Why Pop-ups Are Popular and What You Can Expect To Find At Each One

We’ve been to plenty of pop-ups primarily because I believe in celebrating the everyday and pop-ups spark so much creativity, fun and delight!  They whisk you out of the mundane and shake you up with the extraordinary.  Plus they make for a surplus of Instagram-able pictures!  I’ve collected so many great shots along the way and will share some recent ones today.  (That rhymed).  And I don’t know about you but I’ve discovered patterns along the way.  Here are the 8 elements that make for a popular pop-up!

  1. Mirrored/infinity room – Imagine walking into a spectacular, mirrored room, made to look like it goes on forever.  Then imagine you’re told you only have 60 seconds in there.  How would you spend your time?  That’s the challenge you’re given at many of these pop-ups.  And the pressure is ON to snap that Instagram-worthy shot within the short time given.  Here are a few examples.  Name of pop-up where the shot was taken is listed after each picture.
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    Happy Go Lucky pop-up

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    National Geographic Picasso pop-up

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    Sunday Riley pop-up

  2. Balloons.  Nothing screams celebration like a bunch of balloons so it’s no wonder so many pop-ups decorate with them in bunches.  It just feels like an instant party and who doesn’t love that?
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    Paypal pop-up

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    Happy Go Lucky pop-up

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    Happy Place pop-up

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    Geronimo’s pop-up

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    Geronimo’s pop-up on another week

  3. Floral art – another mood-enhancing pop-up trick is to add an abundance of flowers, the more creative the better.  Sometimes, they’re shaped to resemble something else for a wow effect, sometimes there’s just an endless supply to surround yourself with for your next selfie.
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    Paypal pop-up

    Happy Place pop-up

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    Happy Go Lucky pop-up

  4. Ball pit – Who doesn’t love jumping into a ball pit?  This activation turns everyone into a big kid.  Who can resist jumping in especially when the ball pit is a pot of gold, or at the end of a giant pink slide, or part of a snow globe??
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    Happy Place pop-up 

    Sunday Riley pop-up

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    Google Pop-up 

     

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    Lay’s pop-up

    Candytopia pop-up

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    Cat pop-up 

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    Egg House pop-up

  5. Supersized items– Super pop-ups always have a supersized surprise.  Whether it’s a giant clam shell you can sit in and hold a pearl larger than you head, or whether it’s a ginormous rubber ducky that couldn’t fit in anyone’s tub, they inspire playfulness and tons of posing.
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    Happy Go Lucky pop-up

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    Happy Place pop-up

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    Lay’s pop-up

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    The Egg House pop-up

    Happy Place pop-up

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    Candytopia pop-up

  6. Colorful bathtub – I know, I know, a bathtub?  So what, but when you see it in a photogenic setting in a vibrant, never-before seen color, something takes over you and you must get in!  Trust me, I’ve seen the lines…
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    Happy Place pop-up

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    Sunday Riley pop-up

  7. Millennial pink – the trendiest of all colors nowadays invokes such joy and comes in shades of blush, to rose quartz. In any case, everyone likes to be pretty in pink. It’s universally flattering and can nowadays be seen everywhere – including popups!
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    Happy go Lucky Pop-up

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    Sunday Riley pop-up

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    Egg House pop-up

    Happy Go Lucky pop-up 

  8. Psychedelic spaces – wanna get wild?  Check out the latest pop-up cuz there’s bound to be a crazy, graphic printed room where the floor, walls and/or ceiling endlessly scream a bold print that leave you with your jaw on the ground.
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    Happy Go Lucky pop-up

    Candytopia pop-up

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    Amaze pop-up

See what I mean?? Did I miss any other recurring themes and motifs?  And how about you?  How do you like pop-ups?

Click here to see more from Geronimo’s balloon explosion at Lincoln Center or here for Amaze’s black and white installation, or here for some 2017 pop-ups.

