Jamie Mackrill 1/9/20 Jamie Mackrill 1/9/20

Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke share the story behind their Instagram account and blog: Backpackdiariez

Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke are the Inspirational travel couple behind the very popular Backpackdiariez Instagram account which has amassed over 350,000 followers as of September 2020. To complement their Instagram account they have an incredibly informative and engaging blog: backpackdiariez.com where they also offer photo presets and a variety of online courses.

In this interview, we discuss their transitions from full-time corporate jobs in London to becoming successful travel bloggers. We also discuss topics like making money online, low-cost traveling, their 2018 TEDx Talk, and their clothing brand Atypique.

In this interview, we discuss their transitions from having full-time corporate jobs in London to becoming successful travel bloggers. We also discuss topics such as making money online, low-cost traveling, their 2018 TEDx Talk, and their clothing brand Atypique.

“ It’s a good opportunity to use this time to prepare and equip yourself as best you can to achieve whatever it is that you do really want. If it’s becoming a blogger for example, then use this time to learn as much as you can about all the aspects of this job and how you can become the very best at doing it.”

Camille and Jean, first of all, thank you for taking the time out of your day to do this interview with us! Could you please share with us a few things about yourselves, how you met, and what got you started on Instagram and blogging?

We are Camille and Jean, a couple of Belgian content creators with a huge passion for travel and photography. We travel the world and share our passion through our Instagram account @backpackdiariez and our blog www.backpackdiariez.com.

We met in high school (which feels like so long ago!) and before our travel blogging era we were working normal jobs, and just like most people, we loved to travel. We were both strategy consultants in London - a much more serious job, and a world of difference to what we are doing today. We were working long hours and not seeing much of each other. We took every opportunity that we could to hit the road and go explore the world together.

The Backpackdiariez story started almost 3 years ago when got married and decided to go on an extended honeymoon to Asia. We created a joint Instagram account @backpackdiariez to keep our family and friends updated of our travels. A couple of months into our honeymoon we realised our Instagram was starting to grow which pushed us to get better at taking photos and post more consistently.

We started posting about some extreme places we were going to - like camping in the middle of nowhere in Bhutan or surviving a couple of days on a deserted island in the Philippines and soon realised people were interested in what we were doing and where we were going. By the end of our honeymoon, we hit the 10k follower mark and started to get requests for collaborations. This is when we realised we could turn our passion into a full-time business.

Bali, Indonesia - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

You both had full-time jobs before you made the huge decision to quit and try and make a living doing what you both love – traveling. Could you think back to that period in your lives and share your thought process with us? What were some of the pros and cons that you had to consider before you made this life-altering decision?

We both had built up a nice career in Consulting. This job was something that we knew we would not do forever however, as it takes a huge toll on your private life. Saying that - it was still an amazing learning experience for both of us. At this stage of our lives, it felt like a good time to take a step back and rethink what we actually wanted to do with our lives. We were still young and didn’t have any commitments like a mortgage or kids so we thought why not give the whole blogging journey a try.

Of course, we had to give up a lot of things such as the security of a job, a fixed salary every month, benefits, and medical insurance… But the idea of working for ourselves, not having to report to a boss every day or having to go to an office, and being able to travel wherever and whenever we wanted was so alluring that we decided to just go for it!

Colosseum, Rome, Italy - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

What were some of the biggest challenges that you both faced in the beginning? What was your main focus/goal at the time?

The biggest challenge, in the beginning, was probably that we had to figure out everything ourselves. We didn’t have a background in ‘blogging’ and didn’t know much about photography or how to grow and make money on Instagram. So we had to start from the beginning, which wasn’t easy at first. When we first started we were also not making enough money to live on, so we were living off of our savings and had to change our lifestyle to make things work (coming from two well-paid jobs in London this was quite an adjustment!)

