Now the clocks have gone back by an hour here in the U.K, it really does confirm that the colder and darker months are well and truly here. You've probably already noticed that you're waking up in the mornings to darkness, long gone are the days of early summer sunshine breaking through your curtains and waking you up for the day. Instead, you're left to try pull yourself up out of bed when it's pitch black outside and freezing cold, it's a mammoth just within itself. For today's post, I really wanted to spark some positivity to your mornings, giving you the chance of the best possible start to your day and hopefully help you to continue this spirit throughout the whole year not just the winter months.
Blog photo's is probably one of the areas about blogging that I always find the hardest. Mainly because I'm a photography newbie, but also because I find it hard to find prop's to use in my photos that will really help to bring them to life and create a story behind them that reflects well with the post. You might be sitting here reading this and thinking this sound's exactly like me, I never what props to use and always try to avoid overusing ones I already have in my photos. Hopefully today's post will help inspire you out of this issue with 15 Blog Photo Prop Ideas!
1. Makeup - Any product's whether they're high end or drugstore and the tools you use such as eye lash curlers or your makeup brushes are great photo props. You don't have to go out and buy any other additional products for this so this is a super affordable go to prop idea, but you already own the product's you just need to start using them. Plus you don't have to just keep them to any beauty related posts, you can easily involve them in other type of posts like lifestyle and fashion.
2. Stationary - If you're a blogger, you typically might be a big fan of stationary. This could be anywhere from notebooks, journals and planners, pens and pencils, paper clips, rulers etc, anything that fits into this category you can easily use as a prop in your photos.
3. Magazines & Books - Magazines tend to have pretty images whether that's on the front cover, inside editorials or advertisements. Use these type of photo's you see within magazines as a prop in your photos. You could try reflect the image in the magazine well with what your post is about to build on your post more. Also the great thing about magazines is that you can always reuse them and they only cost a couple of pounds, so once you've read them and used them, you can always come back to them again and again.
The same applies with books. The covers can be made good use out of as a prop idea for your blog photos. You could also stand any products or additional props on top of the books to give them a background to stand on. In more nonfiction texts, you might find images used within the book and this can also be used as an additional prop idea.
4. Food - Food is an essential that us humans take for granted and use on a daily basis. So why not make extra good use out of the resource and use it within your photos? Pick up a bunch of some colourful fruits or scatter a few of your favourite sweet treats around to add a touch of life to your photos.
5. Confetti - This is definitely one I want to start doing more! Confetti can really help to add an extra detail to your blog photos and really make them scream fun. You can find confetti like sequins, shapes and seasonal decorations in most craft, party and decoration stores. It's always best to have a good look around. I recently found some cute Halloween confetti in Tiger which was only a couple of pounds! But if you want to be super affordable, then you can always make your own which is both simple and quick to do. Fee from MakeUpSavvy has a great post on this here.
6. Seasonal pieces - Seasonal pieces are great for season themed style posts or just to fit within the season. I think this is one of the fabulous things about photography for me is seeing all the fun seasonal pieces I can use as props in my photos. You don't even have to go out and purchase any additional props like decorations if you don't have the funds or time to, you can easily step outside and go looking for them for absolutely free. In Autumn, you can go searching for autumnal pieces like leaves, conkers, pine cones and acorns. Then you'll be able to build a cute seasonal picture for your post!
7. Plants & Flowers - Whether they're fake or real, using plants and flowers can create a natural and fresh vibe to any photo. As mentioned above, using pretty flowers in the warmer months can be a great touch to your photos. Whilst in the colder months, you could stick to fake plants and flowers that are more toned down and suit the time of the year.
8. Home accessories - This is a great example of why you should have a look around your home! No doubt you'll be able to find at least something you can use. Any home decorations like candles, photo frames, ornaments, lights, blankets, cushions and flowers etc can be used as props.
9. Clothing - Using different textures in your photos can really help to bring images to life and this is what clothing can do. Even if you don't end up using the whole clothing piece in a photo. you can use any edges or sections to add a touch of something else to your photos, reflect with the theme and of course bring an added texture. Examples of pieces you might want to use include any denim items, scarves, faux leather or faux fur details, any patterned pieces, lace details on tops etc.
