Aesthetically shrouded. Is that even proper grammar? All I know is that it’s the first thing that came to mind when I saw this blank page, deciding what to write about today. Fuck, I’ve been on an IG witch hunt since last night. All I need is to edit two or three photos erroneously and minutes later I found myself in the thick of an aesthetic crisis.
First. World. Problems.
Here’s what I do when I have a quote-unquote IG feed calamity, Jane. It’s precisely what one shouldn’t do. But I do it anyway because I have very little will power when it comes to me and conjuring up hard evidence in support of my ineptitude: I look at other people’s feeds. I’ve been to hell and back. I spent two hours on WeWoreWhat last night and deduced that I should put more decor images into my feed and rely heavily on M6 VSCO filter (I figured out that must be what she’s using). Yes, that will solve everything.
Upon waking this morning I thought, no, wait a minute. I actually like LustForLife’s feed much more than I like Danielle’s so I should see what Olivia’s been up to these days. Obviously – she’s been up to gorgeous fucking pictures that’s what. Lest I remind myself that she’s in California, though, and this East Coast weather makes for images that look like a cross between a civil war reenactment and Fargo.
And I digress. (One of my team members and I have a drinking game wherein we both alternate taking shots every time I start a sentence with “and” or I make a typo).
Anyway, as I was saying, it’s hard to find divine inspiration when you live in an ugly city like Toronto. Don’t get me wrong, I love this city. I won’t leave this city. But it’s just so not photogenic in the way that I want it to be. I’m not a Queen West hipster nor am I a monochromatic city bitch – those looks work here. I’m tryna be a couture-loving-hippie by the seashore in 1972. Toronto is not giving me those vibes.
So what’s a girl to do? I look at my IG feed and wanna barf. Every image I subsequently take just doesn’t get my mojo going. I spent hours on Pinterest last night adding to my “STYLE FILE” board to no avail. And this isn’t even the first time this has happened to me. Every 2-3 months I get shrouded by a cloud of aesthetic uncertainty and dissatisfaction. Maybe I just gotta ride it out or maybe I gotta do something about it.
Whatever the solution, I beg you, look away! I’m hideous right now.
Question: Anyone else ever feel this way about their photos? Let’s commiserate! I know I should just be myself and forget the rest – it’s just so challenging sometimes when my pictures don’t come out the way I’d like them to come out.
Yes!!!! Being. Newbie in the world of “blogging” I find this a challenge on the regular. Constantly over thinking “does this look ok?”, “is this the right filter”, “is this comment or post witty enough ?”, etc it is a never ending mind boggle. I have now decided to “F” what everyone else thinks and do me. After all the blog was made for me myself and I.
Good post Justine:)
Thanks, Brenna! I think most of us are plagued by the same doubts and issues – no matter how much experience you have! Photo editing is constantly changing as well as style of blogging, etc. I think the best thing is to try to stay true to yourself and your own vision, while being open to inspiration and new technologies. At least that’s my approach! Happy blogging! xo J
Wow… I honestly thought I may have been suffering from some kind of social media induced anxiety as I have also being trying to find my aesthetic as I walk into starting my blog. It’s so difficult to find your own voice and look at other feed, especially when some of your favourite bloggers are on the west coast ( i.e Lustt for Life, Karla’s closet). I even thought that maybe I should dedicate days to intense location scouting, maybe I am missing the hidden architecture in the city … Guess not! Nice to know that I am not alone. I do also go back and forth thinking “wait, I just need to be myself”, but I think that the anxiety comes from (me) being afraid that I won’t love it. But then…does anyone actually love their own feed? Who knows.
– Jessica
Hey girl! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your two cents :) I appreciate it! Ah, I actually met Lust for Life on a recent press trip and you know what I realized? We’re all the same. She takes just as many pics as I do to try to get the shot. She’s just as normal and down to earth about what we do – I think when you only see the “online” persona you think their life and aesthetic is much more than yours. But in reality, it’s just curation of the same thing. I mean, being in a beautiful place DOES help however there’s beauty in everything if you let it speak to you. I can give you some secret locations in TO if you need inspo…. xoxoxo
Oh and with that being said, your feed is bomb!