I mentioned in my previous post that I wanted to share a little reflection on photos and blogging, and here it is.
Recently, I read a very interesting post on Catherine Daze's blog on realism in project pictures, which I recommend to anyone.
The points Catherine makes in this post got really stuck in my head and made me think a lot about my blog.
On the first question she presents, which is basically how clothes are styled in project pictures, we have very similar thoughts. She says she rarely wears the clothes the way she styles them for photos, because it's too impractical for every day life.
I must say I do exactly the same thing. In most of my photos, I wear a lot of makeup, I style my hair carefully, I never wear my glasses and I have heels on. It's very rare to see me so done up on an everyday basis: while I still feel overdressed most of the time, living in dresses and quirky prints, I am not a very glamorous person. I like to put some thought in how I present myself to the world, but I often have terrible hair, very little makeup on and most of all, I walk around a lot so I never wear heels.
So why do I dress up like that in photos? Because, as Catherine writes, that is how I'd like to wear the clothes, the look I'd love the most for them. I have fun playing around with styling and dressing up and I think the clothes look more interesting this way.
That means my photos are not 100% realistic, but I think they're much more fun and nice to look at.
I do edit my photos, basically since the beginning of my blog. By that I don't mean making myself look slimmer, or airbrushing the skin of my face when I have a breakout. I wouldn't even know where to start with that. And when a project didn't turn out to be so hot, I don't fake it in pictures, I don't hide its faults because I want to be honest in my blog and I think sharing failures is always more helpful (either for me, for readers or for both).
But I really like to add a dreamy, colorful aspect to my photos. I try not to alter the colors too much, so that the garment I want to represent is still close to reality. I think they look a lot more vibrant, fun and, once again, more interesting to look at.
In my last post, I left the photos almost unedited (just used the auto adjustments on iPhoto for contrast and saturation) and I kept my styling as casual as possible. The result? While I don't hate them, I'm not really crazy about those photos, I find them a bit dull compared to my usual pics.
As you can see in the examples above and beneath, the photos are not not incredibly different after being edited, but still they can't be considered 100% realistic. Does this cross a line?
Both what you like to see on other blogs (mine included, obviously) and what you think is fair and best to do with your own photos. Please let me know! :)
I think photographs are always a 2d representation of a living 3d thing and so they can fall flat - so I don't mind a bit of dressing up and photo editing if it makes up for that 2d-ness. Does that make sense? I bet in real life the colours and surroundings looked just as vibrant as in the edited versions. As long as you can still see the actual details of the garment it's fine by me!
ReplyDeleteI read Cath's post and my views are very similar to yours. My early photos don't have any editing( that I mean by adjusting light etc) because i don't know how and I only recently started to use pic monkey to adjust"curves' and thats pretty much it. I do dress up and do may hair everyday and I style the clothes as I would wear it. I want my blog to be a continuation of my sewing aesthetics... i try to take my photos in natural light and that its the best thing because the natural light fix any issues. I actually like to point out fitting issues as the blog is part of my diary and I have a record for life!
ReplyDeleteI find this post very interesting, and I have to admit I have the exact same opinion about your last pictures : while I think you look really lovely "au naturel" (and that is just not fair, I on the other side look like crap without make-up on :( ) and it reflects more the everyday reality, I love to be inspired by dreamy pictures where we would all be dolled up and in high heels ^^, and most importantly I love the atmosphere you add to your pictures by changing the colors, it became quite your trademark ^^
ReplyDeleteOddly, while Catherine's post is very good, I never saw the problem to style our creations (given that we don't hide our sewing mistakes, cause these can help other people !) because I think most blogs aren't created to be the perfect mirror of our reality (if it was the case, there would be LOTS of pajama and tv-watching pictures on mine ^^) but to show what inspires us, and hopefully inspire people :)
On a personal side, I always touch up the colors on my pictures to perfect them or give a mood, but never modify by body shape or hide flaws on my garments because in my opinion it would be tricking the reader, but I'll read the other comments with interest :D
"A continuation of my sewing aesthetics" is a great way to put it, and I agree completely.
