I've been struggling with getting pictures for the blog lately. And by lately I mean since 'Nam. I bought my fancy camera in August of 2013 and promptly took one of those Groupon 4 hour classes on how to work said camera. This class very much helped, but no one ever became a pro at anything without practice. So, not without great frustration, I practiced.
But as you guys all know, as a lifestyle blogger occasionally faced with fashion posts, you have to be in the photos!
I've messed with a tripod in the past, but I can't figure it out to save my life. This post was taken using my DSLR and a tripod. Meh. My iPhone would have been a way better choice. I'm not particularly in focus, the background isn't nice and blurred, those photos just have nothing special happening. Certainly nothing that warrants the cost of the camera and lens!
Let's face it, I'm not a professional photographer, I don't know what I'm doing, and I certainly don't have gobs of time to practice and master using a tripod.
I've messed with a tripod in the past, but I can't figure it out to save my life. This post was taken using my DSLR and a tripod. Meh. My iPhone would have been a way better choice. I'm not particularly in focus, the background isn't nice and blurred, those photos just have nothing special happening. Certainly nothing that warrants the cost of the camera and lens!
Let's face it, I'm not a professional photographer, I don't know what I'm doing, and I certainly don't have gobs of time to practice and master using a tripod.
So what do you do? Well, you can hire a photographer to take your pictures. I hired Megan to take the photos that I use on all my different sub-pages like here and here. She was fantastic, the pictures perfect and beautiful. But even though she was priced very reasonably, I can't afford that every time I need blog photos for a brand or sponsored post.
ORRRR- you can pay your boyfriend in kisses, followed by hateful remarks when you first see the images on the preview screen of the camera!
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times... how do fashion bloggers do it? Who takes your picture? Do you use a tripod? Do you pay someone? Does your man-friend take your photos?
Did you train your man-friend to be constantly snapping candid photos of you without your knowledge? Displaying shock and surprise, hand draped over your heart in astonishment, with your perfect red-lipped mouth open in awe. Or beautifully looking off into the distance with your hand in your hair, c/o skirt floating in the breeze? Were all of these photos unexpected? Was he just snapping because he likes to admire your beauty with one eye shut, through a half inch by half inch viewfinder?
Or do you lay it all out for him, explaining that you aren't going to be looking at the camera? That you are going to pretend to be shocked/surprised, and he is to quickly take 48 picture options. Do you micro-manage the poor man, the whole time he has his finger on the trigger? Because that is what I do.....
Who takes those photos from above? Those photos that I freaking love and I'm not quite sure why. You know the one.... with the perfectly ripped jeans, farmer's market brown paper wrapped tulips, possibly a cup of coffee with an inspirational, hand-lettered "dreams don't work unless you do" quote adorning the side. Is he standing on a stool behind you, towering down from above?
PLEASE SOMEONE, PLEASE. SHOW A BEHIND THE SCENE SHOT!!!! Rid me of this inner turmoil that plagues my brain, how you do it?I promise I won't copy!!!!
Or do you lay it all out for him, explaining that you aren't going to be looking at the camera? That you are going to pretend to be shocked/surprised, and he is to quickly take 48 picture options. Do you micro-manage the poor man, the whole time he has his finger on the trigger? Because that is what I do.....
Who takes those photos from above? Those photos that I freaking love and I'm not quite sure why. You know the one.... with the perfectly ripped jeans, farmer's market brown paper wrapped tulips, possibly a cup of coffee with an inspirational, hand-lettered "dreams don't work unless you do" quote adorning the side. Is he standing on a stool behind you, towering down from above?
PLEASE SOMEONE, PLEASE. SHOW A BEHIND THE SCENE SHOT!!!! Rid me of this inner turmoil that plagues my brain, how you do it?
Trust me, I'm not hating. I'm just jealous over here and I need your secrets.
Spill your secrets!!!
