Meet Murad Osmann, the Person Who Created the “Follow Me” Trend

By
Jovana N
-

Russian photographer, film producer, traveler, and influencer Murad Osmann is the person responsible for the mega-popular “Follow Me” trend you’ve been seeing all over Instagram for the past few years. His own page now has over 4 million followers and it’s all thanks to careful planning and a lot of work that’s behind each of his seemingly spontaneous shots.

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ꁲꂡ #followmeto the land of imagination. Every time you see such natural phenomena, you understand that whatever people come up with, this will not be compared with nature. I want everyone to be able to feel it through this photo. ❓You do see an elephant here right❓😂 @visitsaudi #WelcomeToArabia 🇷🇺 🇷🇺 🇷🇺 каждый раз, когда видишь подобные природные явления, понимаешь – что бы не придумал человек – это не сравнится с природой. Хочется чтобы вы смогли прочувствовать это через фотографию. Вы же видите слона?? :)) Note, Al Ula – including Madain Saleh and Elephant Rock – is currently closed to the public and can only be visited by attending select events

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“It wasn’t instantly popular,” Osmann told South China Morning Post when asked if he expected the fame that came from the photos he took with his girlfriend Natalya Zakharova (now wife Natalya Osmann). “It started in Barcelona — it was our first trip together. We took our first picture there, then another one, and it went on and on. It was popular among our friends for a year-and-a-half first, and only then did it gain popularity throughout the world.”

He revealed that many times, pictures are not as spontaneous as they seem. They had situations when they stepped out of a vehicle for just a second to take a shot on pouring rain, before running back. Sometimes it’s cold but Natalya poses in a dress, and the world never knows about the weather and the story behind the photo. There are a lot of theme photos that were digitally altered and our favorite one is probably Natalya dressed as Princess Jasmin with the Genie in the shot.

Not following Osmann’s Instagram yet? Big mistake! See below why.

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#followmeto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto with @natalyosmann . Which photo/video you like the most?? We were absolutely mesmerised with this place . Now our dear friend @yana_leventseva said that she knows a hidden gem – location of the Bamboo forest where we will be absolutely alone. Her friend shared this location with her and to our surprise, after several hours of preparations and trying to fit into the local costumes – we arrive at this place – and see thousands of people there – obviously everyone knew about it. We had to be really fast and shoot on the paths of the carriages as we only had 30s for the shot. ▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂ Итак мы наконец-то попали в любимый город Киото. Первый раз приехали туда во время осеннего листопада. Город невероятно преображается и превращается в сказку окрашенную огненно-красными и оранжево-желтыми тонами. Наша дорогая подруга Яна была уверена, что ей подсказали гениальное заброшенное место в бамбуковом лесу. Как мы понимаете, нашему удивлению не было предела – когда, после нескольких часов подготовки к кадру и переодеваний в местную одежду, приехав туда – мы обнаружили тысячи туристов. Тем не менее мы не растерялись и нашли уголок где проезжали повозки – уложившись в 30 секунд на кадр, так как иначе мы бы блокировали путь.

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#followmeto the Dead Sea – a unique place that might not be there in 30 years. While you have an opportunity to see these places with your own eyes – do it! Where are you guys from? Write in comments! @honorglobal #honor20series #CaptureWonder 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺………….🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺 #следуйзамной на Мертвое море, уникальное место, которого возможно не станет уже через 30 лет. Пока у вас есть возможность наслаждаться этими завораживающими пейзажами, не упускайте ее. Откуда вы – напишите в комментариях?

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#followmeto Agrabah with @natalyosmann and the genie🧞‍♂️ @willsmith . Who has watched this @disney movie already? Yes I know that they should have casted me for the role of Aladdin. I am ready to cast for Aladdin 2!! :). If you had The Magic Lamp what would you wish? 🔥🔥🧞‍♂️🧞‍♂️𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔽𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕠 𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕠𝕟𝕖!!! 🧞‍♂️🧞‍♂️🔥🔥 #следуйзамной в Аграбу с @natalyosmann и Джином. Кто уже смотрел этот фильм от @Disney? Да, знаю, что они должны были взять меня на роль Аладдина, но я готов на кастинг во вторую серию :). Окажись у вас в руках волшебная лампа, что бы загадали?🧞‍♂️🧞‍♂️н̲а̲п̲и̲ш̲и̲т̲е̲ ̲т̲у̲т̲ ̲в̲ ̲к̲о̲м̲м̲е̲н̲т̲а̲р̲и̲я̲х̲ ̲в̲а̲ш̲е̲ ̲ж̲е̲л̲а̲н̲и̲е̲ ̲и̲ ̲о̲д̲н̲о̲ ̲и̲з̲ ̲н̲и̲х̲ ̲м̲ы̲ ̲и̲с̲п̲о̲л̲н̲и̲м̲!̲!̲!̲🧞‍♂️🧞‍♂️