10. Fragrance - A perfume bottle of any kind can add a touch of sophistication to any photo! These look particularly good in beauty and fashion posts, but obviously can be used with whatever style of posts you are producing.
11. Beauty products - This can also include fragrances and makeup products, but you can also use other beauty products within your photo's such as skincare, bath and body, hair and nails. Adding a few of these type of items into your photos can really just build a bigger story behind the image that helps relate to the overall post.
12. Crafts - You can use a range of crafts to use as props in your photos! Things like different coloured card/paper, tissue paper, wrapping paper, fabrics, tape, ribbon and sequins. You can switch things up between each set of post photos and always reuse things as well, so essentially you're ensuring your money is being put to good use.
13. Technology - No doubt as a blogger you'll at least have one form of technology you use to upload your posts! So why not use these as props in your photos? This could be your phone, Ipad/tablet, computer/laptop, camera or iPod. Whatever it is include it within your photos.
14. Jewellery - Jewellery is great to use as a prop! Whether you own staple pieces or you're a fan of the minimalistic look, then gather your jewellery together and add them to your photographs. My go to options are small dainty rings, which just add a little something extra to my photos. Necklaces, bracelets and watches are also great go to's.
15. Prints/Quotes - Finally, purchasing or making your own prints/quotes can also be used in your blog photos, especially quotes that reflect well with the theme of your post or bring a little bit of positivity or inspiration to your readers day. You can get quotes in a range of different colours, sizes and designs. So go as fun and quirky as if you like!
What blog photo prop's do you like to use?
Lauren x
It's just a little over a week away until one of the most celebrated nights of the Autumn months is here. Halloween is fast approaching now and however you chose to spend the night there is probably a bundle of you who are trying to figure out what you might wear to celebrate this year. Finding a costume can sometimes be so difficult, but reason years have seen many high street names and online retailers creating pieces that are perfect for the Halloween period. Whether you're staying in for a night full of scary movies and Halloween themed snacks or heading out for the night to dance the demons away, I've got some great outfit ideas that are sure to be perfect for however you spend this haunted day!
- A little black dress is a great starter option for any Halloween themed outfit. From your dress, you can build around it with different accessories to create whatever theme you like. A number of examples could include, buying some cat ears and drawing on the cat makeup to create a cat theme, using blood and other special effects makeup to create a vampire or zombie inspired look, picking up a witches a hat, a wand, a cape and any other accessories to build a witch like image to your costume idea or whatever other ideas you might have that can be built around your basic black dress.
- You don't even have to go as anything in particular! You could just easily buy one of the slogan or graphic printed t-shirts and pair it with your favourite pair of jeans or skirt for an easy go to look this halloween if you prefer a more relaxed yet chic look for your celebrations. This also works well if you're staying in for the night and want to be super comfortable.
- If you don't have much money or ideas in what to wear, then go for a party inspired number like the little black dress or any going out attire, but go crazy with your makeup and create whatever scary themed look you might like! Either learn and do it yourself or get a friend or even a professional to help you with your look. It's really easy to get a hold of special effects makeup these days or even just making do with what you've got out of your makeup collection can help you pull off any look.
What are your plans for Halloween? What are you dressing up as or what would you dress up as?
Lauren x
While we all can be quite similar within the blogging world, maybe with the same niches or go to photo style, we don't all things the exact same. Each one of us has a set way of how we do and achieve something. Everyone's blogging process is different and unique to them. Mines even changed a few times over the course of the year I have been running this blog for. I think experimenting with different parts of your blog is absolutely fine and can actually help you figure out what works best for you. Today I wanted to share with you my blogging process and give you the chance to see how I work.
NYX has soon become one of my favourite brands ever since it launched in Boot's earlier this year. Whatever I seem to try from this brand, I'm always thrilled with the performance and results from the products. You might be reading this and want to try something from this brand, but you're not too sure where to start or you might have already tried from this brand. but you want to expand your collection with some new discoveries, so today's post I am going to share with you 3 products from NYX that you need to try.
I'm sure if you're reading this, then you are probably obsessed with all things Autumn and the fashion that comes with it! Think big cosy knits, chunky boots, faux fur details and dashes of autumnal colour for all to see. I wanted to share with you some of the Autumn Fashion Essentials that I currently have in my wardrobe and what I am going to be wearing throughout the next couple of months.