ReplyDeleteI also think natural light is essential, I'm really grateful I have a nice space to shoot outside.
It does make sense and it seems like we have similar thoughts on the matter. Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteYou make an excellent point on inspiration and on blogs not being a perfect mirror of our lives.
ReplyDeleteMy blog would be filled with boring clothes and boring places as well.
And thank you for your compliment, but I too am not exactly pretty without any makeup. I literally cannot leave the house without some concealer under my eyes and some blush on my cheeks, or people would think zombies apocalypse has finally arrived :D
I don't edit my photos at all, with the exception of occasionally cropping them. I don't take but one or two photos of each one--especially the modeled shots, because most of the time I have my 6 year old take them for me. He doesn't have the patience to take dozens of pics...or even a couple of pics most days. ;-) Hubby is the same way. I prefer the more realistic shots, because nothing disappoints me more than trying something for myself only to discover that the original was photographically altered to make it look better than it was IRL.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I feel that if you don't edit your photos at all, you're NOT capturing reality. I mean, sure, sometimes I'm lazy and I don't edit at all. But I don't think improving the shot or the quality of an image is distorting reality. Why wouldn't you crop to make the composition better? Why wouldn't you fix the levels or adjust color balance? I've used a variety of cameras, and the colors they pick up are rarely the ones in reality. I've been disappointed by many a purple and I WISH people would edit their photos more.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting question! I don't like it when photo's are overedited, or the person always seems perfect. You just know that it's not real. I don't mind if you don't always wear make up and heels like you do in the photo's, as long as you are honest about it. I actually do want to see some editing, because you want something nice to look at. Plus, your garment is usually the center of attention in a picture, and if you can make it pop out by cropping and adjusting the saturation to make it similar to the real colour, that's perfectly fine.
ReplyDeleteI have a background in photography and I worked in a professional custom lab some years ago. There is no true "correct" or "true" when it comes to color balance in a photo. Sometimes "neutral" is a goal; no bias towards one side of the color spectrum. However, it is really just personal preference and other factors. For example, some clients might want their photographs printed with a slightly bluish cast -- it might be just preference or it may be because the photos would ultimately be exhibited under incandescent (i.e., yellow) lighting. For my own photos, if they are to be posted online I usually enhance the color saturation a bit. I think this is just an adaption to the web media, same as adjusting for lighting. Also, photos are not automatically a 'truth;' they are composed (both physically and conceptually) like any other creative work. So if adjustments are made, that is simply a way of composing the story that you intend to tell. Even 'air brushing' is a way of composing the story. (There is a backlash against 'photoshopping' fashion photos, but this is really just the way that the fashion business is telling the story of their product.) Photographs are not 'reality,' it's all fiction, so anything goes. That's my view...
ReplyDelete~Jen
Great post Anna and I'm totally in your camp of thought! I never edit photos to change my appearance in terms of weight, blemishes and so on, but I do always adjust the colour balance, sharpness, etc. If I didn't my photos would be very dull due to the general lack of light in the UK and they wouldn't convey the true colour of anything. So I try and enhance them as best I can, whilst keeping them as real as possible. At the end of the day, I want to portray myself honestly, but I also want my blog to look good!
ReplyDeleteI think it's totally fine to edit photos a little bit, and I'm not talking about some drastic changes. While looking at your "after" photos I'm totally convinced that you could get the same result even without any editing: if you grabbed a professional camera, special lens and lighting equipment and - voila!- you would get the same result. Would it make photos more real?.. We're not professional photographers and often we don't have any around us, but I do not think that it makes an obligatory to post only home-made looking shots. I love beauty and I must say that I equally love when bloggers put some effort in visual information. So, I could only say - good job! I love your blog's appearance, so do the photos.
