This is a sponsored post
Whether it's planning my blog content or creating posts for social media, there are a few essentials I couldn't live without! Today I want to talk you through the kit that I use in each step of my blogging process, so hopefully it's useful for you and will help you decide where to invest.
LuMeeDuo Marble Case in White* | £69.95 | I also recently discovered the LuMee phone case, which comes in an array of gorgeous designs, but of course this white marble version caught my eye! This has light panels around the outside and also on the back, so you can take flattering selfies and group photos (or flatlays) even in low light. There's a conveniently-placed button on the back which you can use to dim the level of light depending on your shooting conditions. It looks so much better than a flash when natural lighting is not on your side (as a blogger, I never use the flash for selfies because it washes out my features and often looks 'off' if you're using a foundation with SPF in it) and on a day-to-day basis it can be used as a little way to boost natural lighting.
我把一个小的“之前”和“之后”的照片(both are unedited) to show how the LuMee case works and, as you can see, although the natural light in the first image is fine, the second image is more flattering (my skin looks more radiant and my dark circles are definitely less visible!) Also, I feel it shows my makeup more clearly, which is also great if you're trying to show off a particular look. I often take photos on my phone when I'm out and about or if a photo is for Instagram because it just seems quicker and easier, and I think most of the time people can't tell! It's great to be able to take high-quality photos for my feed wherever I am and I just love the case design itself.
iPhone| Of course my phone itself is crucial for creating and promoting content but I specifically wanted to talk through some of the apps I use besides the obvious!VSCOis really great editing app that I use to adjust the exposure, contrast, saturation, tone and clarity of my images. They also have some really nice filters (though you do have to pay to get access to extras beyond the standard handful). I also useBufferto schedule my social media posts (I particularly like this app because if you tweet a link, it automatically pulls through the image from the post). I really recommend checking outIFTTTtoo because it allows your different social media accounts to 'talk' to each other - the main way I use it is with my Twitter and Instagram accounts. It automatically posts my Instagram uploads as photos to my Twitter feed instead of just the link.
Olympus Pen E-PL 7| For my blog photos, I use my Olympus Pen, which I also often take travelling because of its compact size (the body is no larger than a digital camera and it has a detachable pancake lens). It comes with a flip-down, moveable screen and there's a really great app to import your photos quickly and easily onto your device. The quality is so sharp and clear - I generally use it on a semi-automatic mode so I only set the aperture (the amount of light the lens lets in) myself and that works well for me. However when I'm taking photos outdoors, like on holiday, automatic is fine. I absolutely love this camera; it has a really great battery life and I'd recommend it thoroughly as a blogging camera. My only slight negatives are that this lens isn't great for closeups, so I may very well purchase a second one that's more suited to that kind of photography, and also the flip-down screen is slightly awkward for selfies so I tend to use my phone 99% of the time.
MacBook Pro| I'm well and truly a convert to the Apple gang (yes, I also have an iPad...) - I only just got a new MacBook Pro after mine was fine for five and a half years! Although there's an initial investment, these laptops really do last. iOS is also so intuitive to use. I write my blog posts on this laptop and edit all of my photos usingFotorand the iCal app is invaluable for having sight of all my blog posts and content plans from all of my devices.
The Ultimate Blog Planner| £12.50 | This is a great, fairly free-format planner for blog content. It has sections to keep an eye on the progress on your posts, a mini diary and a page to track your blog expenses and sponsorships. I also use thesePlanzo stickersto remind me what to do and when to do it!
Props| I use an array of props in my photos - often myH&M blanket(to add some texture),copper bells或copper sequinsfor winter content, fresh flowers in the spring (I often get these from a market stall near work that slashes its prices to £1 a bunch on Fridays at 5pm!), shells and starfish during summer and leaves in autumn. I also use stationery -Rifle Paper Codo some gorgeous pieces, as doKikki K. Magazines and books always work well too. I also keep Blu Tac in my prop box to ensure my products don't move around during photoshoots and their names are visible - just make sure it's not visible in your shot!
Backgrounds| I usually use amarble adhesiveas I like having a clean, white background so the products can do the talking, but the marble pattern switches things up so it isn't too plain. Sometimes I use myfur ruginstead (mainly for Instagram) because,again it's white, but the texture adds something different. I also took a couple of photos to show how the background really can change how your entire photo looks.
What are your blogging essentials?
Disclosure- - - - - - -产品的标记*被送到我反对sideration and this post was sponsored by Nakturnal for LuMee however all opinions remain my own.
This phone case sounds and looks amazing - quite a genius idea too! I love Kikki K too, such pretty pieces x
Reply删除franklyflawless.com
Great post, I used to be regimented with my blogging kit, but with time I have become more spontaneous, so I would say the camera and the day light are my friends mainly the iPhone 7 Plus.
Reply删除Thanks for sharing these inspiring essentials much incooperate that lumee phone case is seems so hand.
Esnath @ prettypeachblossom.com
My MacBook was without a doubt the best purchase I have ever made. Completely love it, and really don't know what I would do without it now. I love Olympus Pen too! Highly recommend the 40-150mm lens though, it just completely changes the game :) The Planzo stickers look fabby though! I might need to get myself some of those :)
Reply删除Erin ||MakeErinOver
The iPhone case looks really interesting! I love the marble background for your photos too! xx
Reply删除计画ps://zoe-ware.blogspot.ca
Love the tips on props to use! I'm trying to work on my flat lay photography so this post is perfect for me!