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#followmeto Daniel Korkor church in Ethiopia with @natalyosmann. When I saw an image of the priest standing on the edge of the cliff right by the entrance to his church I immediately added this place to our bucket list, so you must understand how excited I was when realised that we are going to this location in Ethiopia. There is a small Orthodox community up here, led by a 82 year old monk, who has been here since he was a teenager. It is a very spiritual place. #Seetheunseen, @honorglobal, #HonorView20 ❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍ #Следуйзамной в библейские церкви Тиграи с @natalyismann. В  северной Эфиопии в  Тиграе  среди библейских пейзажей в  горах притаилось  более 120 древних церквей 4-9 веков. Высеченные в монолитных скалах в труднодоступных местах,  щедро расписанные  гениальными мастерами, они тянутся к небу, заставляя пилигримов подниматься на головокружительную высоту. В этой церкви Даниел Коркор есть небольшая православная община во главе с 82-летним монахом, который находится тут с подросткового возраста. Это очень духовное место. #seetheunseen, @honorglobal

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#Followmeto the Rice Field terraces in Bali. Many times we have been here and I must say that the real heroes here are the rice farmers as they are the architects of the islands landscape. These amazing people helped to make Bali what is is – for them Rice cycle is a life cycle here. Taken on the #HonorView20 in the #48MP AI Ultra Clarity mode. This year we will be mentoring the #SeeTheUnseen challenge and personally selecting the top 3 global winners who will each win an Honor View 20 smartphone. Participate in the #SeeTheUnseen and #HONORMade challenge so that I can see and select the images. The Challenge will continue till 25 of March! Check out @honorglobal to find out more. 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺 #следуйзамной на рисовые террасы острова Бали. Много раз мы тут были и я должен сказать, что главные герои это местные фермеры, так как именно они помогли создать образ того Бали, который мы представляем себе.

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𝔽𝕆𝕃𝕃𝕆𝕎𝕄𝔼𝕋𝕆 𝕆ℝ𝕀𝔾𝕀ℕ𝔸𝕃𝕊 #Followmeto Istanbul Suleymaniye Mosque. That trip was my our one to Istanbul and We were absolutely blow away on so many levels. First time you come you might get a bit lost because of the size of the city and places you can visit – but you have to comeback several times to feel its energy and understand it. Photo was taken around 6 years ago and was my first time seeing a mosque of that size. @natalyosmann #следузамной в Стамбул в мечеть Сулеймана Великолепного. У мечети четыре минарета, которые означают, что султан Сулейман Великолепный — четвёртый падишах по счёту после завоевания Стамбула. Та поездка была нашей первой в Стамбул и этот город навсегда остался в наших сердцах.

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Followmeto the night temples of Chongqing with @natalyosmann..love shooting them with a central perspective, so that these temples look like endless stairway to heaven…places like that fill me up with creative energy and gives me ideas. What are your secret places that broaden your creative mind? #Chongqing #CQIFS Следуйзамной в ночные храмы Чунцина. Люблю снимать с центральной перспективой – они всегда кажутся как бесконечные лестницы в небо. Такие места наполняют креативной энергией и идеями, а какие у вас любимые секретные места?

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𝔽𝕆𝕃𝕃𝕆𝕎𝕄𝔼𝕋𝕆 𝕆ℝ𝕀𝔾𝕀ℕ𝔸𝕃𝕊 #Followmeto Hawa Mahal – a Palace of Winds which is located in the heart of the beautiful Pink City of Jaipur in India. It is built in a shape of a crown and has 953 small windows which were built to keep the wind blowing inside the palace. The idea was that royal women could watch the daily life of the city through the windows without being visible to public. It doesn’t have a direct entrance and you have to enter it from the side. ❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍❍ #следуйзамной в Хава Махал – Дворец Ветров, который находится в сердце прекрасного розового города Джайпур в Индии. Он был задуман в форме короны индуистского бога Кришны. Здесь очень много окон (а именно 953), чтобы женщины спокойно могли смотреть на оживленные улицы и не быть замеченными.

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