But our focus has always been to grow our page and keep working hard to create good content, which enabled us to grow our page to over 350,000 followers today.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Capri, Italy - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

In a TEDx Talk that you both did in 2018, you talked about different things that related to your lifestyle, such as traveling as cheaply as possible and watching free YouTube tutorials on how to use editing software. What are some of the things that you did to make sure that you could travel cheaply yet comfortably and gain experience and Instagram followers as quickly as possible?

The amount of knowledge that you can find online nowadays is mind-blowing. We did not know much about photography or editing images and videos. We actually learned everything through a combination of researching online and by trying things out and experimenting ourselves. We always pushed ourselves to improve and to create better content.

Slowly our content started getting featured more and more by other pages and in the media which accelerated our growth even more. We were starting to get better deals with hotels and brands reaching out to us asking for collaborations, which is when we realised that our hard work was starting to pay off.

A huge reason why so many people love to travel is the experiences you obtain and the memories you make along the way. What better way is there to travel than with someone you love and share all these memories and experiences with!? In your case, what are some of the best things that have come out of this journey that you have both been on as a couple?

The most amazing thing for us is probably that this entire journey has reinforced and deepened our bonds as a couple. We are together 24/7, we learned to work together, we are doing what we love and living the life we always dreamed of living. We saw some places that we never imagined we could such as some of the world’s most remote places and even discovered foreign cultures we never even knew existed. It’s opened up an entirely new world for us and changed our perspectives dramatically. Another important part of all of this for us is that we are free to do what we want when we want.

Ho’omaluhia Botanicle Garden, Oahu, Hawaii, USA - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Everyone with a smartphone has the ability to take, edit and share photos and capture these and many other special experiences. We've talked about watching free tutorials on YouTube to learn about editing: can you talk about which software/apps you use predominately and which camera/phone you started using to capture your travels together and what you are using now?

We edit all of our images with Adobe Lightroom which really is the best programme out there to edit pictures. We have developed our own photo filters that we apply over our pictures to make the colours pop, which we also sell on our website.

We’re currently using a Canon 5D mark iv camera which we love as it works very well in any light condition and the quality of the images is simply amazing. However, when we started off we had a small pocket-sized camera, the Canon GX7 which you can buy for 500 EUR. This camera got us a very long way. We actually used this camera for at least a year before switching to the more expensive 5D Canon model.

When you are just getting started there’s no need to spend thousands of euros on a professional camera. It’s much better to start with a smaller cheaper one which is usually still great quality, and very good to learn all the basics on. Only when you want to move to more advanced photography such as shooting in very low light conditions, for example, we recommend upgrading to a more professional camera set-up.

Mo’orea, French Polynesia - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Wailua Falls, Hawaii, USA - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Camille, what would you say are Jean's most endearing attributes? Do you handle different aspects of your social media presence and income sources separately, or do you work on everything together complimenting each other’s strengths and weaknesses?

Jean is the artist behind Backpackdiariez. He is the one who handles the camera and the settings, and who edits all of our images and he’s very good at it. On the other hand, I take care of all the operational stuff that goes on behind the scenes such as replying to emails and messages, setting up collaborations, planning trips and arranging hotel deals, managing the website etc. So the work is evenly split between the two of us.

Jaipur Rajasthan, India - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Jean, what are some of Camille's most endearing attributes? In what way do you think that you both complement each other the most, and what do you believe are some of the main reasons why you have both found a high level of success so far working and traveling together?

She has a very get-things-done attitude. The reason why our page has been so successful I think is because we complement each other very well and we both do what we’re good at. The fact that we do what we love also plays a huge role in our success as you will always be better-off doing something that you like.

Santorini, Greece - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

The more one travels, the more likely one is to come across unforeseeable situations, setbacks and challenges. Especially when you combine business and travel! A clear example of this is the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has crippled the entire world’s travel industry and, in countless ways, has affected the lives of all of us in one way or another. How are you both coping with this? How has it affected you both socially and financially? What do you try and concentrate on to get through trying times like these?

