Today we’d like to introduce you to Lena Ahn.
Lena, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Before I began my Instagram account, I had always been taking photos of my food and sharing them on Facebook. My friends all knew that I was very passionate about food, and they were always asking for my recommendations for restaurants. Some of my friends also encouraged me to start my own blog. When I realized how simple it was to use Instagram, ATL Best Bites was created in 2014. I knew that I wanted to share photos and not just critique the restaurants. It has been a learning curve along the way. I’ve worked hard to create content that I hope my followers will want to see and read. Now, I also collaborate with restaurants and public relations companies to help promote local restaurants.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I entered the Instagram world, I knew little of what I was doing. Not having photography skills was definitely an obstacle in the beginning, but as time passed I quickly improved. I posted consistently and put a great deal of effort into my posts. Over time, my hard work and dedication paid off with a higher number of followers. People were actually interested in what I had to say and wanted to see what I had eaten. In addition, I began to network with other foodies. This was incredibly helpful; I now have many like-minded people I can call my friends. In my personal life, I struggle with three autoimmune disorders, which can be quite challenging at times. I also suffered from two lapses of Bell’s Palsy. It paralyzed half my face, and it taught me to never to take anything for granted. What I wouldn’t do to be able to smile again!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
When I created ATL Best Bites, my goal was to create an account that showed my followers which menu items they should order at a particular restaurant. I wanted to post food that looked aesthetically pleasing, as well as tasted delicious. My goal is to provide a wide array of cuisines, especially considering that Atlanta is such a melting pot of cultures. There are so many ethnic restaurants in the metro Atlanta area that I wanted to help people discover. I also like to post food from my travels such as Chicago, Dallas, and many more. ATL Best Bites is not about critiquing food or restaurants but rather showing the reader what the best bites are in the Atlanta area and beyond!
What were you like growing up?
When I was young, I always knew that I wanted to be in an occupation that involved being around children or helping people. I was very talkative and outgoing, so I never had any problems making friends! By the time I was in high school, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I enjoyed and excelled at drawing and painting, so I gave it a go. However, it did not work out as planned. Instead, I became a history teacher and taught for several years until I quit after having our first child. Currently, I work part-time as a substitute teacher, which gives me enough flexibility to continue to develop ATL Best Bites.
Contact Info:
- Email: atlbestbites@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlbestbites/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlbestbites/
- Twitter: @atlbestbites
Image Credit:
Photography by Sheen
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
