Last month we shared an Instagram photo and mentioned it wasn’t just an ordinary snapshot — both of us actually had to put on makeup for it. That shot was taken on the set of a photoshoot for Richmond Magazine’s Best & Worst issue, their annual roundup of reader-voted favorites that ranges from the familiar (Best New Restaurant) to the quirky (TV Anchor Who Never Ages).
To our surprise, we’d been voted Best Local Instagram Feed. When Richmond Magazine called, we honestly thought there must be a mistake. But it was real, and they included a short blurb about our feed in the issue. Even more flattering was the invitation to be photographed for the feature.
Being in front of a camera without the comfort of our usual home backdrop felt strange at first, but the set made it easy. Photographer Matt Licari and set designers Stephanie and Chad Jacobson created a striking black-and-white wall that served as a bold, graphic substitute for our typical environment. The whole concept played off Instagram culture, so the shoot essentially involved us pretending to take selfies. The magazine’s creative director provided the phone used for the images — our own phone cases were judged a bit too distracting — and the screen content was composited in afterwards during retouching.
Matt sent along several outtakes from the session, which we’ve shared here. They’re a fun reminder that not every expression we make involves a wide-open mouth, though admittedly many do. Some frames show Sherry holding the phone while I attempted an awkward squat to get the right angle. It’s a small illustration of what being a model sometimes requires: compromise on comfort in exchange for a good shot.
We’re grateful to Steve at Richmond Magazine for inviting us to participate and to Matt Licari for letting us mess around in front of his lens. Most of all, we want to thank the locals who surprised us by voting for our feed. It’s encouraging to know people enjoy the images and stories we share. As a joke on set, we asked what prize came with the win — a trophy, a sash, a novelty check, or maybe the key to the city. Whatever it turns out to be, you can be sure we’ll Instagram a photo of it.
The experience was a fun mix of flattering attention and playful absurdity: makeup, posed selfies, and a crisp studio backdrop replacing our familiar corners of home. It also highlighted how an online community — even one centered around quick, everyday images — can lead to unexpected recognition beyond the app itself.
To anyone who follows our account or voted for us in Richmond Magazine’s Best & Worst issue, thank you. Being named Best Local Instagram Feed is an honor we didn’t expect, and we’re excited to keep sharing moments, both polished and imperfect. And to Matt, Stephanie, Chad, and the magazine team: thanks for putting together a memorable shoot and for letting us be part of it. We had a great time, learned a bit about posing, and now have a few more photos to laugh about — and a few to be proud of.
Photographs by Matt Licari, courtesy of Richmond Magazine.