'Creativity is contagious, pass it on' -Albert Einstein. Not only was he one of the most intelligent minds, but also one of the wisest.Just like electrity and currents, creativity flows and continues to flow as long and the path is not blocked, or whatever (you can tell I know nothing of how electricity works).The point is ,the flow of creativity is unstoppable as long as you allow it to be. I am constantly inspired and hopefully in the midst, I have been a source of inspiration as well. In the spirit of creativity, my look today is inspired by the amazing, adventurous, tropical and vintage loving queen Krystle Desantos.Currently residing in the Big Apple, this Caribbean diva's style is unmatched.With roots based out of Guyana, raised and inpired by women (her mother and grandmother) who love fashion and appreciate handmade items, she interwines her heritage, love of vintage, and vibrant personality into fun looks that everyone can enjoy.Here's to you my vintage snack pack! lol She purchased the same ruffle top worn here and received her the same day as me without us even knowing.Oops I also forgot to mention how great she is at DIY projects...amaaaazing! Check out her blog www.krystyledesantos.com or follow her on IG @krystledesantos I am also continue the flow of creativity by sharing some blogging tips, in Q & A form.So here goes*takes deep breath me interviewing myself once again. Q:How did you start blogging? A: My awesomely , amazingly talented, beautiful inside and out, most organized person known to man BFF LaShika Hester, (since 7th grade) introduced the idea to me.I was quite overwhelmed by the thought so I studied on the subject. Q:What did you study and for how long? A: I studied other bloggers websites, the formatting,their IG pages, visuals (poses ,quality , etc), writing content,levels of engagement, looked on Fashionbombdaily for inspiration and slowly began to work on forming my blog.I gave myself no timeline.I don't work well under pressure and stress. Q:So how do you find a photographer or good camera? A:As a boss chick, I forced my hubs to take my pics.We started with a cell phone and when we decided it was time, we invested in a camera (Sony A6000).I am truly blessed because all the yelling I bestowed upon my husband 'enouraged' him to take a few photography courses at the local Community College.Just get married and force your spouse to take your pictures and pressure them to make your pics look amazing.It really works! lol In all seriousness though there are many resources.If you are on Facebook, check to see if there are groups for local photographers in your area.Many are willing to work for free to get exposure at reasonable prices.Local colleges may have students looking to expand their portfolios as well, so it pays just to get out there and look around.If you are in the market to buy your own camera, Youtube is a great place to get tutorials on whatever camera you choose to buy.Many of the newer models allow to take the pictures from your phone so all you have to do is set you camera up on a tri pod and do ya thang. Q: How did you (or do you) come up with a fashion budget? A:Before I started blogging, I actually got a credit card with a small limit and used that to make clothing purchases.It was ideal for me because I was super broke and a minimum payment was just in my range.I just bought things here and there .It is important to make a few investment purchases that are classic and that will stand the test of time.Mixing high and low is a great way to reach viewers who are frugal as well as those who love to splurge, which means more exposure. Currently, I spend $150 or less a month on a few pieces (one of which is shoes, I'm obsessed with them.Therealreal is the best place for consigned designer deals and they love taking all my money).I don't have to buy clothes much anymore unless I really want something because I get a lot of collaboration requests. Shop each piece by clicking the respective image below. Q:How do collaboration request works and how do you get them? A: I started with none at all but when I came across a small business owner that had I product I really liked I would reach out via email and pretty much sell myself. As a rule of thumb, I suggest learning and studying the company for a bit. Follow them, like their pictures and engage them if possible beforehand, otherwise it looks like you are in it only for the goods. Many will say no, but many will say yes. All the no's I received were only fuel to make myself more marketable visually. Take pride in your work and it will definitely get noticed. Whenever I work with a company I make great strides in making sure the pics are of the utmost quality and turn around time is expedient as well as detailed descriptions. This not only makes their product look good , but you as well business wise. I have gotten a few repeat collaborations because of these principles. Be clear of your expectations of the collab request and work within the guidelines. Promptness is a great trait to develop. Q:How did you get exposure? A:Before I officially started my blog, I found exposure pages to be a great way for people to notice you.IG pages like @Fxshnjunke , @hawt_fashions, and @africangirlskillingit are a few of my faves but they are so many depending on your style. Posting to online fashion communites/sites like Chictopia are also a great way to get noticed.Once you have started your blog, Bloglovin is a great platform where readers can see everytime you have a new