Spill your secrets!!!
ha, so funy you ask. let me tell you story. I used to have a simple point and shoot. i'd beg my bf to take the pic for me but he did a bad job haha, so then I got a tripod. I set it to a self timer and it barely came out well. it focused background before I even got in the shot. so then I bought a canon T3. instead of a slightly pricier t3i. well, lo and behold the t3 doesn't have a wireless ability for a remote. so then I had to freakin get a connector thing, half the time it didn't work. I was so upset I cried in the middle of an outfit post once. Marched my butt inside and ordered a t3i then sold my t3. The t3i is amazing. I have it on a tripod and I have a remote for it and I haven't looked back since.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely took a lot of time and practice for us....we still go through about 120 photos and I use maybe 10 : / I just learned I need to be direct with him in exactly what I want in a shot. We had to learn manual together and any tip I picked up, I made sure I shared with him since he is my designated blog photographer. There will be bickering, but it's all for that money shot ;)
ReplyDeleteHi! My boyfriend takes my pictures! I set up the shot in manual by taking a test shot of him (he loveeeeees that. not) then I micromanage the shit out him. Its a fine line between micromanaging and getting dumped and I've come close :) We've been able to get the whole process down to about 10 minutes because no matter what anyone says, it is awkward to be standing on the street having your boyfriend take outfit pictures for you. For the above shots, I take them by reaching my arm up back past my shoulder. It's veryyyyy awkward.
ReplyDeleteHope that helps!
XO, Nicole
a dash of gold
I have always wondered the same thing! How do they do it?! I'm convinced that all fashion bloggers happen to have a best friend who works in the photography business and takes all their photos for fun... now I just need to go find a photographer to be my best friend ;-)
ReplyDeleteI spend a lot of my time wondering "how the hell did she get that shot?" too.
ReplyDeleteMy fiance hates taking my photos, so I usually have to BEG him or I do it myself with a tripod. Either way they sort of suck. Although I have a nice camera, you need to have someone who knows the right angles! haha
ReplyDeleteI've enlisted the help of my sister from time to time (when I'm not taking the wonderful iphone mirror selfie ;), but I'm lucky because she's been trained in photography. Now I just need to get a nice camera, especially for my trip later this year!
ReplyDeleteyou know my pain in this area. it's so so tough. I need to get better in general at learning how to take proper pics. you know i think your photos are on point!
ReplyDeleteGirl I feel you on this one -- I sometimes take outfit pictures with other bloggers that way its a trade off and typically it works out pretty well! I also have a special pintrest page just for outfit pictures, I will show them to my friends that are helping with pictures so they know the style and point of view that I want. Once in a while my boyfriend will take pictures for me and I tell him to take as many as he can!! When he does them, he doesn't try as hard so I figure if he takes 100 I might like 2 or 3... ha, I hope this is helpful!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a struggle, and it is very real. I get my husband to take my pictures--I got a fancier camera than a point and shoot last spring, but I'm tempted to sell it because I can't figure out how to take good pictures with it indoors. My husband basically just takes the pictures while I try to recall every pose I've ever seen on a fashion blogger, and he shouts unhelpful things like "make this one sexy!" In the end, my outfit posts are still few and far between because I never even remember to take outfit pictures in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at this one! I am totally that person with a tripod and remote taking photos of myself. It's always super hard to get the right light and focus, but after taking like 300 pics theres always one or two decent ones! Now that my husband is back I can usually convince him to take photos, but I sometimes think it's easier to just do it myself.
ReplyDeleteOh don't even get me started. I hate every picture of me. I have to beg and plead and threaten to ground my children in order to get any pictures. When I do hand over my cannon they wander off and find bugs and flowers and other crap to take pictures of instead of me. Maybe I need to find a boyfriend that will let me micromanage
ReplyDeleteThese questions plague us all! I almost never have photos of myself on my blog. Why? Because I'm the one with the camera. #bloggerproblems
ReplyDeleteTripod and self timer ( wireless remote will not work with my canon argg). I tried using Kent but I found I look more relaxed if I do it myself.
ReplyDeleteMy husband takes my photo's for me.
ReplyDeletewww.amysfashionblog.com
I always wonder that too!