ReplyDeleteit's quite a different story of more drastic changes. I believe that nobody should make themselves look slimmer, put digital wigs on, etc. It's all about loving yourself just how you're - it doesn't hurt if you crop some random sock in the background, get professional-looking colors or style it like you would do only on a big occasion (seriously, not styling yourself like that everyday doesn't meant you couldn't if you were going to an event). However, if you feel a need to change your body or face, that might be a bigger problem.
Oh, you got me talking too much :D
I don't have time to take fantasy photos, nor do I have anyone to take them for me. All my photos of garments are either on a dress form in the basement (terrible lighting), or taken in the kitchen where I have the most natural light, just before I go to work in the morning—so what you see is my real life. I've taken a few photos outside, but with winter around the corner, that's not going to happen anymore until next May or June.
ReplyDeleteAs a graphic designer I work with photoshop every day, but I ain't no photographer. I'm envious of great blog photographs, so retouch away!! I like a little fantasy in my photography.
I really like the way you have edited your photos, they give you blog a nice look and feel, which makes your blog stand out, without loosing what is important.
ReplyDeleteMy photos aren't very good. I take nearly all my photos in my small dark flat, which has almost no natural light. So i have to play around with the lighting levels just to make them look closer to what i see with my own eyes. I have never tried to make my self look thinner, etc (except when i am taking them, i tend hold my stomach in and use poses that don't show my fat tummy). I think this level of photo editing is expectable by any standards.
I don't mind blogs that use point and shoot photography and a "really honest" lack of editing, but I really appreciate the consistent look of your photo post processing. I think it conveys more than just the actual image, it also shares a concept.
ReplyDeleteI read Catherine's post when it came out and while I respect her opinion, I personally disagree about whether or not editing photos compromises the integrity or whatever of presenting a garment. My favourite blogs are the ones where people make an effort to present beautiful, well-lit, thoughtfully edited photos (you, Sallie, Grainline, Cloth Habit, Cirque de Bebe etc). As a designer (interior, but still related), I HAVE to be obsessed with the way things look - I can't help it, it's part of my DNA. I make a huge effort to take pretty photos, and I sometimes edit the shit out of them (I have photoshopped out zits and cellulite because I know how and WHY would I put up pictures of my dimpled bum in a swimsuit I made if I don't have to?)
ReplyDeleteThe reality is, we have access to amazing technology which can make the pretty things we make prettier. Busting out some filters or playing with curves is not going to hide an ugly garment, but it will certainly make a beautiful garment shine that much more. I understand that not everyone cares about the aesthetics of every detail as much as I do, or doesn't have access to the equipment or skills to take profesh photos, which is totally fine. But I will continue to try to up my photography game as much as possible, and I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with that. Additionally, if you are interested in increasing your traffic and potentially generating ad revenue in the future, it will only happen if you produce high quality, "Pinnable" images. Welcome to the digital age.
I like seeing pretty pictures, so I don't mind seeing edited photos. I usually edit mine to correct for lighting and color issues.
ReplyDelete-Ash P
http://distractedashley.blogspot.com
I agree with you and I tend to do the same things. I don't think you distort reality as much as show a certain point of view and give them an ambiance. By the way, I love your editing, it's very subtle but very sweet and inspiring.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I try to edit photos playing with light and colours very slightly, cropping them if needed, but I don't use any slimming or airbrushing tool (maybe because I don't know how to use them). I try to wear the clothes I make the way I would on a daily basis, except maybe for the heels, and I usually apply make up on the morning.
And the blogs I love reading almost always have some editing, and eventually some interesting composition, which is much more inspiring.
Thank you for the very interesting post.
real life can be so boring, lets have a bit of editing! Wouldn't we edit our actual lives if we really could?! I really like the way you edit your photos and it's still you so I don't think there should anything wrong with that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on both points. Your blog is your little kingdom in the internet world or you could say your own little magazine and you can style the shoots as you want to. Present your clothes in the best way possible, that's what everyone else does as well!
