For the latest updates, you can find me on Instagram or over on Substack. I send out my newsletter every Sunday or Monday, depending on your time zone.
Here are a few of my most popular Substack posts to help you get started.
- Can we get our attention span back?
- Things I don’t regret buying in my twenties
- What I’ve learned from not having it all together
- How to make reading feel like comfort instead of a chore
Personal
Where are you from?
I’m originally from South Africa, but I’ve spent pretty much my entire life growing up in Western Australia. Growing up here has shaped a lot of who I am, including my lifestyle and the slower, laid-back way of living.
How are you able to travel so often?
Honestly, I don’t travel as often as it might seem on social media. Most of the content I share comes from past trips I’ve taken. Since I don’t do content creation full-time, the only time I can really travel is during my time off from my full-time job, which isn’t a lot. That said, I’ve always tried to set aside money and time for travel, even when I was younger. Back then, I worked part-time while studying full-time in roles across retail, hospitality, and tutoring, which helped me save for trips. Since moving to South Korea in 2022, I’ve continued saving while working as a TEFL teacher. Over time, I’ve learned some smart ways to make the most of my travels and keep them budget-friendly. Here are a few posts that might help you.
- 10 must-know travel tips for travelling cheaply anywhere in the world.
- How can you make money while travelling, whilst remaining anonymous online
- What are your passive incomes, and any advice for starting your own?
Have you ever studied abroad?
Yes! I did a short-term exchange program in Japan in 2021, where I conducted fieldwork related to disaster management and urban planning. I had the chance to explore prefectures like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagano while gaining practical experience in my field.
Do you always travel solo?
Not always, but I do when I don’t have anyone to go with. Being in my mid-twenties, many friends are busy with work or travelling with a partner, so I often end up going alone or with just one friend. I always remind myself it’s better to go alone than not at all, because otherwise you miss out on experiences. That mindset has served me well. It’s carried me from dropping out of university to moving to Korea alone during the pandemic, and exploring some incredible places along the way. If you’re new to solo travel, a good way to start is with a group trip abroad or a day trip from your local city.
Content Creation
Any advice or tips for aspiring creators?
I could probably write an entire guidebook, but here are a few things I wish someone had told me when I was starting out.
First, stop overthinking and just begin. Waiting to feel “ready” only delays the process. You learn by doing, and in this space, consistency and authenticity matter far more than having everything figured out from day one.
Be patient with the process. Finding your voice, your rhythm, and your community takes time. What most people don’t see are the quiet seasons—months (or even years) of experimenting, learning, and posting when it felt like no one was paying attention. Slow growth is still growth.
Stay curious and teach yourself everything you can. From editing and photography to storytelling and understanding algorithms, there are so many free tools and tutorials available. Observe what you admire in others, then make it your own. Trends can be fun, but building a community rooted in your unique voice will always go further.
At the end of the day, your platform is yours. Build something that reflects your growth, your passions, and your voice. Most importantly, enjoy the journey as it unfolds. For a deeper dive into starting out as a creator, you can read my full Substack post here.
Where did your username come from?
I love this question—it actually took me a long time to decide on the right name because I knew how much weight a username could carry, especially when building a personal brand. I didn’t want something that would box me into a single chapter of my life, like “the girl who lived in Korea.” I wanted a name that reflected a fuller picture—someone simply navigating life, sharing the messy and beautiful in-between, from travel and photography to books and quiet reflections.
I’ve touched on this in past newsletters, but the time leading up to my move to Korea was deeply transformative. I had just lost a close family member—my grandmother—to COVID, which impacted me profoundly. At the time, I was in grad school working toward my master’s, yet I found myself longing for the gap year I never gave myself. Her passing reminded me just how fleeting life is, and it gave me the push I needed to take a leap, leaving university and moving abroad.
That’s how Kelly Today came to be. It’s a reminder to live in the moment, to embrace where you are now, and to pursue the things your heart quietly nudges you toward. I’ve always believed in living a life you won’t regret—and this username is my personal reminder to do that and maybe inspire others.
