10 Things I Learned from Beauty Blogging

Charlotte over at Lipglossiping had an excellent post on five things she learned from beauty blogging. I absolutely loved it, and I tweeted out five of my own – and then I asked for people to share theirs… and it was amazing to read all the answers. Would love to hear yours, and I’ve included five more of mine!

• You learn to see shades of color you never knew before. 2 colors are identical, but you will see the nuance that makes them different.  Your boyfriend will look at photos of five red lipsticks and say they’re all the same, but you will see that one is a little bluer, one isn’t as opaque, while two have a sheen.
• You learn that no matter how perfect your makeup looks, macro mode will always show you something different!   Eyeliner might look on point in real life, but then you see it in high-res and it’ll tell a totally different story.
• You learn to forget about price tags. $14 used to be expensive, $20 used to be your “max,” and now $60 doesn’t seem outrageous.  And it gets easier to justify an indulgence.  “But it’s for the blog! For readers!” Even if it’s really because you just want that bad boy…
• You learn the art of micro-organization. How to store and store and store. And re-do it all. And get sick pleasure from it!  The Container Store will become your best friend.
• You learn that products actually have “good sides” and “good angles” to photograph. And that some products are divas!  You’ll love to photograph some products and loathe others.  You’ll look at them and just know they’re going to be difficult on the set.
• You learn that there are some really weird products on the market. Like the Vajacial.  And hair dye, post-Vajacial.  You will even consider testing one of these really weird products all in the name of blogging.
• You learn that you can’t play ultimate frisbee because it will annihilate your swatching hand! NOT THE SWATCHING HAND!  (No, seriously, I broke a bunch of nails on the hand that I use for nail swatches.  Sucked!)
• You learn that there are fifty different ways to describe a finish, texture, color, etc.  And you’ll still opt for generic words like beautiful, stunning, pretty, gorgeous.
• You learn how to do five things at once… and get them all done on time.  Sometimes with the help of ample amounts of caffeine.
• You learn that until you can get your grubby little swatching paws on a product to swatch it for yourself, promo photos are pretty to look at but don’t tell the real story.

Here are lessons learned by some friends on Twitter! Would also love to hear yours (As readers or bloggers!)