ReplyDeleteI used to live in dresses as well, wore heels to school and sometimes dressed a bit...weird and was overdressed everywhere. Back then I also mostly sewed dresses, but I also wore them. Now my style has changed completely and I wear mostly jeans with a pretty blouse or a nice sweater, because it's just more practical. Now I sew mostly blouses or other tops and only admire the pretty dress patterns from afar. Well...I think I'm off on a tangent ...
I also don't think playing with light and colours on you photos is wrong, I see it as art. If someone photoshopped her/himself skinny to advertise for a diet pill, that would be wrong.
I hope you don't mind that my comment is almost longer than your post and that you can make sense of what I just wrote!
Like your other commenters, I also love the style of your photos and don't think you are somehow misleading your readers.
ReplyDeleteI think maybe what she was thinking through the issue of some things photographing beautifully but never getting worn which four square walls just lamented: http://foursquarewalls.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-one-year-me-olde-blogge.html and other things photographing poorly but getting worn all the time. But photo editing isn't going to solve it.
Ton article est très intéressant... Moi, j'essaie d'être honnête sur mes photos (je ne les retouche pas), mais je fais tout ce que je peux pour être jolie, bien habillée, bien coiffée... Ca met les vêtements en valeur, et c'est ce que je cherche à faire, sans tromper personne. Je ressens la même chose en regardant ton blog : les photos sont jolies, mais réalistes et ne mentent pas.
ReplyDeleteDe façon générale, on ne montre sur nos blogs que ce qui nous plaît dans notre vie : le blog est lui-même un mensonge, il ne reflète que la vie idéale que la blogueuse voudrait avoir. Et pour les blogs de couture, c'est pareil...
mathilde (felicie-a-paris.fr)
I'm with you on the idea that photos for a blog need to have a little editing, and a lot of styling. You're creating a mood and want to draw people in. The first thing we see is the images, then the text. If the photos are blah a lot of people won't bother reading the post, then what's the point of blogging anyway.
ReplyDeleteI have a quilting blog, so thankfully I don't have to wear heels in my photos! But I try to style each photo so that things look clean and fresh and there's some sort of narrative behind the shot. I also spend a good chunk of time editing my photos. For me that means trying to get the colours as true to life as possible, which can be hard in the darker months! If I didn't spend the time working on my photos why bother spending the time blogging, writing tutorials, etc.
I have no problem with you using a filter on your photos or doing your hair and make up. If I want to see messy hair and dark circles under the eyes I can look in the mirror. Blogs give me an escape. You are doing a great job
ReplyDeleteKeep doing what you're doing! I like the dreamy quality of your photos. I sent copies of some of my wedding photos to my mom so that she could print them (on her nicer printer - mine is always out of ink). But first she edited them and the photos completely lost the soft dreamy quality of the sunset that we loved. There was too much contrast, too much saturation, so I went and had them reprinted before framing them. (Shh, don't tell her!) I need to make use of my tripod and self-timer to take some better photos for my blog. Plus find better backgrounds!
ReplyDeleteI think you post-production of photos is just normal, as it should be. You look real%) Not like models in magazibes, very smooth and not from life!%)) As about make-up and heels - I have not any opinion, I like all photos, myself I try to make them like real looks from my life, so I go to walk and ask my bf to make picture( oh, I need to publish some in my blog, because now I haven't any in my blog%))) But I don't think that heels are fake!!%)
ReplyDeleteI personally always alter my photos for color and clarity. I never really thought of it as unrealistic, though. Most of the time the image I captured was what wasn't realistic and I've brought it back to how is should look.
ReplyDeleteThe styling thing is half and half for me. For most of my outdoor photos, I've actually worn the look as is for the rest of the day. I might have been a little bolder is my sstyling because I've sewn something out of my comfort zone or that I've never worn before, but I have made it habit to try to accessorize more and wear lipstick most days. And this year, more than ever, I actually wear what I make.
Blogging is fun and realism is preferred, but nobody wants an internet full of shitty self portraits ;p
I agree with that last statement 100%!