The lockdown and the current pandemic have been a huge setback for us. 2020 started as an amazing year for us but in a period of just a few weeks all of our travel plans got cancelled, collaborations halted and we were stuck at home not being able to create content. So we focused on releasing an Instagram Masterclass on photography, and editing courses to share the knowledge we built up in the past few years.

Also, something else happened in those months at home: we’ve been wanting to have kids for a while and during the lockdown, it just became a reality. We’re expecting a little one to join us in our adventures in January which will definitely turn our lives upside down. It couldn’t have happened at a better time for us. The travel industry is very slow and unpredictable at the moment so there’s it’s the perfect time to take it a bit easier and prepare for this new chapter that awaits us.

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Rome, Italy - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

That is so exciting, congratulations to you both! Along with inspiring so many, you both come across as positive and genuine people. You've even recently started a new Instagram page @backpackdiariez.tips which seems to be centred around giving free advice, tips and other educational content. It complements your main Instagram page and your already extremely inspirational and educational blog perfectly! What influences you both to want to help, inspire and give back to the community that has undoubtedly played such a vital part of your success?

Thank you! The idea behind @backpackdiariez.tips is that we learned so much over the past few years and just want to share our knowledge with others who want to do a similar thing to us. It’s such an amazing job, and it’s not something that you can learn in school. There are so many tips and tricks out there that will make all the difference for people.

Blue Train, Sri Lanka - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

A common theme for successful bloggers, influencers and other creatives that we have noticed is diversity in income sources. This seems to be something that you have actively focused on as well as part of your business as you partner with brands, sell presets, workshops, have a clothing line, etc. If you don't mind, could you share a few thoughts on diversifying your income sources and providing different products, both digital and personal?

The income we receive from collaborations with brands is almost never ongoing - but instead something that we have to renegotiate every month. Therefore, we realised that having our own products gives us much more stability, certainty and something we can fall back on if suddenly collaborations cease to come in or stop.

Our clothing line Atypique the Label is something that we always wanted to do and want to keep on doing on the side. It’s a very fun business to be in but it’s a lot of work as we have to do everything ourselves (logistics, customer management, marketing, etc). That’s why we only open the shop a few days a month and work with a limited stock so that we can still have time to travel and work on Backpackdiariez which remains our main focus.

Our courses and photo filters (presets) are our other two main products where we want to help other aspiring bloggers to do what we do. We enjoyed creating our own courses a lot, and it’s something we really like doing. We are looking to launch new courses soon!

Bruges, Belgium - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Once again, if you don't mind discussing, Is there any income sources that you have tried but wouldn't recommend? And for those starting out, what are one or two income sources that you would recommend persuing as a good starting point?

When you’re just getting started, the easiest one-off source of income is collaborations with brands. It’s easy and fast, it won’t give you a steady monthly income but it’s a great way to get started. Afterwards, we would definitely recommend thinking of launching your own products. This is much more work of course - but it will give a steady income over time. And there are so many products that bloggers can sell: think of travel guides, tailored trips, clothes, jewellery, workshops, courses, templates, photo filters, Instagram stickers, coaching sessions, etc.

Algarve Felesia, Portugal - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

I previously mentioned your clothing line, Atypique the Label. Could you share some backstory behind its conception and the process to get it through to the launch stage? What exciting plans do you have moving forward to take this amazing store to even greater heights in the future?

Atypique the Label is our little side project in which we have put a lot of love. We wanted to create high quality comfortable and sustainable clothes that inspire people to do what they want to do and get out of their comfort zone. We chose for a T-shirt and sweater line, where every piece has a special inspiring touch: a short power sentence in the neckline that makes your T-shirt unique. And every piece is made from 100% sustainably sourced organic cotton so we give something back to the environment too.

Launching a clothing line is not an easy straightforward thing especially when doing everything on your own. It took over a year to launch the first collection and finding the right supplier was probably the hardest part. We wanted to make sure that our products were of high quality and sustainable and ended up choosing a small family run manufacturing centre in the North of Portugal. Then we had to design the product, create samples, choose fabrics, etc. so it was a long time-consuming process but the launch made it all worth it.

