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The life and times of an Instagram husband

Contrary to popular belief, not all the silent heroes behind the stunning pictures we see online are arm-twisted into taking up this form of photography. Some of Dubai's 'men behind the scenes' are proof of that

Going through the Instagram pages of established fashion bloggers is always a visual feast. They are nothing short of perfection. Here's one, casually crossing the street, YSL bag slung over her bare shoulder, putting her best foot forward in those knee-high, lace-up, bring-it-on black boots; another gazing thoughtfully into the distance as the sun sets over the horizon; and yet another, doing a little twirl in that gorgeous pink summer dress against a backdrop of lilac and pink blossoms that match her outfit perfectly. Each picture is designed to be just another vignette of everyday life, ever so casual yet flawlessly stylised. You look at all these photos and there is just one question on your mind: who's taking all these pictures?
Welcome to the life of an Instagram husband. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that a term was coined for the ordinary heroes behind these extraordinary photos. The phrase gained popularity specifically after a satirical video on the subject went viral, depicting Instagram husbands as miserable spouses who were being roped in, the world over, to capture the perfect shot for their better halves' social media pages. While the creators were parodying the trend - the video is pretty hilarious with a husband dangling precariously off a balcony at one point, doing his best to get the perfect shot, while his wife merely calls out, "Higher, honey!" - but, in reality, not all Instagram husbands are as wretched as they're made out to be.
Dubai-based brunch manager and Instagram husband Michele Andrenucci remembers "when it all began" in 2011. His wife, Nicoleta, had just moved to the city from Italy and was talking about doing a blog on style, makeup and other "girly things". To him, it was a great idea because it would keep her busy and hone her writing and styling skills. "I never thought it'd be something that would require my complete engagement too," he laughs. And it was terrible in the beginning.
"I am a pretty shy person," he explains. "You'll never see me in the front row - and imagine, she was asking me to take street style pictures of her in public! In places where we could easily bump into neighbours, colleagues and friends..." To add to the dilemma, their camera at the time didn't have an auto-focus option. "We had to take 100 pictures just to get a few sharp shots. After 5-6 years, I'm still the same shy guy - but I take better pictures. In fact, I'm the one who insists on going out for shoots. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?"
In the beginning, Michele was just trying to help his wife out and keep her happy. Now, however, any occasion is good for #InstaLife, as he puts it. But the one thing that hasn't changed is the name of the game: perfectionism.
"The problem is when Nicoleta gets an idea in her head, she has to get that perfect shot. I am very good with the technical aspect now, but I'm not as creative as she wants me to be. So many times, I will get the lighting perfect - but will totally overlook the details that are so important in style photography, such as if the button or bag or earrings are facing the camera, if the shoe heels are visible, if the hair and makeup are perfect and so on.
Nowadays, the audience is very educated in everything related to visual art, so, to be on top, you have to produce beautiful, creative - and yes, perfect - pictures."

EVER SUPPORTIVE: (left to right) Harish Patel, who is perfectly happy to play Instagram hubby to wife Neha; Archana with her dad, Baba Sadanand, who she credits with always putting her at ease when she's posing for a shoot for her Instagram page
That kind of attention to detail means Instagram husbands often end up spending as many as a couple of hours per shoot. For Harish Patel, banker and Instagram husband to Neha Bahadur, even the blazing heat of a Dubai summer is not a deterrent - just "business as usual". The pair's photo sessions take place every weekend - and they're both equally invested in the process: creating mood boards, discussing angles, poses, locations and props. While he admits he had zero interest in the beginning, now, it's more about supporting his spouse. Even if it means going the extra 'crazy' mile. "We've been doing the craziest things for the past few years to get the perfect shot," says the 36-year-old. "Sometimes, the angles are pretty difficult and I end up crawling on the floor or bending myself into tricky positions just to get it right."
There's a lot of work that goes into getting that picture-perfect snap. Like a couple of weeks ago, when they decided to do an impromptu shoot that had Neha looking not unlike an Egyptian princess emerging from the water (see left). "The idea was to capture the moment the water splashed across her face. It took us a while to get it right - and was pretty challenging under the sweltering sun - but I think the result was well worth it."
Instagram husbands the world over may consider him a bit of an anomaly, because a grumpy Insta-spouse he is not. "Every husband is being supported by his wife in so many different ways," says Harish. "If you can help her out with something she's so passionate about, isn't that a good thing? Plus, you know what they say: happy wife, happy life!"
Contrary to what the name suggests, an Instagram husband isn't really gender-specific. In fact, it's not even relationship-specific. The term essentially refers to anyone - friend, parent, neighbour, anyone - who regularly fulfils the role of photographer for your IG profile. For 24-year-old Archana Sadanand, that person is her dad - entrepreneur Baba Sadanand - and she didn't even have to ask. He offered.  
"Not long after I started posting on Instagram, I needed to click a picture of myself for a brand collaboration. I was really shy about hiring a photographer, but that's when my dad suggested that he could give it a go." As they soon discovered, her dad - who usually finds dealing with electronic or digital devices rather challenging - was a pretty good lensman.
The duo, who work together otherwise for mutual business clients, now go out every day for shoots. In the beginning, she admits, it was a bit awkward. "I'm a really bad poser," she says. "People stopped to stare all the time, plus I used to feel a little odd modelling in short clothes in front of my dad." Her father, however, turned out to be the more confident - and even the less conservative - one in the equation. "I used to urge him to hurry up and get the picture over with, but he'd always remind me these onlookers didn't even know me, so how did it matter? Today, he's the one who helps me figure out what works and what doesn't, and how we could better a shot for my page."
Perhaps the importance of an Instagram husband was never more highlighted than at New York Fashion Week last year, when mobile marketplace TaskRabbit rolled out an 'Instagram husband for hire' feature for the annual event. Fashion bloggers naturally pounced on the chance to have someone shadow them around to take those oh-so-candid pictures of them against Instagram-friendly backdrops.
But when it comes to the perfect IG-hubby, Archana feels chemistry is everything. Though she never tags her dad in her photos (yes, he's on Instagram too - and usually one of the first to 'like' her pictures!), the young fashionista says she couldn't be more grateful for his support. "My mum often says he forgets his age just to get the perfect shot for me. He's always willing to go the extra mile - even if it means getting on his knees in a park. I'm incredibly lucky to have him in my life."
TOP 3 TIPS FOR GREAT INSTA-HUBBIES
1. Be patient. Realise that it takes time to get the perfect shot.
2. Be able to give the right direction. Since you are the eye, there are things you, as a photographer, can notice that the subject of your photo cannot. You need to be aware of your surroundings and be on the lookout for great places to click amazing photos.
3. Be honest. The biggest difference between a photographer and an IG husband is that you know your subject personally. Use that to your advantage by giving opinions on what would make a good Instagram post great.
- Babu Sadanand
karen@khaleejtimes.com