ReplyDeleteAnd I should probably teach my man-friend how to use my camera. If he's going to refuse to be in pictures, the least he can do is take them for me.
If we could only train our pets! Like having good credit is important...so are good photog skills. I wish I would've taken that damn photography class in high school! Good luck and let us know when you figure it out!
ReplyDeleteDid you or CB take the top one?? I taught my boyfriend how to use my camera (well, as best as I know how which isn't much) and as soon as it gets into his hands he thinks he's the Picasso of photography. Everything is at an odd angle, my entire body isn't in one of the 90 shots, and they're generally taken from below instead of above (seriously has he never taken a selfie? its the difference between having 10 extra chins and only one perfect one). So I just decided that I'll have to invest in a tripod and learn how to work it, or continue not doing any type of style posts whatsoever. Probably the latter.
ReplyDeleteI am terrible at getting photos of myself on the blog. Jared tries and he'll be like "this one is great!" and then of course I see it and I'm all OMG EW! DOUBLE CHIN! HAIR MESSED UP! So then I end up posting horrible selfies that are pixelated and not worthy of posting, but they go up anyway ;) I feel like I need to invest in a selfie-stick but I refuse!!!
ReplyDeleteSeriously! I try to get my fiance to take pics of me all the time. But then he doesn't want to do it, and then the pics turn out horrible, and then I usually just end up taking a selfie anyway. I need to invest in a tripod.
ReplyDeleteI need to know this too! I am so good at taking photos of others and things but when the lens is turned I'm stuck! My man can't focus for the life of him and everyone else thinks its funny to see all the blurry "professional" pictures they thought they were taking of me! I've thought about a tripod but who knows.. hiring someone seems like the best answer but like you said that adds up quick!
ReplyDeleteHaha this is so epically fantastic. Dane and I were out taking photos one day (he takes the majority of them if I'm in them) and he goes..okay, I'm taking it...okay I'm taking it.. KAIT!!! Look at the camera! Omg, I was mortified. I totally wanted one of those "oh I'm not looking, this is so casual" pics and nope, not gonna happen on Dane's watch. When we brought the DSLR into our lives you would have thought I asked him to lasso a bear when I handed it over to let him snap a few. Oh men, they can be so special.
ReplyDeleteUgh. I have the same problem. I bought a camera and have only used it to take pictures of my dogs pooping. I only know how to take terrible selfies of myself.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly why I rarely have pics of myself on my blog! I'm seriously tempted to send Tim to a photography class so Clara doesn't grow up thinking I wasn't around during her childhood! (And don't get me started on the artsy blog photos... they're a mystery to me and I'm scouring your comments for answers!)
ReplyDeleteYes, Yes, Yes! A million times yes! The best I can do is have my 7 year old take my picture. It's usually an up the nose or head chopped off photo in terrible light. My husband refuses because he hates taking more than 1 picture. I need a photographer as my best friend to even get a chance of having a decent photo taken of me.
ReplyDeleteAnd with all those tips make a blog post. I take so many selfies.
ReplyDeleteYou turned my thoughts into a post. The weirdness that ensues when you ask the BF to take a "fashion style blogger photo" is cringe worthy! He tries, bless his heart! xoxo, ganeeban
ReplyDeleteI wonder how fashion bloggers do it all the time. I know I need more pictures of myself regularly and I'm still attempting the tripod with many failures. I don't have a roommate or boyfriend to bribe either. What is this magic trick for great pictures? I feel like I need to be let in on the blogger secret haha
ReplyDeleteI frien think the same!! I love taking pictures, but when it comes to taking pictures of myself, I'm no not happening. I read through blogs and think the same things you do. How, what, why can't I do the same. If you ever unlock the secret please share.
ReplyDeleteI am no photographer, but are you using a remote? Because using one can help with the focus, as with a timer you have to run back into the shot and sometimes it will focus on the background before you're in frame. Also, pay attention to light. You don't want to be backlit, and it will be a lot harder for the camera to focus on you -- at least in auto mode.