ReplyDeleteInteresting discussion! I understand what Cath is getting at, but really, a camera is never going to completely capture reality (how many times have you photographed a color that just can't quite be replicated perfectly?), so you shouldn't feel like the original photos are some sort of sacred thing that can't be altered. And I think that most of the readers of sewing blogs are people who care about aesthetics and who appreciate nice, carefully-edited photos. I personally have stopped following some blogs that only feature camera-phone-bathroom-mirror shots-- sure, maybe they're unedited, but do they really present the essence of the garment?
ReplyDeleteAnd if it's a crime to photograph yourself in heels when you rarely wear them in real life, well... better lock me up, officer! :)
Personnally, I always edited the pictures. I have a very good camera, I know how to post-treat RAW files and this makes the difference. It will turn a dull picture into something good or even gorgeous. I am also very careful with the light orientation and do a manual white balance before to shoot, so that I have very realistic colors.
ReplyDeleteI really like your pictures, you always look good and not too much. I really find annoying these pictures with lots of accessories! You kind of look natural, may be I would be surprised if I see the everyday you. For my blog, I try to dress up a bit, avoid to take pictures while wearing my slippers, I just want to make a picture of the ideally way I would like to wear my clothes.
Recently i made a post in my blog for a burda dress that i sewed and i was keep complaining to my boyfriend (he is a photographer) how terrible i look in all photos! Plus, i was telling him that you are always so so glorious...So, i think is that i like the way you style yourself for the photoshooting... I like it because it's a precious moment when you present a garment in public for the first time! So keep on!
ReplyDeleteWhat i do, well, i don't style at all, and, as i said, i look very scary (xoxo) so i always hide myself...
About the rest, yes i wear the clothes like i do everyday and now i'm trying to focus on details..But i started to sew last january, so the details are not so nice (yet, i hope)
You can see here, it's in greek, but i have google translate: http://sceneofacraft.blogspot.gr/
Baci!
Oh...and i forgot to say..I edit all the fotos, off course! I like them to have a retro touch...
ReplyDeletePs: I made a mistake: my boyfriend is not a photographer, he is just the photographer for my blog!
I do like your edited photos. It is after all a sewing blog and the editing doesn't detract from the sewing at all.
ReplyDeleteO_O You're not scary at all, you're very cute and I love the vibe of your photos.
ReplyDeleteAbout being a beginner... Yes, the first things you sew might not turn out as well as you might have hoped, but it's still experience! Everyone needs time to learn and get better, as clichéd as it sounds and you will definitely get better in time (although even the most experienced seamstress has a huge fail once in a while).
You'll also find your style with photos, eheh, you need time for that as well, but you're so very lucky to have your boyfriend to help you!
Best luck with your blog, keep up the good work!
I see we share similar point of view :) I wish you had linked your blog in the comment, now I'm curious to see it!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I also have stopped following blogs with less than mediocre pictures and I noticed I comment way less in blogs with not very fancy pics.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I love how you look in your blog, always smiling and for lack of a better word, very relatable. You always cheer me up!
Me too, definitely.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also found myself accessorizing more and taking more care of my look than before I sewed and especially before I blogged and I was much less aware of how I look in a photograph.
Oh yes, backgrounds are essential, they can make or break a photo.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment :)
Thank you so much! Dressing up is also an escape for me, from daily routine, so it's a win win situation I guess :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great point, thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just me, but I find objects much more difficult to photograph (that is, giving some interest to the photo) than people, so you have all my respect.
Merci, Mathilde. Ton blog a toujours été une grande inspiration pour moi, donc tu es un peu responsable de ce que tu voix ici. Je suis heureuse que tu l'aime :D
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I also read Andrea's post and found it VERY interesting, so much so that I think I'll eventually write a similar one. I think it's very interesting to see what happened to the garments in "real life", if they're worn, how they're received by people, etc.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind at all, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment.
ReplyDeleteI wish real life was as easy to edit as a photograph (duh, don't we all?) :)
Thank you for commenting and sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%.I don't find editing distracting,because you are not changing anything,you are just giving the photos a more polished,ethereal look!I personally like to edit my photos,to give them a little more boost.
