Louisa Lu is a freelance model turned influencer who has transformed her passion for fashion and body positivity into a thriving career. 

Her entry into content creation was organic, driven by a desire to share her style and promote confidence. 

“I love teaching people about body confidence,” she explains in an exclusive interview with Net Influencer. This authentic approach has resonated with both audiences and brands, leading to collaborations with brands like Pretty Little Things, Urban Decay, and AllSaints. 

Instagram serves as Louisa’s primary platform, a choice she attributes to its visual nature and influencer-friendly features. 

“You get to follow all the brands, influencers, models, and photographers,” she notes. “Because I’m quite a visual person, Instagram is like a mood board that helps with styling and everything.” This platform preference highlights the importance of visual storytelling in fashion and beauty influencer marketing, a crucial consideration for brands looking to make an impact in these spaces.

Recounting her first collaboration with lingerie brand Look Solange, she reveals her proactive mindset: “I thought, I’m going to connect my work background, which is modeling, with the photographers I know and the studios as well, to help the brand get some nice pictures.” 

From Cold Emails to CommunityOne of the primary challenges Louisa encountered in her journey was connecting with major brands. 

“Is very challenging because they get lots of emails, lots of spam,” she explains. “There’s loads of people that just want free gifts and free items, but I genuinely want to help the brand.” 

Louisa’s approach to this challenge is both strategic and genuine. She focuses on brands that align with her style and values rather than pursuing every opportunity that comes her way. 

“I work with the brands that I love, that I feel like fit my style, rather than just try and get any brand that exists,” she says. 

When reaching out to brands, she emphasizes the importance of personalized communication. She crafts tailored messages that demonstrate her familiarity with and appreciation for the brand. 

“I usually write them a letter to say, ‘Hi, I’m Louisa, I have this experience, I love your products,” she explains. She also articulates the value she can bring to the partnership, including her audience demographics and content creation capabilities.

Louisa says her partnership with Sintillate Talent Agency has been a game-changer in her journey. This agency has facilitated connections with brands and provided her with a supportive community of fellow influencers. 

“I’ve met some new people, networked with everyone, which is so lovely and I feel like they are very supportive, it’s a community,” she shares. The agency relationship has proven beneficial beyond just securing brand deals. 

Louisa describes the sense of camaraderie among the influencers, with group chats serving as platforms for sharing personal experiences, recommending brands, and offering mutual support. This network has been instrumental in Louisa’s professional and personal growth.

Perhaps most significantly, her creator journey has greatly impacted her personal development. “It’s helped with my self-confidence, it’s quite rewarding in that aspect,” she reflects. She describes herself as shy and reserved, but her experiences in the influencer world have pushed her out of her comfort zone. 

“I never used to go to parties or events or social networking events… But since I’ve joined Sintillate Talent, I’ve been invited to a lot of events, and it’s definitely boosted my confidence.”

Living the Dream

For Louisa, one of the most gratifying aspects of her work is the opportunity to collaborate with brands she has admired since her youth. She cites her collaboration with PrettyLittleThing as a prime example of this journey from fan to partner. 

“I’ve been a fan of them since I was a kid. I used to buy their clothes, and suddenly I end up having a collaboration with them and it’s really exciting,” she explains. 

Similarly, her experience with Urban Decay makeup illustrates how long-held aspirations can translate into professional opportunities in the influencer space. “I used to always buy their stuff and imagine ‘I’d love to do a photoshoot for them one day or model with them,” she recalls. 

This perspective on brand collaborations as the realization of personal dreams adds depth to the influencer-brand relationship, and it continues to drive Louisa’s ambitions for future partnerships and projects. 

“One of my goals is to work with some more big brands,” she states. Louisa also aims to organize collaborations that bring together multiple brands and creative professionals. 

“My next project, and my next goal is to collaborate with a couple of brands together,” Louisa shares. “I think it’s nice when brands connect towards each other as well.” 

Regarding platform expansion, Louisa is considering broadening her presence to include YouTube and TikTok.

Photo credit: Daniel Taylor Studios

Standing Out in a Crowded Space: Louisa’s Strategies for Influencer Success

Louisa emphasizes the importance of proactively approaching brands and joining an agency to facilitate these connections. 

“Try to approach brands and join an agency to help you to connect with the brands,” she advises. This two-pronged approach recognizes the value of personal initiative and the benefits of professional representation in the influencer space.

On the technical side, Louisa stresses the importance of creating a suitable environment for content creation. 

“Try to have a nice space to create content in because if the place is messy, you can see it in the background,” she notes. This attention to detail extends to lighting and equipment, with Louisa recommending ring lights and Bluetooth remotes for self-shooting. She also advocates for mastering editing skills, specifically mentioning CapCut as a useful tool for creating content. 

“Learning photography is also a good idea to learn about lighting and angles,” she advises. Louisa believes this skill set can significantly enhance the quality of content, making it more appealing to both audiences and potential brand partners.

Perhaps most importantly, Louisa underscores the necessity of developing a unique personal style. 

“Everyone has their own style because it’s so competitive nowadays, isn’t it?”, she says, “so you have to stand out.” This advice speaks to the saturated nature of the influencer market and the need for creators to differentiate themselves to catch the attention of brands and audiences alike. 

Louisa also touches on the importance of authentic brand alignment. “If you love the brand, that helps as well, because if you’re not that interested in the brand, it reflects on your application,” she observes.