I’m not going to do a poll today, but heck, it’s Wednesday, so I’d still ask you ladies a question of the week just the same 🙂
There are hundreds, no, maybe thousands, of beauty blogs on the Internet, and so many of them are such great reads. Other than the words used in reviews, promotion of products, rants, general stories, etc, do the images used on the blog affect your choice of beauty blogs to read?
My question is, do you prefer beauty blogs which use actual photographs of beauty products which they took themselves, or are you fine with just the stock images of the product (taken from its website) used?
As for me, I enjoy viewing amateur photographs of beauty products. Sure they’re not as sharp or as well taken like a professional photographer would, or with a fancy schmancy-pants camera and ‘umbrella lights’ (I have no clue what those are called), but I think it adds a more personal touch to the blog. It also shows that the person has put in a lot of effort into his/her work. I mean, hey, having to snap photographs of the product, perhaps colour-correct it, watermark it, and then upload it onto the Internet before posting it on the blog is no quick-and-easy feat, no matter how good you are at it. It takes time.
I guess to me, such effort should be taken into consideration, and therefore is worth checking out. You know what I mean?
This doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy or frequent blogs which mostly use stock images as taken from the product website. There are many beauty bloggers out there which use stock images who still write well. I just like seeing actual photos :p
What about you? Is there a preference for you? Or that either way is just the same?
Do share. I’d love to know what you think 🙂
amateur photographs, not for personal touch but for its precision of the colours and uses. professional ones are mostly definitely modified to their liking and hiding all the problems.
I like photos in general. I have been to a lot of sites without them, and even stock photos are preferable a lot of the time. That said, of the two, I prefer amateur photos for their accuracy; the color is more true to life, and you can compare sizes (don’t you hate buying something that you thought would have more product?). Stock/professional photos have their place, though.
Professional photos taken from the proper site are better becuase they show accurate colours. Matching colours with home photography is really hard due to lighting, camera settings, natural light, flash etc. Having said that, nothing can beat a photo of someone wearing the product ie. lipstick!
Is it too much to ask for both?!? 🙂
Personally, I prefer personal shots no matter how good or bad it is, I appreciate even the blurry ones, coz you know what? You’re right, I like it that there is an added personal touch and effort. and it looks really real!! I mean not that that internet shots aren’t real, but there’s this feeling that you are more closer to the product..lol I am weird!
Personal photos of products make me want to read the review because it tells me the writer took the trouble with it. Like you, I know how its like to have to prepare photos, even the most basic ones so I appreciate the trouble people take. Stock photos are fine if time is an issue because its just easier to source. At the end of the day, its the writing that attracts me most, less so pictures.
I’m with ParisB, in the end the writing attracts me most. I think with regards to photos, I like a combination of the two. When amateur shots are as great as yours, Tine, then those are definitely best. But blurry, grainy, gray photos bother me. I think that overall, I like shots used where relevent. When it’s just a product shot of a jar of cream, then what does it matter if it’s a pro or an amateur shot? But when it’s a lipstick, or an eyeshadow then I really appreciate swatch shots, or FOTD shots.
i’m with amateur photos, since they definitely bring a personal touch. however, i’d also have to echo kahani on the fact that blurry grainy photos are a bother – so it’s a case by case basis i suppose. of course, swatching is an amateur must! stock photos never do justice.. 🙂
I agree with most of the girls here, that “amateur” photos definitely shows the effort and heart the blogger puts into his or her posts. Most of the time, these amateur shots are more accurate color wise! 🙂
Although I’m fine with pro photos, I’d be highly annoyed if the entire blog uses pro photos and no amateur photos at all. Especially for product reviews, I’d love to see personal color and texture swatches, size comparisons, color comparisons, etc. it seems more realistic in a sense and I actually feel like I’m closer to the blogger. And the blog posts will also seem more ‘original’.
hope I got that out right 😡
I’m a visual person. The photos have to be able to tell a story and it should be relevant to the blog post; it can be amateur or professional. However, the picture quality should be reasonable. Too grainy and I think the post is better off with them. But one thing, I hate hopping from blog to blog and seeing the same pics used. There is no blog personality.
i like actual photos. i see not much point in having a stock pic when it is available everywhere on the net. i might as well visit its official site. 🙂
also, pictures taken by the bloggers reflect their style and their view of the product (e.g. the ‘effects’ you add to it), which i would say would be a better representation of the blogger’s take on the product.
Oh no.. I better start taking my own photos! Thing is, I have absolutely no idea how to do swatches and what lighting or whatever is needed!
Some of you will have to give me some tips! 😛
i prefer actual photo of the products too. the professional ones are usually photoshopped or fabricated. its hard to tell how it really looks like on our skin
i love amateur ones. they represent the blogger’s personal style and you can see the amount of effort put into each image. i definitely appreciate bloggers who do their own pictures more. and it’s hard to tell from professional photos what the real colors are in different lighting!