“Can you please take some photos of me before we go out for dinner?” I ask.
“Yes. But we can’t be long.” My husband replies.
The camera gets pulled out for all of 45 seconds. Snaps five photos. “Thank God at least two thirds of those photos look decent.” I retort.
The camera then suitably get’s stuffed away. Me, wishing that we had just fit a couple more in for the sake of another minute.
Excuse the long and drawn out blog title, but I think for some of us Bloggers we aren’t bestowed with an on-hand photographer Boyfriend for all our every day blogging needs and requirements, are we? So I’m trying to make it a little easier for us poor souls who have to deal with this. Welcome to the basic blogging bitches #BloggingProbs101.
I don’t know if it is just me that suffers with a similar scenario each time I require a little help with the blog from the other half? Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Was it the hot weather making it a bit too unbearable? No. This happens each time. Goddammit, do they not realise the composition of our photos make all the difference? Okay, I realise I sound like a whiny bitch. But sometimes, ya just gotta have a little moan? Am I right? I notice a lot of other bloggers have very creative other halves, photographers, band members or musicians, designers, the list goes on. Well, my husband, he’s in the motor trade and a Farmer’s son. “Good with the hands they say!” Well, yes. Yes, you’d be right. But not when a camera is in hand getting the perfect shot. Pass me the burn book, call me a horrible person, but all I want is a little co-operation every once in a while. And whilst these photos are not too shabby (a little bit of post editing on my part) I thought I would put together a post of tips for Fashion Blog Photography with a Not-So Creative Other Half!
I know that I have a fair few blogging friends and some I could definitely count on my fingers to support me if I ever needed a little blog photo session. There’s often times when I’ve met up before events or afterwards to take the opportunity to shoot outfit posts. I probably feel less vunerable around my blogging friends too, because we all know how it goes. Strike a few poses looking sultry, checking the photos, ask for a couple more, doing it all over again and then swapping places so the other can then take photos of the other person. It’s a great, simple & cost effective way of getting some great shots because fellow bloggers know what makes a good shot, after all!
Buy a Tripod
Go the whole hog and buy a point and shoot remote. That’s how a lot of my photos are taken, on a tripod. It’s simple to set up and you can keep playing around with the angle of each shot. Plus, pop your camera on burst mode and capture 5 – 10 photos each time you click the button. Obviously this works best when you set a timer so you can get in to position for the shots. My tripod was my blogging BFF when I first got going.
Try Lifestyle Posts
I’m not saying outright stop fashion blogging, but if you are finding it difficult to fit lots of outfit shoots in, consider other posts that would also fit within the theme and content of your blog already. Some of the most gorgeous blogs use carefully curated flatlays or photography from their days out and about. Plus, I do love to see a little variety from a blog too.
Local Photography Students
To create their portfolios some students like to take on extra projects, it’s a great way to tap in to semi-professional photographers who are at the very start of their journey. Plus, it’s a fab opportunity for them to gain experience whilst studying too. And, whilst us bloggers hate the word “exposure” consider covering their time with a small fee or a coffee, or their travel expenses.
Train your Other Half
If you have the patience to sit down and discuss how you want your blog photos to look, it might be worth a shot even if you do have an un-creative other half. Sometimes all they need is a little nudge in the right direction. Use Pinterest and other blogs for a source of inspiration to get their mind ticking about how they can help and make your style posts look better. You never know, it might be the start of something beautiful.
Work with a Professional Photographer
If all else fails, working with a professional doesn’t always have to break the bank. I work with the lovely Matt McCormick, like many other Leeds Bloggers for a very small fee. He knows exactly how I want my photos to look and ultimately, knows his way around a camera. For the sake of spending some £££ it’s most definitely worth it. I have found that working with a professional, more brands and PR’s have contacted me wanting to work with me. So by spending my pennies, I’m probably receiving a much better return on investment.
I do hope that my ideas have got you thinking about how you can make the most of fashion blogging without a creative other half! Do you have any tips that I could use too? I’d love to hear from you!
Bee xxx
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