These days, everyone wants to call themselves a blogger. What started out as an uncool habit has spiralled into a growing craze, with some bloggers becoming so popular they’ve turned their hobby into a full-time job.
So what’s important when setting up a blog? The three main aspects that distinguish great blogs from the not so great ones, is the name, content and images.
Deciding on a name for your blog isn’t as hard as you would think. Instead of sitting for hours on end racking your brain only to find that someone else already has your URL, there are sites that will create them for you.
Websites like SpinXO can create a catchy name for you in seconds: all you have to do is fill in a few details so they can make it personal — go ahead give it a try!
Of course, content is important but before people will even stop to read your posts, they first need a reason to stay. This is where images come in. Many people prefer visual sites, so to capture their attention you need some high-quality images.
Lily Melrose is a prime example of blogger turned superstar, now working with various fashion magazines and high street stores. On Lily’s blog, you’ll see the majority of her images are high-quality photos of herself, showcasing the latest trends.
Many of these images are full length and usually have an outdoor background, which could mean Lily has someone else taking the photos. This might prove difficult if you’re only just starting out, but websites like Freelance Alliance feature plenty of freelance professional photographers looking for work.
This can prove expensive, but don’t fret — not all bloggers get their images this way. Megan Lillie, another popular blogger, uses her own digital camera.
If this style suits you, Clifton Cameras has a wide range of cameras from top brands. You can pick up this ultra-compact Canon Power Shot, complete with a 30x zoom and built-in Wi-Fi for easy sharing, so you can upload your shots straight onto your blog.
Of course, if you have a smartphone, you already have a pretty impressive camera. Grace from blog Grace and Braver, who has featured in Company magazine, takes all her images using her iPhone.
Whether you have an iPhone 4, 5, 5S or 5C, they all boast an 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and hybrid IR filter, so you already have a high-spec camera at your disposal.
Since you’re going to be a fashion blogger, you’ll be mainly be taking photos of yourself: a trick of the trade for getting better photos is by ensuring there’s a lot of light available. This Philips Hue Connected Bulb Starter Kit from Apple, allows you to create your own wireless lighting environment at home, so you capture loads perfect shots easily.
This combined with a simple step-by-step guide on how to take a good selfie, courtesy of WikiHow, will have you posting like a professional in no time. You never know, you might see your face in future magazines and get a fantastic career from it.