Bloggers

• @happyheart_29 How sweet everyone is in this community! Who knew you could have so many lovely friends that you’ve never met!
• @RockSlam discipline-how not to tear open packaging & use the product the minute you exit the store *must keep intact for photographs*
• @cutegingerbread common interests can make people bond so much that live all around the world of all ages, like the beauty community =] also, every person is unique, different hair/skin/nails/etc..what works for one may not work for all
• @BigFashionista Ive learnt that what someone else LOVES, you may hate. &Thats OK, we don’t all have to love or hate the same product x
• @callitbeauty_ don’t bother doing the right eye when creating a look b/c out of every 10 photos taken, only one will turn out remotely ok.
• @MUByM Ive learned not to be so modest and shy when it
• @VampyVarnish It’s way more time consuming that you think it will be! comes to makeup!
• @Ce_esenciales I recognize MAC e/s and brushes without having one single item from that brand and living 1400 km away from the nearest store.
• @eaumg I have learned that shimmer swatches are difficult to photograph, never enough time to try everything. And if you talk about Kim Kardashian then you’ll get tons of spam! And it really is like a full-time job.
• @FabDiva20 What I learned is to be yourself and how to do put more detail in product reviews.
• @Alliebunni How to use more adjectives than just “nice” or “pretty”
• @shesonthemove that smokey doesn’t necessarily mean black eyesadow all the time!
• @lazybeautiful It’s a lot more work than it seems, but more fun than I could imagine!
• @tina_mbc That it’s impossible without a camera!!!
• @TheGlitterGeek That not only do readers want to read beauty-related stuff, but also what’s going on in your pet’s life.
• @mvogt I’ve learned that I am not the only one who spends near entire paychecks in an entire month/week(ssshhh) on makeup and products
• @Catanya What I’ve learnt about beauty blogging is that: There’s so many pple around there crazy about makeup & beauty stuff just like me!
• @LadyMerencara glitter can be fabulous as an everyday look if you are over 30.
• @cateyez713 that it can be extremely difficult to get a picture with accurate color – but it’s imperative that you do
• @annabellemakeup that its impossible to try and own every item that you wish you could review. Love all that you have
• @Vixen381 I have learned NOT to use a pigment brush to blend eyeshadows lol!
• @PhuongK i’ve learned that even if you don’t buy the LE stuff, the world won’t end. there will be even better stuff in the future!
• @kimhaeyung that u can be inspired by anything.
• @OxfordJasmine A review will never be complete, a year later I still find out something new and interesting from a product I thought I knew!
• @bowsandwhistles you can actually remember the names of about 50 different MAC eyeshadows!
• @Wiccakat19 that its amazing what so many people will be in love with,how contagious it can be and will always have at least one enabler
• @agirlsgottaspa I’ve learned a lot about the industry itself and behind the scenes stuff I never knew existed.
• @danielleninaa I’ve learned that youtube can teach you alot about makeup, but in the end, you have to learn through experience and expiriments.
• @KarlaScarpiera i have`d learn to love more and more MAC products and make in general, and so many ways to mix the colors with the tutorials =)
• @beauty411 Beauty blogging can be alot of work, but you make great friendships!
• @BigFashionista Most important thing I have learnt? Its only make up. since blogging Ive learnt about Juarez, animal cruelty & other atrocities
• @pochahotness honestly I’ve learned confidence…just get a little braver each day!
• @misscarlyy_ there’s always a better beauty product out there!
• @SCforM That guys read them too! (I’m talking to you, @shauntechguy – come visit!)
• @cuteyiota92 I’ve learned how amazingly friendly the beauty blogging community is! And that eyeliners that don’t disappear really do exist..
• @saucyfbabya I’ve learned to embrace my features & improvise w/ affordable products. Makeup is fun & meant to be played with. =]
• @kanadian00797 i’ve learnt that people might give you slack about how much makeup to wear/own, but what matters is your opinion of yourself
• @PrimeBeauty50 I’ve learned that blogging is damn hard work and a lot about the beauty industry. Also meet some wonderful women!
• @Nancy_Siledhel That if my guy laughs at my obsession with makeup… that’s a deal breaker
• @XxXThundaKatXxX beauty blogger tip #1: never throw away your receipts!!!
• @makeup_blogette enjoyed making friends who are as crazy about MU as you do, and knowing exactly which product or color you are talking about~ also gave me a tiny glimpse into all e tough work that goes on bhd e scenes of a photoshoot, it can be so hard to get a good pic!
• @makeupbyCrystal There is so much love & sisterhood in the beauty community. I love it all; the interaction, sharing, learning, & touching lives.

Readers

• @anachronistique As a reader? To be more adventurous!
• @HovercatMittens I’ve learned swatches are super helpful!
• @MMunoz07 I’ve learned you can’t always afford the items what are hot right at that moment
• @iKristen I’ve learned as on observer/reader that MAC is not the most expensive makeup, it’s actually affordable
• @bellyrockin I’ve learned from reading blogs and seeing swatches that colours shown on the MAC website can be very different from the reality
• @missdjm I’m not a beauty guru but I <3 them. I learned that Im not the only 1 w/ blemishes, gurus make it ok to be imperfect & luv urself

The Life & Times of a Beauty Blogger

I think one of the most popular question I get via email is regarding beauty blogging:  how did you get started, how do you get readers, how do you take photos, how do you balance school and blogging, and so on and so forth.  I find that a lot of the answers and advice I give are redundant (which isn’t a bad thing), but I think it’s time to have a nice post to refer others to, as well as give you a more behind-the-scenes look at how life goes by here at Temptalia.

Note:  I take blogging seriously–to me, even though it is a hobby and passion, I want to be the best that I can be.  I’ve always been this way with my hobbies.  I take great pride in what I do, particularly since it is public and once it’s on the internet, forever.

