She makes an enviable living capturing perfectly-arranged, beautifully-set-up photographs from some of the world’s most exotic locations.
Lisa Smith, who hails from the Gold Coast in Queensland, has turned her spontaneous travels into a lucrative career by blogging and sharing her postcard-like snapshots to more than 150,000 Instagram followers.
From eating Gelato ice cream in the streets of Italy to riding camels through the Sahara desert – the 28-year-old has been leading a fulfilling life out of her suitcase many dream about.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the young woman – who now lives in Byron Bay in New South Wales – has given a glimpse into her travels – and how her iPhone images spiralled into a sumptuous Instagram feed.
Meet Lisa Smith – she’s an aspiring travel blogger from Queensland (pictured in Positano on southern Italy’s Amalfi Coast)
The blogger has given a glimpse into her travels – and how her iPhone images spiralled into a sumptuous Instagram feed (pictured in Byron Bay, NSW)
She makes an enviable living sharing photos from some of the world’s most exotic locations (pictured in Mykonos in Greece)
The adventurer has turned her spontaneous travels into a lucrative career by blogging (eating Gelato ice cream in Italy)
‘I never thought my Instagram or blog could turn into anything more than just my love of sharing beautiful pictures. I have always loved making things in life look nice, whether it be a picnic or my home,’ she said.
‘I just love exploring new places and seeing beautiful landscapes, cities and meeting new people. But from a business perspective, it means opening up new opportunities and creating great new content.’
Joining the popular trend of travel blogging, Lisa started exploring the world with her fiancé Jamie Green about a year ago – and she’s already planning to have their children in tow when they start a family.
‘My fiancé Jamie and I absolutely love travelling and always have,’ she said.
‘I think [settling down] is something that we will weave into our lives no matter where we live or if we make a family, which I would love to do in the near future.
‘We are getting married at the end of this month. Ideally, we want our children to be little travellers, too.
‘Our dream is to own a home as well, but we hope with both of our work lifestyles, the possibility of travelling is still something we’re able to do after we make some hectic financial commitments like buying a home.’
What started off with her fiancé snapping candid shots with an iPhone, has now turned into a glittering career on social media – as she revealed the secrets that goes on behind the camera lens.
‘My fiancé takes all of my photos now, it just started with iPhone photos for me,’ she said.
‘But as things grew he really got into photography and now shoots other brands campaigns as well. For me, it is about lots of elements – the setting, the styling of the outfit, the way I pose, the filter and grading on the image.’
Joining the popular trend of travel blogging, Lisa started exploring the world with her fiancé Jamie Green (pictured together)
Lisa said they usually travel on a budget – but they would treat themselves to a nice meal wherever they travel to (pictured enjoying a rooftop breakfast in Athens)
What started off with her fiancé snapping images with an iPhone, has now turned into a lucrative career (pictured in Italy)
The 28-year-old has been leading a fulfilling life out of her suitcase many dream about – and she gets paid doing it too!
She makes an enviable living capturing beautifully-set-up photographs from some of the world’s most exotic locations (pictured in the Sahara desert)
Lisa said they usually travel on a budget – but they would treat themselves to a nice meal wherever they travel to.
‘Basically we like to make sure we’re experiencing a place but you don’t always have to do a top level,’ she said.
‘There’s always a cheap place to eat if you research it. I think it is important to grant yourself one amazing meal in any place you go – experience the culture or food as much as you can on a budget.
‘But definitely give yourself a meal to remember. Really, once you’re there and paid for accommodation, food is the next priority.
‘There is always free touristy stuff to do in each city, do your research and you can find it. When I travel, I prefer to just take it slow and try and soak it in slowly, like a local, people watching and really feeling the moments.
‘I can’t say I have made too many sacrifices.’
The young woman, who now lives in Byron Bay, finds time to go travelling and blogging (pictured in Mykonos in Greece)
Chasing waterfalls and smelling the flowers are some of the tourist activities Lisa gets to do on her incredible adventures
Exploring the Joshua Tree National Park in southeastern California – Lisa in the desert as she unwinds in a hot tub
Supporting her lifestyle through her blog, Lisa – who has travelled to eight countries so far this year – made it possible to sustain her next adventures after her sumptuous Instagram account attracted much attention.
