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Home / Lifestyle

The Instagram photo that changed a mum's life

By Hannah Paine
news.com.auΒ·
8 Dec, 2019 12:52 AM6 mins to read

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Instagram influencer and mum Eleesha Quinn. Photo / Instagram

Instagram influencer and mum Eleesha Quinn. Photo / Instagram

For Eleesha Quinn, posting photos on Instagram started as just a fun way to pass the time.

The young mother had moved with her husband to a small country town and starting taking photos of her children.

"Where we lived there's literally only like a thousand people there, there's nothing really there to do. So of course having new babies you want to take photos of them," she told news.com.au.

Ms Quinn would dress her daughters in matching handmade clothes from local boutiques and soon her efforts caught the attention of one company β€” and her life changed.

"I was posting these pictures and one day tagged I tagged the company that I'd bought the dresses from, they loved it, they wanted to feature it on their page," she said.

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View this post on Instagram

WEEKEND VIBES πŸ’“πŸ’“πŸ’“ we’ve been playing dolls and dress ups all weekend and I tell you what.. I’m not mad about it. The girls have discovered the new capsule chix toys and are loving them so much. I’ve actually being playing stylist myself and mixing and matching their outfits πŸ˜‚πŸ™ŒπŸΌ They were actually lucky enough to score a CTR+ALT+MAGIC limited edition mermaid doll in their pack (which they tell me is a rare find 😍) Have your kids joined the hype of the capsule chic dolls yet? Great Christmas gift idea πŸ™ŒπŸΌπŸŽ„#moosetoys #capsulechix @capsulechix #spin . . . . . #siblinghoodlove #myview #matchymatchy #twining #familymatching #matchingfamily #letsgosomewhere #bestofmom #ig_motherhood #unitedinmotherhood #momswithcameras #momsofinstagram #pixel_kids #childhoodunplugged #magicofchildhood #motherhoodsimplified #motherhoodmoments #inspiremothers #theeverydayproject #letthekids #mywild #humansofjoy #lovelysquares #thehappynow #mynameismama #darlingmovement

A post shared by β€’ E L E E S H A Q U I N N β€’ (@the.quinn.girls) on Nov 23, 2019 at 12:46pm PST

"It just sort of snowballed from there, from then people seeing my girls on this particular company's page, then they would get in touch with me so they could send things to the girls. That's how it all started."

When they returned to Bundaberg four and a half years ago Ms Quinn realised her growing Instagram page could become her full time job.

She began getting in photos alongside her daughters, seven-year-old Logan, five-year-old Aleeia and three-year-old Isla.

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SWIM....EAT....REPEAT 🌴 Bali life has us feeling so relaxed I’m not sure I’m ready to go back to reality yet πŸ˜‚πŸ™ˆ Is it just me or do you guys get the travel bug too. I’ve searched the local realestate prices dreaming of buying my own villa 🀣 researched locations for our next trip (gonna be hard to top this incredible island) and thought of changing to home schooling most days on this trip πŸ˜‚ Do some fun research and head over to @stayzau website and check out their international debut with over 190 locations across the world that you can book through stayz. Also check out our BALI HIGHLIGHT for all the details on this gorgeous villa we stayed in πŸ’› #stayzau #stayzgoesinternational

A post shared by β€’ E L E E S H A Q U I N N β€’ (@the.quinn.girls) on Sep 22, 2019 at 3:45am PDT

"We moved back here so my eldest could start school," she said.

"I started getting in pictures with the girls at the beach, because we live at the beach, and my page went gangbusters from there. I think people just liked the real life style of it."

Today she has nearly 200,000 followers and works with big name brands such as Seed, Bonds and Cotton On Kids.

"It's really fun, I'm able to actually pursue my passions of fashion, photography, travel, all things interiors, life that I love doing," Ms Quinn said.

Discover more

Lifestyle

She was pregnant and terribly itchy. Something was going very wrong.

08 Dec 07:18 PM

"To be able to do it on an everyday basis for my job, it's great."

Using Instagram, Ms Quinn documents her family's adventures too, which includes trips to places like Bali, as well as a seriously glam makeover she did of a Bunnings cubby recently.

But one of the toughest parts of her work is something other mums can relate too β€” dressing three girls requires a lot of time in the laundry.

"It's mainly just the ironing of the clothes, planning what I want to go with what," Ms Quinn said with a laugh.

"All mums do that when they're planning to dress their kids, it's no different, just I take a picture at the end."

View this post on Instagram

As far as I’m concerned , Leopard is a neutral πŸ†πŸ˜‚πŸ™ŒπŸΌ . New collection from @seedheritage online NOW. And keep your eyes on my stories next Thursday for something very exciting happening with these guys😁 Oh and hats off to all the parents struggling even though it’s only Monday πŸ€¦πŸΌβ€β™€οΈ I FEEL YOU πŸ€ͺ #seedheritage . . . . #siblinghoodlove #myview #matchymatchy #twining #familymatching #matchingfamily #letsgosomewhere #bestofmom #ig_motherhood #unitedinmotherhood #momswithcameras #momsofinstagram #pixel_kids #childhoodunplugged #magicofchildhood #motherhoodsimplified #motherhoodmoments #inspiremothers #theeverydayproject #letthekids #mywild #justbaby #humansofjoy #raisingmytribe #lovelysquares #thehappynow #mynameismama #darlingmovement

A post shared by β€’ E L E E S H A Q U I N N β€’ (@the.quinn.girls) on Sep 2, 2019 at 3:35am PDT

While Ms Quinn spends time planning and thinking about what kind of photo she wants to take next, the "girls just jump in it and then there's the shot done".

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However Ms Quinn is strict about when she takes photos.

"I always say to anyone that wants to work with us that obviously the kids come first and they are my children. I can't guarantee if they don't want to be in a photo that day I'm not going to take the photo that day," Ms Quinn said.

"I'm never going to make my kids do anything they don't want to do."

Part of this means making sure brands understand she might not be able to deliver at a certain time.

"I am very much always open and honest with the people I work with and say, 'sorry I will 100 per cent try my best and meet your guidelines and deadline, but if it can't happen it can't happen, I'm not going to make my kids do something that isn't happening'.

"If they're in a bad mood or if they're tired I'm never going to ask them too, it's all just a balancing act."

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