What my typical blogging day looks like…

• 6:00AM:  Wake up, check e-mail and Twitter on my phone, then head to computer.
• 6:10-6:45AM:  Approve comments and reply to quick questions asked via comments on the blog.  (Yes, the more complicated or difficult your question, the longer the response time, since I have to either research, reference, etc.  But I do try to get everything answered as quickly as possible.)  Check Facebook Fan page for any questions to answer.
• 6:45-7:15AM:  Read, send, and reply to email–this includes replying to pitches from brands/PR, replies to readers’ comments and questions sent via email.
• 7:15-11:00AM:  Write 1-2 posts for the day’s postings.  Reply to comments, questions, etc. on blog and YouTube.  Either photograph/swatch products to review or crop and edit product/swatch photos so they’re ready to be used in a review.
• 11:00AM-12:30PM:  Walk Mellanhead & eat lunch!
• 12:30PM-5:00PM:  Try to do a look and film it as a YouTube tutorial, then hand it off to the boy for editing.  Then test and write notes on various products.  More photographing or editing of photos, sometimes writing a post or two.  One or two days out of the week, I spent 1-2 hours watching TV with Mellan during this time.
• 5:00PM-6:00PM:  Eat dinner.
• 6:00PM-11:00PM:  Read, send, and reply to urgent emails.  Reply to comments.  Write 1-4 posts for the next day.  Try to log off the computer by 11PM!

Keep in mind, this is a blogging day, which is when I don’t have school.  I typically have school in the mornings on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays for 2-3 hours and then again in the evenings on Mondays and Wednesdays for another 3 hours.  On days when I do have class, I will spend less time taking or editing photos.   I do all my schoolwork on one day when possible.  I usually take part of Friday or Saturday to spend reading next week’s assignments and doing any homework.  I know how to speed read (one of the most valuable skills I have ever learned), which has helped me immensely in every aspect of my academia.  My weekends are often considerably less intensive, though sometimes more so, depending on how I feel and what we do–we often visit with our friends/family on the weekend and then relax together on the other day.

My schedule is flexible and that’s how it should be. Even though the above is my approximate schedule, it is a flexible schedule.  Sometimes we go out for lunch or dinner, and we don’t rush through it so I can stay on schedule.  Sometimes we go for walks, head to the mall, do grocery shopping… dessert runs, coffee runs… whatever!  I frequently take 5-10 minute breaks to go play and cuddle with Mellan.  Sometimes I’m tired from not sleeping well and will just take a break–watch some TV, go for a walk, whatever.  There are always areas where you can scale back for a day or two without anyone noticing, and it is important to allow yourself breaks and some fun when you need them, so you don’t burn out.

The Hows & Whys of Blogging…

Blogging for Love, Not Money

It is important that this your motto.  The majority of successful blog I’ve seen and read, not just in the beauty blogosphere but in general, have one thing in common:  passion.  The authors of successful blogs have an obvious passion for the topic they blog about.  They are passionate about learning more about their chosen topic and passing along that knowledge to their readers.  It is not about the bottom line.

Where I Began

Many people reach out to be for advice on how best to start their blogs and how can they get a lot of readers quickly.  Just like most get-rich-quick-schemes are scams, get-readers-quick-schemes are also scams.  There is no right or wrong recipe for gaining a readership, but the key is to blog honestly, passionately, and always be yourself.   I would also say there is an element of luck to it as well.

For me, I lucked into having a natural readership because I used to post my looks everyday on the MAC Cosmetics Livejournal community, so I had a place where people already knew me, my style, and those who who interested, could also follow me on my blog–which at the time, was more of an archive of my looks than what it is today–so I did not start at ground zero.  I also lucked out in terms of timing.  I did not start blogging at the beginning of time, and I am, by no means, the first or even one of the first few beauty bloggers.  However, I was able to start blogging when blogging was becoming more accepted and blogs were being read by more and more people, but the beauty blogosphere was not crowded, either.