How to Plan Perfect Paris Pictures – 5 Top Tips

Ever see a friend’s Instagram feed or travel photos and envy them for their Instagram-able quality?  What sets the average travelgram apart and makes it go from basic to EXTRA?  Having spent too much time on Instagram for my own good, I’ve picked up on a few things or two.  And having just recently returned from a fabulous family vacation to Paris, I’ll share my top tips for planning out your very own picture-perfect Parisian pics!

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  1. Find your inspiration by following your favorite photographers /bloggers from that destination.   Here are the Instagram feeds that I followed for inspiration just to give you a start.  They showcase truly awe-inspiring photographs that both challenge and inspire you to up your own photography game while giving you great ideas in terms of locations, angles, styling and more!   @bisousparis   @unlimitedparis   @videoparis  @morgylh  @parisinfourmonths 
  2. Create a bucket list of what you consider the most photogenic spots.  After following your favorite Instagram-ers you’ll inevitably find new hot spots, and places to see.  Add them to your bucket list!  And start thinking about your shot list. Do you want to make sure you get a family shot in front of the Eiffel Tower?  Do you now want a close up of your dessert with the Parisian streets in the background just like you saw your favorite Instagram-er do?  Save your favorite inspirational photos on IG as part of your Paris photo bucket list by using that save to collection banner button!  In doing this research, you’ll start noticing that there are picturesque spots not typically in your travel guide that you’ll want to hunt down.

    I didn’t originally know for instance about this famous wall of love that showcases the phrase, “I love you” in 311 languages in the Jehan Rictus garden square in Montmartre.   And it was right by a toddler play ground and carousel which made it a fun stop for the gram AND for my child!  Another spot, I’m so glad I added to my photo bucket list was Rue Crémieux located between rue de Lyon and rue de Bercy.
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    It’s the dreamiest, rainbow row that will transport you out of Paris’s normal, neutral surroundings into a unicorn-like wonderland!  Although it’s ranked only 265 on TripAdvisor amongst 1386 Parisian attractions, I’d rate this #1 in terms of getting your gram-worthy street style shot
  3. Time it. This is a two-part tip.  Firstly, look into the best time of the year and day to get those coveted shots.  When we traveled to Japan for instance, we researched the prime period for cherry blossoms to bloom cuz I desperately wanted to capture that iconic Japanese cherry blossom scene.  If it’s Eiffel tower shots with flowering trees that you’re hoping for, plan seasonally.  Also think about the “golden hour,”  the period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer, making for photographically perfect lighting.  Lastly, don’t just point and shoot.  Wait for the minute that the people seemingly disappear or shuffle back far enough and make way for a less crowded shot like we did below.  Your patience will be rewarded!
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    Finally, click only when your subject is ready and you’ll be thankful later when it comes to sorting through the hundreds of photos from the day!
  4. Coordinate it.  If you’ve read through our blog at all, you know we’re fans of coordinated looks!  palace royale, paris palace, instagramable paris, mommy and me, mommy and me outfits, paris with kids, palais de royal
    If you’re planning to create that frame-worthy shot, make sure to think ahead about not only coordinating each other’s outfits to avoid a clashing look but also to think about the background setting and about how you can best compliment that too.
  5. Pose and prop it.  For our Paris photo shoots, we used berets, baguettes, and even Juliet’s stuffed poodle as touristy props to emphasize the destination’s French icons. instagramable paris, paris most instagramable, paris picture
    But you could also use a beautiful bouquet of flowers, balloons or even your morning crepe as a photo prop.  Another pro tip is to study other people’s poses.  By doing so, you’ll get new ideas on flattering ways to stand or even play with your background (have you see people seemingly hold the Eiffel Tower behind them between two fingers or on top of their hand for instance?)  Memorizing some ready-to-go poses will have you feeling more confident and able to naturally find ways to mix it up.

What are YOUR favorite photography tips for capturing that gram-worthy shot?? Tell me in the comments or share this post with a friend who would appreciate this!

For more tips on how to get Instagram-able photos in general, click here!

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