it’s important for them at this young age to remain ‘unplugged’ and enjoy their childhood.
For me as an adult, it’s just important to have designated ‘switch off’ time whether it be during the day when I’m with the kids until my husband gets home and I can reply to a few emails before dinner or bedtime routine and then again when the kids are in bed, I can get some editing done.
My husband and I don’t have hard and fast rules about it but we’ll often just say to each other, let’s have a ‘no phones’ outing with the kids today or do you want to put the phones down tonight at 9:00 and watch a movie together or have a late night drink outside around the fire pit. Being outside in nature (even the backyard) always resets our mindsets. Nothing specific or strict, just when we’re feeling it.
Where are some simple places you find inspiration, or your personal ways of getting inspired?
I get most of my inspiration from the kids so thoughts and ideas come to me when I watch them play in the cubby, when I read them to sleep, or when they reject the meals I make haha. Anything they do really. It’s amplified when we’re out on nature adventures or traveling or road tripping.
Do you ever take your creativity offline and get back to basics? What are your go-to ways of getting a bit more crafty with your content?
I like making things or doing craft with the kids the most. I find sewing the most relaxing, like making dolls clothes or dress ups. But making things out of cardboard, paint, glue and getting messy is so beneficial for the kids, makes great content and feeds my teacher soul. Before returning to study teaching, my degree was in graphic design and we were always encouraged to get back to basics, so I still channel my 20 year old self if I get stuck.
“Making things out of cardboard, paint, glue and getting messy is so beneficial for the kids, makes great content and feeds my teacher soul.”
What’s your advice for creating a strong brand and unique feed that stands out from the rest?
Find an angle that makes you, you. As everyone is different, there’s room for everyone to be different on Instagram too. For me it’s always been about nature, sustainability, raising my children, and slow and simple living. But I get so much joy out of seeing accounts that are all about ‘honest’ (therefore hilarious) parenthood or island travel. Or organic recipes, or feeds that have a bright rainbow aesthetic that is so different to mine but oh so beautiful. I think once you know what makes you, you, the differences will just come effortlessly.
“As everyone is different, there’s room for everyone to be different on Instagram too. I think once you know what makes you, you, the differences will just come effortlessly.”
How do you go about keeping a consistent aesthetic across your feed? What apps do you use to edit and plan your content?
I’ll try to take photos in a similar aesthetic to begin with to make the editing process slightly easier in order to keep a consistent feed. Natural outdoor tones of greens, browns and creams. I use so many apps when editing – VSCO, Lightroom, Snapseed, Air Brush and Photo Director, depending on what the photo needs… Too much shadow? I play around in Lightroom. Dribble on the kid’s face I’d like to remove? I use photo director or air brush.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made or learning you’ve had with Instagram? What’s your advice on what not to do?
Don’t worry about the numbers. Maybe not the best advice from a business point of view but from a mental health point of view, it’s not good for anyone to worry about any of that rubbish. As soon as Instagram stops being a positive space, it’s time to change something – I’ve had to let go of all of that.
“As soon as Instagram stops being a positive space, it’s time to change something – I’ve had to let go of all of that.”
Do you have any Insta hacks, tricks or tips? Tell us your secrets!
I’m not sure if it’s a hack, but I plan my feed out in a separate app called Preview. I then draft all of my posts and captions in advance late at night when the kids are in bed. That way I can just hit ‘share’ as I’m getting the kids into their PJ’s on the evenings I need to post.
What are your words of wisdom for other women wanting to follow their passion, build their brand or market their business on Instagram?
It’s simple – back yourself!