We’re planning to add more products to the line soon - so stay tuned!

Munduk, Bali, Indonesia - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

For someone just starting out, or a young couple hoping to emulate your success, what encouragement and advice could you give them? And how can people use their time wisely during this pandemic to plan for their future and give themselves the best chance of making it as a creative?

In order to be successful in anything, we think the key is as always to work hard. The key to our success was that we were constantly striving to do better: take better pictures, be more creative, learning to edit better on a daily basis. And when you work hard eventually, it will always pay off.

This pandemic has been detrimental for everyone in so many ways, but it has also given us, and so many others, a great opportunity (we think) to take a step back and take the time to think about what you really want. It’s a good opportunity to use this time to prepare and equip yourself as best you can to achieve whatever it is that you do really want. If it’s becoming a blogger for example, then use this time to learn as much as you can about all the aspects of this job and how you can become the very best at doing it.

The Taj Mahal, India - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Thank you both so very much for letting us interview you! Where can people follow you on your socials and check out your blog and clothing range, presets, workshops, etc?

Thank you! It was a pleasure to participate. You can follow our adventures on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/backpackdiariez

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@backpackdiariez

Our Webshop: www.backpackdiariez.shop

Our travel blog: www.backpackdiariez.com

Velassaru Resort, Maldives - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

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Jamie Mackrill 3/7/20 Jamie Mackrill 3/7/20

Hong Kong based freelance photographer Harimao Lee discusses urban photography, travel, and Instagram

Harimao Lee is a freelance photographer based in Hong Kong. His creative take on urban photography sheds a unique perspective on life in Hong Kong and beyond. After starting a photography Instagram account in 2013, Harimao has amassed a following of over 370,000 and has worked with a large range of clients all over the world. Harimao shares his story with us and gives out some invaluable advice for hobbyist/aspiring photographers and travelers alike!

“I like to think of photography as an art of subtraction; don’t try to cram everything into the frame, the simplest thing can be the most significant”

Hello Harimao, we really appreciate you giving us your time to do this interview! How and when did you get into photography and have you always been a creative person?

I originally began experimenting with photography as a hobby in high school. It was only by chance that I was asked to help out with photography at a school event. I had no idea how to operate a camera at the time. I started learning, then persevered as it provided me with a creative outlet. My passion continued to grow and I built a solid technical grounding. I was also lucky to have access to professional equipment,

After I started my Instagram account in 2013, I began developing myself as a ‘photographer’ and exploring my style. Hong Kong is home to a vibrant community of photographers from whom I was able to learn new skills, exchange ideas, and collaborate with on projects.

I owe a lot to those who helped and inspired me in the beginning. I am forever grateful for the opportunities that I have had as a result. I was able to quit my full-time job in 2018 and focus on working as a photographer which has allowed me to balance my commercial and personal projects more evenly.

Although not exclusively, your Instagram feed is dominated by the street/architectural genre photography. Do you think that living in Hong Kong influenced your style of photography? Is photographing your local area a good place to start as a hobbyist photographer?

Hong Kong is my home and I have always been fascinated by the landscape of the city. I look to all sorts of things for creative inspiration, but I often find myself reaching within; Building on past experiences and memories, and coming up with a way of exploring those themes within my work. I am passionate about sharing my side of Hong Kong (beyond the guide books and postcards); The crowded markets, diverse architecture, rolling hills, the concrete, the glass, the neon.

The architectural diversity of the city will never bore me, I am drawn obsessively to the lines and structures of the buildings, the mismatch of new and old. I am always chasing the perfect angle and I don’t think I will ever be satisfied.

I think that Hong Kong photographers are very lucky that we live in such a vibrant environment. We have towering buildings, crowded streets, rolling hills, etc. The landscape caters to multiple styles and it is easy to find inspiration and experiment in this city. That being said, I would encourage anyone interested in photography to explore their local area. Try to picture it as if you were a stranger, and rediscover the environment.