By providing useful content and information, readers stayed, continued to visit, and referred their friends or linked to the site as a reference.  You have to provide value to your readers.  Value does not have to mean something new and different, either.  You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you post!

My Blogging Advice

• Always be you–even if not everyone likes you, your style, what you say or how you say it–be yourself.  You would be surprised just how much is picked up between what you say (or don’t say).
• Enjoy it–you have to enjoy it, because blogging is very much a labor of love for the majority of bloggers.  If you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it.  If you’re bored with your blog, take a break.  If you have writer’s block, take a break.
• Figure out what you can do better than anyone else–it’s important to find some sort of signature item that you can have on your blog.  Just something that makes the blog you.
• Write original content, because nobody wants to read a regurgitation of other people’s work or press releases all day.
• Take your own photos. Adding something visual to your post to complement the writing can go a long way in making it relevant and interesting.  Stock and promotional photos can be great tools, but they should be more of a supplement than the majority of your content.
• Remember, Rome was not built in a day. Cheesy and overused, I know, but it’s true.  Many successful blogs were not overnight successes, so don’t get discouraged if it takes you months to gain even a small readership.
• Don’t let other people get you down. This is a hard one, and it is one that I’ve struggled with time and time again (though happy to report, nobody’s made me cry with their internet insults in well over a year).  You just can’t.  There will always be those who don’t like you or what you do.  They may genuinely dislike you (it’s not always jealousy).  They may make assumptions, some may even make up “facts” about you.  You can’t always change them, but you can try by doing your best and being yourself.   If you do your best, you’ve done all that you can, and there is nothing to be but proud of yourself for it.

The Photo Station

For two years or so, I’ve been using a Nikon D90 DSLR.  I use both a kit lens and macro lens for photography. I don’t use a lightbox.  I have made my own lightbox in the past, and I’ve purchased lightboxes as well, but I have never liked the results.  I always ended up going back and just laying a product on top of the lightbox (rather than in it) and shooting that.   In an effort to be more organized and keep things in one place, I have a simple white table I purchased from Ikea for about $20 that I use as my “background.”  It’s in front of a window, and I use the light that streams in as my lighting.  It’s not fussy, and it didn’t cost me much at all.

The most important piece of advice I can ever give you about photography is to read your camera’s manual, regardless of whether it’s a point and shoot or DSLR.  Read it.  Learn it.  Understand your camera, what it can do, what each setting is capable of doing.

Next, I recommend reading photography blogs like DPS.  Even though I surely don’t know very much about proper lighting, how to set everything up just right, and such, I have tried to garner a basic understanding of photography principles and incorporate those into how I take my photos.  If you’re shopping for a camera, make sure you read reviews before you buy.  And you don’t need a $1,000 camera to take good photos.  Many point and shoots are amazing and go for $150-300.  I would not invest $1,000 into a camera if you’re only just starting to blog.

When it comes to beauty, it is most important to take color accurate photos.  A swatch is only as good as it is accurate.  The best way to work on accuracy is to take photos under different conditions and settings–just test it out.  See what part of your house seems to generate the best lighting for photos or what settings result in the best images.  Digital photography makes it so easy to take a thousand photos and view them–don’t like ‘em? Delete ‘em.

How do you stay motivated?

My readers motivate me! Everyday, my readers push me to be better and to do more.  It’s humbling to have anyone come to you for advice, even if it is just about makeup and not how to solve the crises of the world (please don’t come to me for those, I have no solutions!).  Everything Temptalia is today is a result of the readers that support it with their comments, questions, and loyalty.  It would be nothing with each and every one of you.

I also have an amazing support system from my friends and family.  They get blogging, and they don’t see it as frivolous.  They support me whenever and however they can, whether it’s as a sounding wall, shoulder to lean on, or simply to get some feedback from.  Their support is invaluable to me!

I hope some of this was informative, even if it was about ten thousand words longer than I intended or wanted to be.  If you made it this far… kudos!