I constantly feel inadequate. I don't spend time fiddling with filters and Photoshop to make my blog look clean and polished. To be honest it's a mixture of feeling like I am lucky if I have enough time to blog full stop and then feeling overwhelmed.
I love taking pictures. But, I often feel like I don't want to feature in photos. I also don't know where to start..
My favourite blogs, however, do have killer pictures. They have an aesthetic that is so perfect that it makes me feel relaxed and on edge all at once. I know that sometimes it can be as simple as using a consistent filter and it can't be that hard but still I seem to stress.... I don't attempt to be 'aesthetic goals' in any way. In fact, I really didn't care for a long time. Until I realised that I think it's damaging my blog.
On one of my many blogging breaks, I continued to read blogs. I also then compared my blog to the blogs that I love and that are marginally successful. I don't try and generate traffic to my blog. I don't try to grow my followers on any platform. That side of blogging didn't attract me. I only ever blogged for enjoyment. I didn't particularly aim to market my blog. But if I want to blog and make it worthwhile, surely I should be doing these things? Otherwise my blog gets lost in the many blog domains of the Internet now.
Sometimes I don't understand myself. I know that I should be taking all these steps if I want to continue blogging. I think I'm just stuck in my 2012 blog. In 2012 there wasn't a pressure of an aesthetic. First and foremost, for me personally, it was about my writing. I loved the creative process of writing and developing a blog post - starting with my frantic fingers dancing around the keyboard and developing it into a fully fledged blog post.
I have dipped in and out of blogging for the past two years. It hasn't been intentional. I just felt like I was out of my depth with the aesthetics. I never stopped loving writing and creating blog posts. I just knew that I was lacking in the steps that I needed to take to progress as a blogger.
I am a driven and motivated person. It's taken me this long to fully accept what I need to do to make my blog better and more modern. So, I guess, one of my goals for 2018 is to jump onto the aesthetic bandwagon. Pictures do matter when it comes to blog posts. They liven up the words. When I was little I loved a good picture book. They made the words come to life and made the story interesting. Blogging is an adult version of a childhood story book.. In most cases, they're our diaries which we publish for others to read. They are the inner workings of our thoughts and opinions. So, why not add a picture?
Things I need to consider when developing my aesthetic will be;
Purchasing an interesting plant (and keeping it alive)
Making sure I have a good fashion mag at hand to throw into the background
Making a good cup of coffee to hold casually (even though I totally cannot drink caffeine)
A snuggly blanket to drape over my leg - possibly pairing it with the coffee to create the ultimate 'snuggle vibe'?
Exploring and taking pictures locally where I am casually looking into the distance
Featuring my iPhone
Taking a picture of my blogging set up (well, at least making a blogging set up because I'm currently in my pyjamas with a pillow resting my laptop precariously on my legs)..
Find a nice wall to stand against
Make use of my multiple outfits and pose.. (avoid smiling).
and that's just the start!
If the above list sounds like a bit of a poke at 'aesthetic goals', well, that's because it sort of is.
It's slightly crazy to my 2012-self that aesthetic makes for a good blog these days. But, on the other hand - I totally get it! Duh, picture books vibe, Hol?!
So, have I made a good start? Did my attempt of the aesthetic image make my blog post a creature comfort? Admittedly if you look close enough you can still see the hot chocolate powder around the edges of the mug and my image placement isn't at its best. But, to be honest, for a first go at being a 2018 blogger - I'm pretty content. Of course, this is just an example. I am aiming for my pictures to be more polished and thought out. I aim to give just as much thought to the pictures that partner my blog posts as the writing.
To be honest, this is just one small tiny step that I plan on taking in terms of improving my blog. I have a lot more coming up which is super exciting. My blog will see a lot of changes this year..
This aesthetic journey will be good for me. I will be stretching my photography skills and making use of my Photoshop subscription. Wish me luck boys and gals....
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