We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica Bubb. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

With experience in both photography and painting, I’ve often found it challenging to decide which career path to pursue. Thankfully, I discovered Photoshop early on and began integrating it into my photography, blending elements of painting and photography so I didn’t have to pick just one. This sparked an enduring passion for Photoshop, which I continue to explore and learn about to this day.

Many artists tend to focus on either painting or photography, but my unique path, though unintentional, has allowed me to break away from traditional industry trends. I aspire to inspire others to explore their own unconventional routes.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a content creator and Photoshop artist managing the @rusticbones Instagram account. Though I’ve been creating art since childhood, I launched my Instagram account when I became dissatisfied with college and studying a “conventional” subject. I wanted to return to my creative roots. I began posting in 2015, and from there, things naturally evolved.

Today, I work with brands to create innovative content that breaks away from the typical industry style.

It has taken years of effort, but I’m incredibly proud of my progress in mastering Photoshop. It’s a complex program, and it might be impossible to completely master it, but I’m continually learning something new every day.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My journey has truly been a roller coaster. My following hasn’t always been stable, so I’m sharing the ups and downs honestly.

In 2015, when I first started, I gained 10,000 followers in my first year, and by the second year, I had 100,000. It was rapid growth at first, but it slowed down over the next few years.

Things got challenging with the rise of TikTok and the impact of the pandemic. I didn’t adapt quickly enough to the changing landscape, which led to a drop in my growth, even losing followers. I had to adapt to regain momentum. While follower count isn’t everything, it’s crucial for my business, and this taught me the importance of being flexible and evolving with trends.

To build a strong social media presence today, video content like reels and TikToks is critical. Unfortunately, static photos alone won’t attract as many followers, if that’s your goal. Learning to edit videos and make them engaging is a vital skill for success.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Absolutely! Understanding your value is key. I like to use Social Bluebook, which helps you calculate your recommended rates to share with brands. Knowing your worth is critical in this industry, and I’ve noticed that many creators tend to underprice their work. The platform also provides useful metrics like engagement rate and average likes, which you can include in your media kit.

Contact Info:

• Website: rusticbones.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rusticbones/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessicabubb
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessica.bubb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits
n/a, all my images