ReplyDeleteI get my sister to take most of my pics - she's got a good eye and is honest enough to tell me when I don't look good in some pics and will take a billion if I ask and doesn't get upset about it. On the odd occasion I'll get friends to take them if we're out and about, but I'm not so confident in front of them and I'm too shy to ask them to take a billion shots. It's a tough one!
ReplyDeleteSo I just invested in a new camera, and I'm overly obsessed with one of it's features. I'll be blogging about it soon. I feel like it's so perfect for bloggers! It's an Olympus and it syncs with your Iphone and therefore your Iphone can be used as the remote control as a live stream. So I can prop my camera up wherever, and then use my Iphone to adjust the picture and then snap it! You can also set a timer from your i-phone (for your camera) which gives you enough time to toss your iphone graciously out of the shot. This is a brand new purchase and I've yet to take the fancy-camera class, but prior to ...my husband knew the drill... He'd take 58 pictures and I would like 0 of them, so he would take 97 more, and after 7 filter adjustments, I would like 1 :) I feel your pain!
ReplyDeleteAl
SISTERS, baby!! They are wonderful :D Just put the settings how you want them and let them click away :) Sorry you're having a hard time with this, though. Hope you can get it figured out!!
ReplyDelete100% agree. I've tried my boyfriend and he's AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. My next step is to try a tripod and clicker but we'll see about that...
ReplyDeleteMy husband is pretty good at taking pictures. Its GETTING him to take them is the struggle lol.. If thought about buying a clicker so I could take pictures easier. I hate setting the timer somedays lol
ReplyDeleteTripod and remote all the way. I don't even ask my husband because I know it will be:
ReplyDelete1. like pulling teeth.
2. Terrible photo in general.
Tripod has been a bit of trial and error, but I think I've gotten decent at it. Plus getting a 50 mm lens has helped tremendously!
I literally just started a blog post on this the other day... how do said fashion bloggers manage these stunning solo shots? Amanda at Meet at the Barre suggested getting a quality full length mirror for fashion selfies, which I suppose is a good alternative but still...
ReplyDeletelol I was just sitting here pouting because I have to take a bunch of pictures today for my blog. . I don't want to take pictures I want to write!
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Oh my gosh ahahha I love this.
ReplyDeleteI totally struggle with a Tripod and it takes me so long to get a photo that I like!
I need some tips and tricks too - definitely haha
www.katinalindaa.com
Well at least your brave enough to even try your own photos in public. I always feel so silly and all the hundreds of eyes (I secretly think very highly of myself) watching and judging me. I usually wait for my sister to come visit me and then make her do a billion photo-shoots.....or just stick to selfies, le sigh lol
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly!!! I am by no means a great photographer, although I don't think my photos are all that bad. But every time I need someone to take a photo of me (supposedly taken for outfit posts), I always have to pull my hair out of frustration. Hahaha. I usually ask my sister to help me with it, and while she's skilled with taking photos, but she can't quite capture the shot I have in mind, and I can't explain properly what kind of angle I like as well, one where I look my best. Let's just say, she practically wants to give up on me by now. Lol.
ReplyDeleteOnce when my sister was not around, I asked my little brother to take a photo of me and I learned a very important lesson: never expect a gamer boy to take a decent shot of you. Not only was the photo angled weirdly (rotated by 70 degrees?), but he cut off half of my feet as well! And he couldn't get it right no matter how many times I told him to include my feet. It was either my whole feet or part of my toes. I literally couldn't stop laughing. Hahaha.
Anyway, I have never uploaded any of my outfit post because of that, so I would SO MUCH love to know the answer to your turmoil as well. ^^
Ya I have the same problem! I swear fashion bloggers must hire someone or have a photographer friend or something. I make my husband do it but he hates it and so more often than not I use the tripod and it takes me ten times longer and I have to find secret photoshoot places where no one can see me
ReplyDeleteI am cracking up so hard over here. I cannot for the life of me ever get one of those perfect fashion blogger pictures, so I don't even try! Asking hubby to do it for me would probably put my anxious, micro managing mode on and then he would probably shoot me haha.
ReplyDeleteNew follower over here!