Since it's Autumn, it's the perfect time within the year to snuggle under a blanket, make yourself a delicious hot chocolate and get lost in the world of fiction. Doesn't that sound so good right now? Whether you're a non-fiction fan or love a good novel, there's always something out there for everyone to get stuck into. In today's post I wanted to share with you 4 book's that I'd recommend to you all. There's a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, so there's sure to be something that you'll want to check out!
Due to the crap weather we've been having the last couple of day's in the UK, I have been unable to create the post's I originally had planned for today due to rubbish shooting conditions for my photos. However, there's always an alternative option that everybody loves. Of course, it's a makeup wishlist! My wishlist for makeup is always endless, with new product's launching and new discoveries being highlighted in the blogging world there's always something I've got my eye on. Here's what's on my current makeup wishlist and be sure to let me know what's on yours too!
As you can probably tell, I'm a massive fan of NYX and I'm so glad it is more accessible here in the U.K now, but not so much fun for my non existent funds. However I do have a few product's from this brand that I am really after right now. The first is the NYX Tame & Frame Tinted Brow Pomade which I have actually wanted for the longest time. Not only is it super affordable, but from the review's I've read it sound's so good and a dupe for the famously known Anastasia Brow Pomade. The other two product's I have on my wishlist from NYX include the Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator and the High Definition Blush in Pastel Chic. I'm obsessed with dewy and glowing skin, so the liquid illuminator sound's perfect for what I want and I think Pastel Chic look's and sound's like such a pretty shade that would really suit everybody.
Another brand featured within my wishlist is Charlotte Tilbury, a brand that I have only ever tried one product from before, but so eager to try more from this luxurious range. A palette I've had my eye on since last year is the Luxury Colour-Coded Eye Shadow Palette in The Vintage Vamp. This palette look's so perfect for Autumn/Winter and creating those gorgeous berry and gold coloured eye looks. The other product is another eye based product and one I've heard great things about is the Legendary Lashes Mascara, like most of CT's range has the most stunning packaging ever!
On the topic of eye makeup, another palette I have gone all heart eye emoji for is the latest Urban Decay basic's palette release known as the Ultimate Basics Matte Eye Shadow Palette. I absolutely love the original basic's palette and use it on a daily basis, so to see a new basic's palette with double more shadow's really makes me want to try this, especially since I'm wanting to experiment more with matte shadows. The other product from UD I've featured on my wishlist is the All Nighter Makeup Spray that I so badly want to try to see if the product actually lives up to the hype and the claims of holding your makeup in place for up to 16 hours.
Next is two very affordable highlight based products. The first is the Sleek - Face Form palette, which was featured in a quite recent post of mine 'Product's I've Hit Pan On'. Since I've hit pan on this, I really want to repurchase a new one of these. I just love the usability of this product and the shades are just such a great match for my skin whilst being stunning also. The other is one from Makeup Revolution and is quite new on the market, the Ultra Pro Glow is screaming at me every time I go into Superdrug, it literally just keeps begging me to buy it. How could you ever resist those gorgeous easy to wear shades though? This one is a huge must!!!
Moving onto lip products, which I just want to say a quick disclaimer that if I could I would have a lot more lip products on this wishlist, but then we would simply be here all day with how many I am after. A girl can never have too many lip product's, can she? Anyway, one that supports the matte lip trend that everyone has gone crazy for is the Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick in the shade Queen B. First off, I love the name of this shade and second, I'm so in love with the medium toned mauve colour. It look's so wearable and I really like the packaging of these too. The second is another product I have had on my wishlist for quite some time now and is Soar Lip Liner by Mac. I really want this so I can wear it with Mac's Brave.
Finally, I have been wanting some new makeup brushes since mine are getting pretty old and have been very well loved. I've known about Spectrum brushes for the past year now and they literally do such pretty brushes. They're quite pricey at first glance, but I think if the quality is there and the amount of brushes you get in the set, as well as any cases and the high quality look of them, then they definitely seem worth it. The Marbelous 12 Piece Set is such a lovely set of brushes and look's so minimalist yet luxurious.