Reply删除Anika |anikamay.co.uk
I should really invest in some more blogging props.. I REALLY want/need to improve my blog photography. I love buffer to schedule my tweets and I also usually buy a plain notebook to write down blog ideas etc in that xx
Reply删除www.itsmeganelizabeth.blogspot.co.uk
I love that phone case! Looks so good!
Reply删除Blog: The Lisa’s World | Instagram | Twitter
I have the Olympus EPL-8 and also the Macbook Pro. As for backgrounds, if I actually do take photos, I use either scrapbook papers or my bed, whatever bedspread I currently have.
Reply删除计画ps://ariannecruz07.wixsite.com/ayre
I really love my Lumee case! Makes a huge difference in photos! xx
Reply删除Beautylymin
I love my Olympus pen too and use it for all my blog & Instagram photos ! I absolutely love your photos too. Also - have no idea where I would be without my phone !
Reply删除Saira
sairasays.co.uk xxx
My phone is everything to me when it comes to blogging as I use it to take my pics, write my posts, edit pics and everything else except hyperlinking. Haha! xxx
Reply删除I have been reading really great reviews on the Lume phone case and I wasn't interest in it when I first saw it. These days I am starting to show my face on IG stories more so I might get it!
Reply删除Shireen⎜Reflection of Sanity
Oh wow! Really, Sal? I hate using my phone for anything because my fat fingers make me type like a twat. The only blogging thing I use my phone for is Instagram.
Reply删除Great tips for a new blogger like myself! Thank you for sharing. I might pop down Wilko's later to get me some of that marble self adhesive stuff. Looks lovely in photos!
Reply删除These are great! I love your photos... I literally take all my photos with my phone x
Reply删除Candice |beautycandyloves.co.za
I love the sound of that phone case! One of mine is my MacBook to! Apple is definitely the way forward xx
Reply删除www.lpagebeauty.com
The fur rug is genius. Going to buy one for me! Also going to check out planner and stickers! Thanks for the tips!
Reply删除The phone case looks great!
Reply删除计画p://claresloves.blogspot.com/
VSCO is always in my top list when it comes to photo editing apps. I also heard about IFTTT but never try it. Maybe I should give it a try because it sounds useful for promoting.
Reply删除Joliecious.com
I can't stress enough how important it is to have a planner for blogging and lumee case has been my life saviour.
Reply删除-Daria
https://dariaed.com/skincare/
https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/daria-edu-19010657
Dammit, I bought the Lumee in the pink marble, but now you're making me wish I'd bought the white!
Reply删除April xx
| APRIL ROSE PENGILLY |
I get things done on the side of doing everything else so my phone is my most important tool. Haha! Plus my laptop sucks. X
Reply删除There's so many variations for the Lumee case!! And the photos are amazing
Reply删除That Lumee case works wonders for you!!! Beautiful with or without but it adds such a nice glow. Also love that you traded some photography secrets about the backgrounds, it really does make a difference!
Reply删除My face always looked extremely washed out when I use a flash in a photo. This case looks amazing!
Reply删除ohhhh this is so freaking helpful! I'm over the moon about the blog planner! Such a great post, thanks so much for sharing!
Reply删除xx J
计画ps://forevertwentysomething.ca
Oooh! I'm absolutely loving the marble and the fur backgrounds! Having a marble adhesive is such a smart idea! Thanks for the tips, girly!
Reply删除Thank you a lot for sharing this with all of us .You really
Reply删除recognize the real blogging ! Bookmarked.
计画p://www.thecosmeticboxes.com/
WOW I love that white marble phone case design! I've been looking to get a new case for my phone for a while and Lumee seems like the perfect one for me.
Reply删除Yeah it's such a subtle but really flattering difference with the light x
Reply删除That lens might have to be my next blog-related investment...x
Reply删除It's definitely a gradual thing - we're all constantly improving :) so definitely don't feel like what you're doing isn't good enough and just try to enjoy honing your skills! x
Reply删除Aw thank you! x
Reply删除That's impressive! Your photos are really good too :) I often find that in good lighting you really can't tell, I guess it's just the ease at which you get to the shot. Your posts are so detailed too - you'd never have known it was all coming from your phone haha - I guess that's the magic of mobile technology! x
Reply删除I'm really liking popping the odd look on IG Stories too :) it just feels way more relaxed / spontaneous! x
Reply删除Getting a new one has been a liberating experience haha - especially for demanding tasks like photo editing! x
Reply删除It's worth it for thatg Twitter / Instagram function alone! x
Reply删除Thanks Roz! It's definitely a subtle alteration that actually makes a big difference! x
Reply删除I don't think you can ever go wrong with a marble background! I need to get myself a proper blog planner as I just haven't' been very organized with my schedule recently! xx
Reply删除www.iridescentplaces.com
Some really great tips! Didn't think of using blu tac to keep products still, drives me mad when they roll around haha! xx
Reply删除计画p://paulamarieee.blogspot.co.uk
It's a life-saver haha x
Reply删除That Selfie light is great!
Reply删除www.upyourvlog.com