Are there any other photography genres that you are interested in? Which one challenges you the most?

The more challenging aspects of my work usually arise when I’m doing commercial jobs, shooting products, or working with new models in an unfamiliar setting. I try and prioritize building a rapport between me and the client so that I can effectively channel their vision within my work.

Though I usually explore urban environments, I am fascinated by portrait photography. I am used to manipulating the natural environment, seeking out the best angles and lines, and drawing focus to my subjects from a distance. The challenges of portraiture involve interacting with the subject closely, finding the ideal pose, guiding the light, and accentuating the features of your model. I think it is important to continually push the boundaries of your ability, and engaging with new forms and styles is a crucial part of growing as a photographer.

How do you find the right building or skyline view to photograph? How much researching and planning goes into a location before you go there?

If I am shooting a popular skyline, such as Hong Kong or New York (somewhere people are familiar with) then it is crucial that I find an original way to capture that environment.

Planning and research are essential when chasing that perfect shot. I can spend hours getting lost in Google Maps jumping around on Street View, scouring YouTube, and searching on Instagram. Anything I can use to help familiarise myself with the location.

Whether I’m browsing online, with a guide, or exploring the area on foot, I think it is important to explore your environment thoroughly. Doing this allows you to find a unique perspective away from the crowded viewpoints and tourist sites. It also opens up the possibility to notice something that you (or others) may have otherwise overlooked.

Flatiron Building, Manhatten, New York City

How long do you spend at a location usually? Do you have in mind the type of shots that you want to get before heading to the location and do you have a good idea of what gear you will need to use?

It depends on my schedule for the day. If I have a lot of time, then I can spend anywhere between 1-3 hours in one location. I try to remember to tell myself “chance favours the prepared mind”. I always have some basic ideas from my research on what I want to explore. Though, of course, I cannot predict every variable, such as a change of weather or a sudden crowd. I often have to be flexible and adapt to whatever happens in the moment.

My prior research is key to streamlining this process, I should know what gear I need to bring and how long roughly I should be spending in each location. For every shoot, I bring my essential full-frame camera and my three go-to lenses, which usually cover all sizes of images I intend to shoot; the 11mm-24mm, 24mm-70mm, and the 70mm-200mm.

My current gear list includes:

Canon EOS R

Canon EF 11-24mm F/4

Canon RF 24-70mm F/2.8 IS

Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8 IS

Canon EF 35mm F/1.4

Sigma A 14 mm f/1.8 DG HSM

What does your editing process look like? How long do you typically spend in post-production to get a result that you are happy with and what programs do you use?

When I sit down to edit my work, I usually use Lightroom Classic and Photoshop CC for most tasks. I start by importing and (crucially) backing up all of the files.

I will then look to work with the best angle on each shot, making basic adjustments, tuning the colour and adjusting the orientation. This is particularly important for architectural photography, as I want to find the best way to accentuate the lines present in the structure and draw focus. I will often do further tweaking in Photoshop when I need to remove unwanted objects, format to HDR, combining shots into a panorama, etc.

Is there a certain image that you are particularly proud of? What was involved in getting the final result?

I wouldn’t say that there is a specific image that I am most proud of. I take pride in all of my work. Though some shots are more challenging than others, I am ultimately concerned with the end product more than the process. My biggest concern is whether I am personally happy with the outcome.

I think it is important not to be too self-critical, especially in the beginning. It is important to understand that you are constantly developing and learning. The more technical or challenging that a shot is or isn’t does not automatically correlate to it being a better photograph. Sometimes the simplest of circumstances produce the most striking evocative images.

I can happily say I love every photo that I have taken.

How do you approach your photography in regards to your mindset? Have you always approached it with a career/business attitude? What has been your perspective throughout your journey from beginner to a professional photographer?