post. When I started, this wasn't realistic for me because the pieces you wear have to be currently available to shop. I was a clearance queen so my pieces were always sold out.My ultimate top form of exposure that worked for me was Fashionbombdaily.If you are unfamiliar is one of the top 50 online multicultural fashion magazines/blogs.Created and curated my true bombshell, Claire Sulmers, this is where you want to be seen! Boasting over a million followers on the 'gram, and hundreds of thousands of hits daily on their site, and over 500k likes on Facebook.Fashion Blogger beware: those readers will definitely let you know if your style needs work. I got my first taste of the harsh critics a few years ago when I submitted for a 'How do you wear it segment'. It stung a lot, but I took the criticism to heart.I am actually thankful for it because it pushed me that much harder.So a year later, I finally had enough courage to submit for FashionBombshell of the Day.It paid off tremendously and really got a lot of fashion enthusiasts interested in my style. Q:How often you post? A:I post 3 looks a week.I know that seems like a lot, and it kinda is.I'm not going to lie it gets very overwhelming, but it keeps me busy and keeps followers engaged. On, IG I post one to two times daily.I also have a lot of clothes, so lol I need to show them off.So how do I have time for all of this? When I get home from work I am trying on looks for the next week; styling, posing in the mirror, hair (trying on wigs), makeup (watching tutorials online), and thinking of locations. So by the weekend all I have to do is beat my face , put on my clothes and shoot. Me and my hubs work quick because he knows what I am looking for and I am always prepared. It takes about an hr to shoot 3 looks. If you don't have the accessibility or wardrobe to do 3 looks a week, still keep readers engaged by commenting on their IG pages or respective blogs. Don't shy away from throwing back to old looks .Many of your new followers may have missed the old looks. Q:Do you have any other advice? A:Be yourself. There are many options for blogging and exposure. There is no fool proof method. Take your time and don't compare your growth rate to anyone else's. Cheer for yourself at every small milestone; always celebrate yourself. -Switch your IG to a business profile. It looks more professional and you have the potential for more business collaborations via email this way. -Don't be afraid to ask for help.If you have questions, reach out to a fellow blogger that you can talk to. -Utitlize all the platforms you can (Tumblr,Bloglovin,LookBook,Twitter, Facebook) the more outlets, the more exposure! -Research and use Google as much as possible.Got a question? Google knows the answer, trust me lol. -If you have a chance read The Bomb Life by Claire Sulmers. Its details her story on how she rose in the fashion industry and some great Do's and Don'ts ;a great inspirational read. -Hash tags and engagement can really help get your IG page view by your niche audience so be mindful of that when posting. Study hash tags that your followers would be interested in. Use them for every post (e.g, #fblogger,#whatiwore, #streetfashion, #fromwhereistand). -Get out and network if you can. You never know who may help you in your journey. -Make sure you dress to impress in real life. Your style is your calling card and makes a lasting impression. Image is everything and nothing all at the same time. -Reach out online to potential to create business relationships. A simple email praising a company's product or line is very impactful whether you know it or not.I have made many good business contacts this way and mentors. -Never stop studying! Study images, techiniques, other bloggers,all those who are successful. See what they are doing it and try to incorporate some of their practices. And lastly.. Consistency is key. If you don't have new content keep your old in rotation with some great imagery that aligns with your image. Get your readers to anticipate your next posting, but don't keep them waiting too long. Get to know your followers. Engage, engage , ENGAGE!! Disclaimer: These are MY experiences and methods. There are NOT the only ones and probably are not the best for everyone, but trial and error is a part of the journey of success. I hope I was able to help. Feel free to comment if you have any other questions! -Caribbean Cowgirl
7 Comments
Brittney Taylor
1/23/2017 01:09:09 pm
I absolutely love this look and thanks so much for sharing all of these tips. I have wondered about how you began and now I know. Love it, and looking forward to the slay as usual!
Reply
Tim
1/23/2017 02:20:50 pm
This is very motivational. Ilove it!
Reply
1/23/2017 10:54:27 pm
Girl you rock!!! I know it took a lot of work to make this post but you have nailed it and thank you so much! You are an inspiration and following you has made me get out of my comfort zone and think out of the box! You are amazing at what you do and you are going places hun!!! Thank you again for the tips. I keep learning from you and others. Hopefully some will learn from me too and inspire others, it's a chain of reaction! Together we can!!👏👏👏
Reply
Marcus H. Ballard
1/24/2017 08:27:49 am
This is Amazing
Reply
I am loving this look from head to toe. Particularly fond of the red bustier against the striped to. Its all very fabulous.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
August 2017
That's Just Me!I love fashion, the outdoors, and things on sale. Categories
All
|