The truth about being an 'Insta-boyfriend'

He's not just Fitzy and Wippa's newsreader or a panellist for The Morning Show, FOX Sports, and the ABC - Matt de Groot is also Be's newest columnist. He'll be taking us on a deep dive into the world of dating... from a guy's perspective.

Something has occurred to me while I’ve been overseas: I am an Instagram boyfriend, and I couldn’t be more OK with it.

At first, I hesitated at the thought because ‘Instagram boyfriend’ has a stirringly negative overtone, but I’m now happy to join the boyfriends involved in their own international couple-shoots… but as photographer.

I’ve seen countless guys capture ‘timeless memories’ of their other half in front of vogueish European backdrops. Or in front of rustic wooden European doors. Or by the European lakes. Or over their European meal.

And I’m often among them – sometimes even offering up suggestions, because it’s become clear to me that these photos usually look bloody good.

To be clear – they’re not of me. When I look to involve myself in these shots I’ve just come out feeling weird and looking weirder.

But girls just seem to get it.

Society is also getting used to people arriving somewhere breath-taking and rapidly positioning themselves for the 36 photos that’ll be taken for that one upload.

Then moving to a spot 4 metres away and repeating.

They’re also getting used to the fact that someone must take them.

For me, it became clear that I’d be heavily documenting this trip three months out from departure when I was asked, “Have you started planning your European aesthetic?”

I had no idea what a ‘European aesthetic’ was.

“I’m not worried about packing, if that’s what you mean?” I responded naively – although I had a niggling feeling it wasn’t.

My girlfriend told me she had a different outfit for every day of the trip, while my wardrobe didn’t really suit the European ‘look’.

Apparently, it lacked sufficient white and blue linen shirts, and I’d need to double my number of bone-coloured shorts and chinos.

Fellas, it turns out each international destination has a ‘look’ and if you haven’t got your head around it, perhaps get onto Pinterest quick smart.

Europe – Linen shirts and chinos. Tighter clothes than you’d probably usually wear. Polished.

Bali/Thailand – Bintang singlet and pluggers. Drunk and sunburnt.

North America – Yankees caps, cargo shorts and Adidas slides should get you out of trouble. Look to go one size over, rather than the European one size under.

South America – See Bali/Thailand.

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Now, I don’t think I’m an Instagram boyfriend in the traditional sense; they’re the ones who’re exclusively there to take the photos without appearing in them.

I appear in photos, but I’ve come to realise it’s only when my outfit is on-point.

But I encourage other boyfriends to realise that being an ‘Insty-boyfriend’ isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it’s just a growing part of what of we do when we’re out and about (especially if that ‘about’ is Europe).

Girls seem to like it, so why fight it? They’d do the same for us if we asked, but trust me, it’s an awkward time for everyone when we do.

And when you do I assure you, you’ll get a knowing look and a nod from those of us who know what’s going down.

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