I didn’t get into photography with any preconceived ideas about one day making it as a professional, or to attract a large following, or to get commercial work. I started the same way as most people, from an initial interest in capturing the way I looked at the world. This is the same thing that drives me to this day. I have always tried to express myself through my work and to provide a lens for my audience to see the subject through my eyes.

Obviously, it is important to be professional and conduct yourself appropriately in a business environment. Though I never expected to be able to do this as a career, I am forever thankful for those who have helped me on this journey and allowed me to realise my passion. It is this passion that I believe is central to keeping myself grounded and humble from the very first time I picked up a camera, to today.

What are your views on using Instagram as a photographer? Is it a viable way to get noticed and find work in 2020? Do you/would you use your Instagram page as a portfolio for prospective clients?

Instagram is definitely a great tool for inspiration and exposure, it is second-to-none as a platform to connect with other photographers/creatives and collaborate on a project. Especially when you are starting out and finding your feet, Instagram can be an excellent place to examine and analyse the work of others. It is important not to become too reliant on it, however, as it is only one of many great platforms to share your work and explore the work of others.

While it can give a great introduction to your work, I think it is essential if you want to stand out from the crowd, and show that you are serious as a professional, to keep an external portfolio of both your commercial and personal work outside of Instagram.

MahaNakhon skyscraper, Bangkok, Thailand

We are also interested in how you work with the models you shoot as a lot of your shots include them. Do you try and control as much of the positioning and posing as possible or does it work better for you in more of a casual setting where you let them walk around and try different poses on location for example?

Different photographers work in different ways with their subjects. Most of the time the models in my pictures are my friends, I will usually give some guidance on clothing, positioning, and posing, but I always try to keep things feeling natural. I will also let them freestyle and express themselves freely, and try to capture their personality in the shot. My role is to capture the best image I can and this can come from either method. Experimenting in this way means that if a shot isn’t turning out as planned, I can switch things up and try a different approach.

As a freelance photographer accustomed to traveling a lot for work, how do you adapt to unforeseen situations such as the current COVID-19 pandemic? Has it affected the amount of work that you are getting for example, and what are you doing to keep up your photography and stay busy in general?

I think it is important to stay grounded in times like these and to evaluate our relationships with social media. I always remind myself that Instagram is not the only thing in my life, it is just the platform that enables me to share my work with my audience. Things change fast in Hong Kong and it is important to be ready for any possibility, so it is inspiring to see the way creative communities have come together to cope with this disruption.

With the ongoing pandemic, I am currently unable to travel while things remain uncertain. I am lucky that I can still operate locally, as I know this certainly isn’t the case for many around the world. Architectural photography is my strength and there are still some clients requesting interior and exterior shoots for their properties.

What are some of your favourite cities to explore and photograph so far? Have you had any bad experiences when travelling?

I have been fortunate to travel to many countries that I wouldn’t have dreamed of when I first picked up a camera in high school. I am often drawn to places that don’t get as much interest. Most recently Iran is one my favourite places, the Persian domes that sit atop of the great mosques and the intricate detailing on the walls and ceilings make these sites architecturally fascinating to shoot.

When seeking out these exciting new destinations, planning is once again crucial. It is important to err on the side of caution in an unfamiliar environment and to pay close attention to the cultural norms and customs of a new country. There will always be bumps on the road and challenging situations while travelling, but I try to take everything in my stride and keep an open mind.

What advice could you offer to someone wanting to take better images of their local city or take better travel photos?

Set an alarm! Sunrise is undoubtedly the best time to get out and avoid the crowds. Remember that everything else can fall nicely into place but you cannot account for human behaviour. So, if you’re not looking for crowds then it is best to capture an environment at its most restive.

I like to think of photography as an art of subtraction; don’t try to cram everything into the frame, the simplest thing can be the most significant!

Where can people go to follow your journey on social media and what's the best way to contact you for prints? Thank you for your time Harimao and we wish you all the best for the future!

Of course! Thank you for having me!

You can find me on Instagram: @harimaolee

For prints or general enquires send me a message at harimao@ymail.com

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