Matcha Social Club at Bar Positano

An Event: Matcha Social Club Meet Up at Bar Positano, Surry Hills NSW Australia

Taken with Fujifilm X-T50 and Fujinon XF 23mm f2 lens; Edited in Lightroom

Hello Readers! Come with meee to attend my first Influencer/Creators' event in many, many years.

I used to be part of this culture when I first started blogging in 2011 to 2014. I stopped attending events when Instagram took over and life moved me and PR companies along. Now that I joined Instagram again and run a Foodie account on the side (@shehitsthespot), I was surprised but genuinely happy to be invited to this event.

 This one was run by the Matcha Social Club, and I could not say no to Matcha (my go to is a traditional matcha served hot or Iced Matcha Latte, no sugar. I also enjoy Hojicha). I also thought it would be a good opportunity to test out these new Content Creator waters. 

Firstly, Bar Positano was a very beautiful venue, sitting on a corner on Crown Street, opposite terrace houses and trees. The venue spilled out onto the foot path, with plenty of outdoor seating. It was very cozy, decorated with coffee cans along the shelves and a neon sign in the kitchen.

As I approached at 9.10am it was already very busy with people lining up to get their drinks as the kitchen staff prepared the Italian breakfast buffet. The Event was about networking and mingling with new people over a shared love of Matcha. So I came alone.

When I used to blog and attend these events, all my fellow bloggers used to create content by taking photos with their DSLR cameras. In fact, iPhones or phones with (dare I say) ...a camera was not really a thing. We also didn't use Instagram. Gosh, I am showing my age...

Anyways I went 'old skool' and brought along my Fujifilm camera. With some observation, I realised I was the only one with a DSLR (with the exception of the event co-ordinators) and I think the other content creators were quietly shocked I didn't immediately pull out my phone to film or take photos. Another layer was - I had a prime lens and therefore can't zoom in or out so people had to step aside so I could walk backwards to 'zoom' out in the tight spaces. Talk about getting out of my comfort zone.

Indoor Photography can be tricky if the lighting is not right, especially if natural light didn't spill in. Since the buffet was closer to the kitchen it was quite dark. I wish I had more time to fiddle with my settings or even use a diffused flash, but I had to work quickly. This taught me a good lesson. I realised some of my photos were unfocused (like my DJ photo...) I could have made sure he was in focus and turned on my 'Detect Subject' mode; or worked in full Auto Mode for quick photography sessions like these.

Okies, awkward stories aside, I actually really enjoyed myself. The weather was so lovely and the sun was bright and strong, even in our winter. The buffet spread was beautiful, with yoghurts, fresh fruit, granola, baked desserts, banana bread, apple tarts and focaccia sandwiches. We also were treated to a matcha drink of course. I got myself an Iced Matcha Latte and sat outside in the sun.

Here I met two lovely content creators/influencers and their friends as they approached my table. It was great to be out of the house and we exchanged Instagram handles as we sat there. We exchanged stories and talked about the current state of content creation. I explained that I am leaning back into long-form media for my own mental health and to keep fuelling my creativity.

An Event: Matcha Social Club Meet Up at Bar Positano, Surry Hills NSW Australia

Taken with Fujifilm X-T50 and Fujinon XF 23mm f2 lens; Edited in Lightroom

Truth be told, I was planning to leave the event about forty minutes in, because I felt a little out of place. My thoughts were like this: I am too old for this, I didn't want to make a reel; I should've brought a friend; I want to practice my photography, which I realised seemed like a dead media for these events.

But as I sat there, I was fortunate to have friendly people find me and I ended up being one of the last people to leave the venue because we vibed well. We watched on as everyone filmed their content. In the end I was very happy that I attended.

And lastly, while editing these photos I realised that I still enjoy this 'slow' process of curating my photo flow and typing personal musings; even if people these days gravitate toward short-form media. I still plan to post a short-form version of my experience suitable for Instagram, to show gratitude towards the amazing event co-ordinators and the venue. I should also 'spread the word'. In the end, it's still a form of media I respect and where I have met some wonderful people so it will be going hand in hand.

Thank you for coming alonggg and listening to my little stories. Hope you have a fabulous week.

❤︎ Natalie