Get That Look: The Influencer Glow Shot
Have you also seen those absolutely gorgeous glowing shots of influencers like @lilymaymac, plastered across White Fox Boutiques grid. That darker background makes them pop, and the flash pulls your eyes straight to the main event — the influencer themself! But when you try to recreate that look it so often feels flatter, the colours are off, and it just doesn’t hit the same. That’s exactly why we’re here: to give you a quick guide with the best camera options to nail that glow, a couple of fun out-of-the-box picks if you’re on a budget or just want to play around, and a super simple 5-step glow-up you can try the second you get the camera in your hands capturing your own aesthetic photos.
Why does the shot work?
The magic behind that glowing shot comes down to four things: lighting, framing, perspective, and colour. Below are some quick simple tips you can do in the moment to get that shot just right!
Lighting
Lighting is everything. It’s what makes the shot dynamic and gives your skin that irresistible glow. The trick is to keep any room lights behind you switched off and face your camera toward the light source. That way you don’t get washed out, and your edges and shape really stand out. Then comes the secret ingredient: a strong flash close to the camera’s lens. That harsh pop of light bounces off the curves of your face and skin, pulling the eye straight to you.
Framing
We don’t want to be swimming in an endless void — the framing gives so much life and story to a shot. Aim to fill about a third of the photo, and make sure you’re not cutting off at the joints. Either show the whole thing or crop cleanly, no half cut-off heads or hands here! And play with what’s around you — maybe a sunset glowing in the background, maybe that iced matcha sitting pretty in the foreground. It’s those little extras that give the picture its vibe.
Perspective
Perspective can change everything without you even moving a muscle. If your fit is cute, shoot from slightly above eye-line — it adds instant cuteness. If you’re rocking a dress and heels, drop the angle to hip level or lower and watch how it makes your legs look miles long. Bonus: in group shots, these dramatic angles can also hide mismatched heights. Distance matters too. Stand too close and features can warp — noses stretch, ears look bigger. Stand too far and everything flattens out. A safe sweet spot is 2–4 metres, or about 3–6 steps back. Take a couple shots at different distances and see which one flatters you most.
Colour
Colour is the secret sauce. Most of these glowing shots lean warm and nostalgic, though some people love a cooler, neutral look. Not every camera makes it easy to control, but you can help yourself out by shooting during Golden Hour when the light is naturally golden and dreamy, or by finding warm lights around you. Many newer cameras also come with built-in film filters — an easy way to get that nostalgic vibe straight out of camera.
Camera Recommendations
Pretty much any camera can take a decent shot, but some just make life a whole lot easier. What we’re really chasing here is simple: a handy zoom or lens, something compact enough to carry everywhere, a built-in flash for that glow, and an easy way to warm up the colours. But these are the best cameras we'd recommend when posting your latest fits on Instagram.
Best Options
These are the dream picks — unbox them, pop in a memory card, flick the flash up, set your colour to “warm,” and you’re ready to glow. No fuss, no stress, just instant results.
X100VIThe X100VI is a cult favourite for a reason. Small, stylish, and packed with Fuji’s dreamy film simulations, it gives you warm nostalgic colours straight out of camera. The built-in flash nails that glowing skin highlight, and the fixed lens keeps things simple. Downside? The price — this one’s an investment. But if you want that effortless “film look” with zero editing, it delivers. |
G7X Mark IIILet’s just say it: the G7X Mark III is practically built for this look. Sharp lens, great in low light, and a flash that hits at just the right angle. It doesn’t give you much control over colour, but the natural profile is already warm and flattering. The only catch? Everyone wants one. They’re so popular that stock often sells out fast, so you might be waiting months unless you’re lucky. |
Good With Adjustments
These cameras can still nail the look, but they need a little extra love — a quick tweak in settings, a filter, or a small add-on before you’re ready to post.
E-M10 Mark IVThe E-M10 Mark IV has a slightly different vibe. It comes with a built-in flash and a big choice of cute little pancake lenses, so it’s flexible and easy to carry around. The trade-off is colour — it’s a bit less punchy out of the box and takes a little more planning to get that warm nostalgic glow. The built-in flash can also feel a bit flat at times, but you can work around it by stepping back and zooming in, or even adding a tiny clip-on flash (like the Godox IM20/30) for extra pop. A practical all-rounder, just not as instantly effortless as the others. |
X-M5 with a Pancake LensThis one’s a bit more custom, but it’s clever. Pair the X-M5 with a slim pancake lens like the TTArtisan 27mm and it’s small enough to live in your bag all day. Compared to the official Fuji version, it’s way cheaper and actually easier to find — the Fuji is more expensive and often out of stock. Sure, the TTArtisan isn’t as sharp and the autofocus is slower, but for this style of posed, nostalgic shots those quirks almost make it better. The only catch? No flash. Luckily, adding a tiny Godox IM20 or IM30 gives you all the glow you need, and they’re cheap and pocket-sized. |
Sony RX100 VIIOn paper, the RX100 VII is a mini powerhouse. Compact, big zoom, and a solid pop-up flash — it ticks a lot of boxes. The only thing to know is Sony colours lean cooler and flatter, so they don’t always give that warm influencer glow straight away. It’s an easy fix with a quick tweak or filter, and if you’re willing to put in that tiny bit of effort, this camera rewards you with some of the sharpest shots you’ll get in this size. |
Niche Options
These absolutely have the tools to work, but either because they are hard to get a hold of, others on this list fitting better, being a more unusual camera; or some combination of these and other reasons we wouldn't recommend these as the best first option but they have reasons to choose them
Kodak FZ55 - Get the look on a budgetSpecs don’t tell the full story here. The FZ55 is small, light, has a flash, and is cheap — but if you’re clever with angles and lighting, it can get you 90% of the look for a fraction of the cost. It does take a little extra thought, but for a budget pick it punches well above its weight. |
Fujifilm Half-Frame - Toy not a toolThis one’s niche but super on-trend. The half-frame format spits out vertical photos ready for socials, and the retro-inspired design is pure fun. It does have a small flash and Fuji’s film profiles, so it ticks those boxes. The catch is price — you’re mostly paying for design and vibe over raw hardware. But for the right person, that’s the magic: it’s fun, aesthetic, and makes you want to keep shooting just to “fill the roll.” |
Canon SX740 - All rounder cameraThe SX740 is a bit of a sleeper pick. Built-in flash, massive zoom, and a friendlier price than the premium names. It doesn’t have fancy film presets, so the photos are more straightforward and won’t wow quite like the G7X. But if stock is available, it’s a smart way to get the look without spending big. |
Quick Shot Guide
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Set your colour look. Pick “Warm,” “Sunset,” or “Cloudy.” If your camera has film looks like “Nostalgic” or “Classic,” choose your fave and save it.
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Turn the flash on. That little pop of light makes skin glow and keeps the background darker.
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Make it a touch darker. Find the +/– or sun icon and nudge it toward minus so you stand out more.
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Step back and zoom. Too close distorts, too far flattens. 3–5 steps back is a safe bet.
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Play with angles. Try eye level, slightly above, and slightly below. Pick the one that makes your skin shine and shows you off best.