How did you start content creation?
I began creating content in 2022, around the same time I moved to South Korea for work. Leaving my life in Australia behind, I started documenting this new chapter on Instagram—capturing travel moments, everyday life abroad, and everything in between. At first, it was casual and unpolished: a handful of photos and videos about the places I visited, my experiences teaching English, and the very real highs and lows of living as a foreigner in Korea.
I had no formal training at all. I taught myself photography, copywriting, and video editing along the way, without any sense that content creation could become something more. I didn’t know monetisation was possible or that creators could work with brands. I was simply sharing my life because I loved doing it—and that genuine curiosity and joy are still at the heart of what I create today, even as my skills have grown.
About six months in, my Instagram began to gain traction and eventually reached 10K, which encouraged me to show up more consistently. A year or two later, I expanded to other platforms and leaned into long-form content. Around the same time, paid collaborations and event invitations started to come through.
If there’s one thing I hope people take away from my journey, it’s that this wasn’t an overnight success. It was the result of years of learning, experimenting, and consistently showing up. Content creation has always been a second job—and it still is—but it’s one I genuinely care about.
Working Abroad
How did you get your job in South Korea?
I qualified to teach in South Korea by completing an online TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course. After researching different countries and speaking with friends who had taught abroad, South Korea felt like the best fit for me in terms of work benefits, lifestyle, and overall experience. Once qualified, I applied for teaching roles and secured a full-time position teaching Grades 1 to 6 at an elementary school.
Thinking about teaching in Korea? Here’s how to get TEFL qualified.
What course did you take to qualify?
I completed the 11-week online TEFL course through the International TEFL Academy. While not all countries require a TEFL certificate, I chose to complete one so I’d feel confident and prepared in the classroom. It’s also a valuable qualification that allows you to teach in many countries around the world.
What advice would you give to anyone interested in teaching abroad?
If you’re curious, I’d encourage you to seriously consider it—while also doing your research first. Teaching abroad is a big decision and comes with challenges, change, and plenty of uncomfortable moments, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. For me, working in South Korea has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience I don’t regret. The great thing about becoming TEFL-qualified is that it opens doors to teaching opportunities across the globe.
Thinking about teaching in South Korea? Read up on 10 things you need to know about teaching in South Korea.
Photography
How did you get into photography?
I started photography as a way to document my travels and everyday life. At first, it was just about capturing memories, but over time, I became more interested in composition, lighting, and telling a story through images. I taught myself the basics and gradually learned more advanced techniques along the way.
How do you edit your content?
I use Lightroom to edit my photos. I focus on keeping a consistent look and feel across my content, tweaking things like exposure, colour balance, and tones. I try to enhance the photo without over-editing so it still feels natural.
How do you take your photos on your travels?
I mainly use Lightroom to edit my photos and keep a consistent look across my feed. I’ve also created my own Lightroom presets, which I use for most of my edits. If you want to achieve a similar style, you can download them and try them out for yourself. My goal is to make editing faster and more fun while keeping the photos feeling natural.
What camera gear do you use?
I’ve put together a full guide on my camera equipment. You can check it out in this post here.
Who takes your photos on your travels?
On solo trips, I usually capture self-portraits using one of three methods:
- Ask a stranger. I look for someone using a similar device to mine—if I want a photo with my camera, I find someone using a camera; for phone pictures, I look for someone on their phone. If the first person doesn’t get the shot I want, I wait a bit and ask someone else.
- Hire a local photographer. If your budget allows, booking a local photographer is a great way to get high-quality photos, especially in busy or crowded spots where a tripod isn’t practical. You can find more details about this in my guide on local photo sessions.
- Tripod & timer/remote. This method takes practice, especially if you shoot in manual settings, but it’s incredibly satisfying to capture exactly the shot you want without relying on anyone else. For the gear I use for this setup, check out this post here.