What's on your makeup wishlist right now? Have you tried any of these product's mentioned?
Lauren x
As soon as Autumn came round, I couldn't wait to start wearing my darker lip shades again. I wanted to share with you in today's post my favourite Autumn/Winter lip picks for this year. There's an assortment of berry and nudes tones within my selection. Apart from the MAC lipsticks, the other choices are all drugstore and very affordable. So I'm sure they'll at least be one shade within my favourites that you're going to love!
Today I wanted to share with you another style edit, only this time I'm showcasing the latest must have shoe styles for the Autumn season. Shoe shopping this time of the year is so important due to the harsher and colder weather, so it's essential you wear appropriate footwear to suit whatever the weather decides to throw at you. But this of course doesn't mean you can't be stylish! You'll find a mixture of stylish, comfortable, classic and on trend footwear within this Autumn Shoe Edit.
The Loafer -
This classic Autumn footwear, the loafer is a must have essential for your Autumn wardrobe. They're a versatile shoe that can take your casual everyday outfits to the office or a fancy dinner date. This menswear inspired piece is a great alternative to the popular lace-up flat that has been all over the shop the past couple of seasons. You'll see the loafer supporting bold colours, fun prints, pointed tips, backless features and block heels. For relaxed days throw on a pair of frayed hem jeans, a plain white t-shirt and a suede jacket whilst more dressier occasions opt for a pencil skirt, a classic oxford style shirt and your favourite jacket. The go to places to shop for the loafer include RiverIsland & ASOS.
Shop the Loafer:
The Mule -
Known in the fashion world as being the 'ugly shoe', the Mule is continuing on as being a trend into the Autumn season after being a hit during the Spring/Summer months. This slip on shoe can be seen in either a flat or heeled form. Mules typically are open-toed, but closed toe options can be found when the weather isn't on your side. The suede option Mule is perfect for crisp autumn days, whether you fancy an autumnal appropriate shade or an on trend shade like dusky pink or khaki, you'll fall in love with a shade for you. Also you can easily dress up any look with this style. Another on trend colour option is metallic, which will add a touch of fun and glamour to any outfit. If you want to stick to being brave, the classic black style is a great go to option for effortless looks. However, if you're not feeling brave enough to support this shoe, why not go for a cheat option? Pick a pair with added lace/tie up features for extra detail! The go to places to shop for this trend include ASOS & NewLook.
Shop the Mule:
The Boot -
You can't do an autumn shoe edit without mention the go to option for this season! Boots are all we what we associate autumn with. This Autumn there's a range of styles out there to suit everybody. This season you'll see the boot supporting a mixture of textures and finishes, such as the popular suede, new trend velvet, all weather appropriate leather and glossy patent finishes. If you want to keep your look simple, go for a a classic black Chelsea boot. Be daring with some knee high suede boots and an oversized knitted dress for all things Autumn. Fancy spicing things up? Opt for an extra detailed print like leopard print or snake skin. On nights out, there's nothing wrong with going for a peep toe style to dance the night away! You really cannot go wrong with a pair of boots, can you? Shop for boots on ASOS, NewLook and PublicDesire.
Shop the Boot:
The Block Heel -
In terms of style, the block heel is one you're going to be seeing everywhere! Not only is this style super comfy, but it's also very stylish. The block heel can easily be dressed up and worn for any important occasion, from the office to after work drinks. This style has a range of different features and details. Whether you're a fan of the lace-up trend, a huge lover for all things metallic, wanting to try new season velvet, after a fuller boot like option or wanting added details, you'll always have a range of selection to chose from to suit your tastes or needs. Dress it up or dress it down, but always know you're going to be super comfy with this style. You can find the block heel everywhere at the moment, but I'd definitely say head over to ASOS and NewLook!
Shop the Block Heel:
Do you want to work with brands? Have you considered reaching out to a brand you absolutely love or want to build a relationship with? Do you find yourself unsure of how to market yourself to brands when they contact you to find out more about you and your blog? Well, I have a solution. Create a Media Kit. I didn't realise how important one was when it came to working with brands until I made one myself. Now I know I always have my kit there to present to brands. I'm going to run through with you in the simplest way possible how you can make your own media kit for your blog, as well all the information you'll want to know about why you should have one.