ReplyDeleteKeep editing your photos, they give a beautiful dreamy aspect (at least that's how I feel) while not transforming the garment you're showing. Plus they're here to make us dream a little! And if you like "dressing up" for you photoshoot, then keep on doing it, it sounds like you're having fun!
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree, especially on the last point. I definitely don't have a very refined, artistic eye but as everyone, I like pretty things.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to share your opinion :)
i didn't associate your name to your blog, so I must add that I freakin'LOVE it. And I love your photos to pieces.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amanda! That's exactly what I'm trying to do.
ReplyDeleteAhah, yes, I also use the tummy trick (I also have a tendency to hunch forward that DOES NOT look nice in photos).
ReplyDeleteYou don't have the possibility to shoot outside? Natural light makes everything so much better!
I also don't have a photographer, I shoot everything with my trusty tripod and remote, usually during the weekend, when I have the most time to do it. I've shot in the rain and bare armed in the snow, it takes time and will but I think it's worth it.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to sound offensive or pushy by any means, but if you'd like your photos to be better or different, try! You might have a lot of fun in the process :)
Thank you for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Janie!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteIt's a very, very interesting point of view, thank you so much for your comment.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a great balance between looking real and looking fancy, I do love your blog and your photos so much :)
ReplyDeleteNot at all, thank you so much for your comment. I completely agree with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sophie ^^
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post and all the comments. I thought the one about all photography being fiction was particularly interesting. I guess we're all just trying to realize an image that we have in our heads. Your pics are lovely - mind you, so are the 'before' versions!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting post! Truthfully - I don't mind a little photo editing, especially if its just for color correction or to give them a little "oomph". I also like to see how you WOULD style your outfit if circumstances were perfect. Blogs - especially a blog dedicated to sewing - only shows a sliver of real life, and I think thats okay.
ReplyDeleteI think it's an interesting question, for sure. I do edit the photos on my blog for color and lighting sometimes, but I am torn over styling for shots of finished projects. On the one hand, it does help the finished piece look its best, but on the other, I think it does feed in to this myth-of-Pinterest notion that craft bloggers live charmed, adorable lives and never have cluttered offices or leave the house in jeans and sneakers.
ReplyDeleteMerci pour ce post; je trouve ça très intéressant d'avoir ton point de vue. Le plus important pour moi, est de ne pas tricher et de montrer réellement le vêtement... Sur mon blog, j'essaye au maximum de faire des photos pour que l'on voit entièrement le modèle présenté, je ne prends que très rarement les détails en photo - je ne trouve pas intéressant de prendre en photo un ourlet ! tu me comprends ? Je retouche mes photos également - un petit peu plus de lumière, ou de couleur, et souvent un recadrage... Mais je cherche toujours à montrer le vêtement - et non pas à me mettre en valeur...
ReplyDeleteC'est ce que j'aime particulièrement dans ton blog, les photos sont toujours bien prises, pour mettre en valeur le vêtement, et donc ça me donne envie inévitablement de me coudre le même (mais ça, c'est une autre histoire ^^) C'est vraiment une source d'inspiration pour moi !!
Et de toute façon, c'est tout à fait normal de vouloir faire de "jolies" photos, c'est quand même LA chose la plus importante pour un blog de couture, non ?
Clotilde (http://clopiano.blogspot.fr/)
What I love most about your blog is that it's not just "Hey, look what I made." Of course that is part of it, and you've introduced me to some wonderful patterns because of it, but what sets you apart are your gorgeous photos, styling, backgrounds, detail shots, etc. There's an art to your blog and you're very careful in what you present, which I totally appreciate. In my opinion, editing photos to be clearer and brighter is NOT cheating -- it's a necessary part of the entire photographic process, and is a skill in itself to know how to enhance a photo to bring out the subject's best features.