‘My photos started getting re-posted,’ she said.
‘I guess because it was things that people wanted to try themselves – like an outdoor movie night or picnic – and from there my following began to grow.
‘We work with brands on projects while travelling, and travelling actually can earn us more money because we are able to pitch to brands about our destinations and getting their designs shot in a nice unique place.
‘In the world of Instagram and social media, content is everything and the brands I work with just love having images they can use across their platforms, especially if it is somewhere beautiful and exotic.
‘It spiked through working with big brands and has continued to grow.’
The 28-year-old woman has travelled to eight countries so far this year (pictured in Positano on southern Italy’s Amalfi Coast)
Supporting her lifestyle through her blog, Lisa – who has travelled to eight countries so far this year – made it possible to sustain her next adventures after her sumptuous Instagram account attracted much attention
Lisa packs light when she goes travelling – and she sometimes bring a ‘hand held steamer for those more extravagant items’ (pictured in Morocco in North Africa)
She said one of the most ‘funniest’ yet ‘typical’ challenges she faces is trying to connect to the internet aboard, especially at a big event like Coachella when there’s tens of thousands of festivalgoers
So what’s it like living out of a suitcase and what does she usually pack?
‘Sometimes it can be hard,’ she admits.
‘You get over what is in there or as you work through it, towards the end of a trip it all kind of feels like it needs a good wash, even if its all clean,’ she said, laughing.
‘For me I like to work with some cute basics and stuff that doesn’t need ironing like linens, soft rayon, and of course a few swimsuits and bikinis. Oh and a hand held steamer for those more extravagant items.’
She said one of the most ‘funniest’ yet ‘typical’ challenges she faces is trying to connect to the internet aboard.
‘Trying to do an Instagram at Coachella when there’s so many people there trying to upload their own stories or posts and it just wouldn’t work… makes it really stressful and hard to be in the moment sometimes,’ she said.
‘But that is a first world problem if you ever heard one.’
Reading a book in Positano on southern Italy’s Amalfi Coast as Lisa soaks in the glorious sunshine from her balcony
when she’s planning her next big trip, Lisa usually works part time for gypsy-inspired women’s fashion store
She admits she misses home when she’s away – but having her fiance with her allows her to ‘feel like home wherever we are’
Since embarking on her adventures, Lisa said the response from her family and friends have been overwhelming
Since embarking on her adventures, Lisa said the response from her family and friends have been overwhelming.
‘Some people really don’t understand how you can travel and work because of an Instagram account,’ she said.
‘But people are generally happy for you, intrigued and supportive. I get along so well with my family so they are just so supportive of each other and our endeavour – whatever makes us happy.
‘My friends, a lot of them are actually in similar fields so we totally get what work goes into what we do – yes, we get to go to exotic places and it we feel so lucky.
‘But it also takes lots of work while you’re there and also to build a profile to begin with. I can’t say I had many people who doubted me, but it all happened quite quickly.
‘In fact, I would say the opposite in that I am fortunate to have had so many supporters. Very lucky.’
She admits she does miss home when she’s away.
‘But I am usually with my fiancé as he is my photographer so it can feel like home wherever we are,’ she said.
She makes an enviable living capturing beautifully-set-up photographs from some of the world’s most exotic locations
When she’s planning her next big trip, Lisa usually works part time for gypsy-inspired women’s fashion store
Supporting her lifestyle through her blog, Lisa – who has travelled to eight countries so far this year – made it possible to sustain her next adventures after her sumptuous Instagram account attracted much attention
For those who are interested to leave their 9-5 jobs to go travelling, Lisa said: ‘It’s all about the balance’
And when she’s planning her next big trip, Lisa usually works part time for gypsy-inspired women’s fashion store Spell & the Gypsy Collective.
‘I stepped into part time work when an opportunity came up to travel and I needed flexibility in my role. I am really lucky that my employers have been so supportive of my journey,’ she said.
For those who are interested to leave their 9-5 jobs to go travelling, Lisa said: ‘It’s all about the balance.
‘Travelling full-time may seem good in theory but you definitely need to have some sort of home base,’ she said.
‘If you want to do it, remember to work hard at it and don’t let your dreams just be dreams. It can take some sacrifice but it definitely pays off.’