Meet Taylor Cooper, the ‘grammer behind @discover.boston. For this full-time content creator and passionate foodie, it was a no-brainer to start an Instagram account devoted to all things Boston. Read on to hear about her favorite spots, content creation tips, and where she takes visitors when they come to town.

1. Tell us a little about yourself. How’d you end up in Boston, and what inspired you to create your Instagram account?

I’m originally from South Florida but most of my family is from New England. I spent many summers and vacations visiting Boston and the surrounding areas and fell in love with the city at a young age. I moved here in 2017 to attend Suffolk University and haven’t wanted to leave.

I’ve always loved taking pictures and capturing everything around me. When I moved to Boston, that passion only grew. My camera roll was full of food, architecture, scenery, people, and everything in between. I shared many photos and videos on my personal social media accounts. It wasn’t until I posted a video dining at a local restaurant that my friend encouraged me to start an account dedicated to sharing my experiences in Boston. I had always wanted to do something like this, creating content has always been a fun outlet for me. Her encouragement was exactly what I needed to step outside of my comfort zone! I started an account that day with the same video I shared on my personal account and I am so glad I did.

2. What makes the Boston restaurant scene special? 

The Boston restaurant scene is special because of its diversity. Every restaurant is unique in its own way and there is something for everyone here.

3. Name the top five dishes on your Boston food bucket list. 

This is such a hard question for me to answer! Five dishes I love and would recommend to anyone visiting Boston are:

• Lemon Ricotta Gnocchi from Bar Enza
• Kaen Spicy Ramen from WakuWaku
• Steamed Kapow Dumplings from Kala Thai Cookery
• Penne Capricciose from Carmelina’s
• Soufflé Pancakes from Bootleg Special

4. What do your friends and family think of your life as an influencer?

My friends and family are so incredibly supportive of everything relating to Discover Boston and have been from the start. I feel really lucky in that aspect. They are always helping me film and take photos, encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone, engaging with all of my posts and sharing my account with everyone they know.

5. What’s your food photography/videography philosophy, and can you share your top tips for taking awesome food photos or videos? Do you use any fun tools or equipment for snapping the best ‘gram worthy content?

Lighting is key to a good photo/video! I have a portable light in my bag at all times and always try to sit closest to the window when dining during the day. I mainly create content with my iPhone, using cinematic and portrait mode and I also use a Canon T7! My go to editing apps are Adobe Lightroom and VSCO cam. My best advice is to play around and practice capturing things in multiple ways until you find what works best for you. It has taken me a while to figure out the best way to photograph and edit and I still learn something new every day.

6. What advice would you give someone just starting out as an influencer?

Be authentic, have fun, and try not to overthink the numbers! I know it’s easy to focus on how many followers you have or how many likes you are getting, but doing that can take away from the joy of creating! Post about things you’re passionate about and your love for what you’re doing will show. Don’t give up!

7. Which Boston restaurants and chefs are nailing it on social?

Four restaurants I love to follow on Instagram are: @vestercafe, @mortadellahead @wickedcraftbos and @crazygoodkitchen.

8. Beyond chefs, what are your top three favorite food Instagram accounts to follow?

There are so many food accounts that I love to follow. My current favorites are @mydietistrash, @forkingwitharmani and @bostonfoodbae! They all create such beautiful content and share so many must try hidden gems in Boston.

Favorite spot that everyone should try once: Trattoria Il Panino

Favorite place to splurge: Wicked Craft

Favorite brunch spot: North Street Grille

Favorite pizza joint: Source, Picco and Half Time Pizza! I can’t pick just one.

Favorite neighborhood for food: The North End

Favorite spot to take visitors from out of town: I have a few! I love to bring people to Wicked Craft, Next Door Speakeasy, Sweet Waffles and Boba, and Contessa.