ReplyDeleteOh, I totally agree with you! What I put on my blog is a representation of me not necessarily every single day but on some days. Mostly it shows how I'd love to be all the time. It's the old dress up girls fantasy to some respect. I style my photos and will edit them. Again, no heavy editing but definitely colours, contrasts, light, those things. A camera will never, ever take a real photo as a camera cannot read the whole spectrum of colours like our eyes do. Non-editing is as realistic as edited. There are so many things you can do with a camera that will improve your photos, even if you are of the non-editing philosophy. Choosing where to take a photo, which angle, best light. I've planned to start a mini series on this on my blog but am a terrible instructor, lol. It always makes me a bit uncomfortable when people imply that one is "making up a life they don't have". What does that even mean? If I want to show case my latest pair of hom sewn pajamas as worn in "real life", shall I take a photo in my semi dark room first thing in the morning, before even washing my face?! I don't think so, lololol. But kudos to those who will.
ReplyDeleteI like this post and all the comments I have read, so I don't really have anything new to the conversation. I really love the look of your photos and styling. I think part of the fun is styling things how we would want to wear the garments, even if that isn't day to day reality. But I do appreciate an occasional mention or photo of "hey, this is how I really wear it" from the blogs I read. Makes me feel like my life is not really as boring as it looks in comparison!
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting. I think I do wear my clothes a bit differently in real life too. Most of the time I won't wear heels, even though I photograph it with heels on. I edit photos too, but same as you, not to make myself look dramatically different, but to bring out the colors or add a vintage flair to it. I edit it by using photoshop actions, easy and quick fix..
ReplyDeleteYou have really made me think more about my own blog, I do crop the photos and correct the colour and I definitely edit out the real rubbish. I would like to play around more with lighting though as I love the look you give your photos. The blog is not supposed to be like a family photo album, it is supposed to capture the essence of the garment in an attractive way, like a magazine, no-one wants to see loads of crummy shots!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Anna, I love your photo's and their consistency they appear in, admittedly I don't bother looking at blogs with crappy photos I don't care how fancy their techniques are if the photos are crap I'm outta there. For me time is a little precious. I love full outfit shots, hair done, makeup on, I like to see a bit of effort. As I said on Catherine's blog why go to all the trouble to make something fab and not photograph it well? Half of the fun is telling the story with the photo's don't you think?
ReplyDeleteI use Photoshop Actions on my pics which is similar to using a filter from an iphone app I guess.
I'm all-for the edit button. No, I wouldn't go shopping with that feathered headdress on, I like the idea of fantasy inspired posts, it's a creative outlet for me there's no harm in that fun. Yep I wear turbans most days and makeup everyday. People stare and I'm okay with that, I'm the crazy lady with the clickety bangles around here hehe.
I mean, I invest so much time in making a piece of garment. I think about patterns and fabrics and different ways of putting things together and so on. Than the whole process of making it... And then? Just a picture in front of my living room door with bad light?! No, never ever!!! I think it´s very important to style the clothes and to edit the pictures because on basic pictures you just show what the piece of garment looks like but if you think about the photos and the styling in advance you can also show what they feel like. And making the photos kind of belongs to the creative process to me. I love to plan the shootings and I learned so much about picture editing since I have my blog. So, I am very pro editing and styling! :)
ReplyDeleteI love your photos and I wouldn't change a thing. For myself and my own blog, I do simple edits with color, as you yourself do, because I enjoy it. I try to keep the "true" color of the garment. If I don't like my face or hair in a particular photo, I crop it out. Sometimes I don't feel like getting made up, so I plan to crop my head off later. Shoes are typically what I would actually wear with the garment though, that's the only place we differ I think. :)
ReplyDeleteUltimately, it's my blog and my world and my project..people can choose to read or not. I don't really blog for opinion or for others. I blog to record my own projects and because I like it, I like the reference, I like interaction with like-minded people. No one will ever write a blog that pleases every single person that reads it, you know? I say do what you like. That's all that really matters.
I have been know to unfollow blogs with unedited, dark in saturated photos.
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