Not only is today the start of 2016, it also marks three years of Fashion Slave! That’s as many years as it took me to get my first degree, and older than anything I probably still own in my wardrobe (shopaholism is directly related to blogging don’t you know) and significantly longer than any of my significant relationships have lasted for. What can I say, I get bored easily? My blog has become the longest reigning commitment that I’ve managed to keep in my life, which I suppose is a bit awkward as my blog is about me. Relationship Status = married to myself. So to mark its third birthday, I purchased a giant pointless balloon to take some utterly narcissistic photos and share with you the highs, lows, and what I’ve learnt from blogging.
What I’ve learnt whilst blogging
The Lows
You know when people in job interviews say that their flaw is that they are a perfectionist? Well it is a flaw, and it can drive you crazy. When you’re constantly on the quest for perfection, your best is rarely good enough, so you find yourself punishing yourself for not doing as well as you planned or had hoped. Hence the breakdowns! And in blogging life, when everything seems so perfect and you do strive to show a perfected image of yourself, it becomes hard to balance things out in your head. You feel so pressured to do well at everything you obsess over little details. I remember posting a bikini picture for the first time in years whilst on holiday in Spain, and I sat there nervously checking and panicking over how many likes it was going to get. My Mum sat utterly bewildered by it all, but said quite blankly “you’re getting really worked up over something so silly” and she was right (of course, mothers always are.) Sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture, not the smaller one on the screen in front of you.
The Highs
I’ve been lucky enough to make many friends through blogging, but most important to me of all, Allie and Sarah. Meeting girls who really get what you do (I love my normal friends to bits of course but hey, they don’t quite get the whole taking arty pics of your food as much as blogging friends do) really helps and inspires you to carry on, especially when you’re struggling to see purpose in what you do.
Oh the boyfriend photographer cliche. It was always going to happen, wasn’t it? My dad used to take my photos as he is a photographer, but it got too difficult with us living in different cities. So after I roped my boyfriend into taking my photos, and he started his own blog, we became a little duo of blogger/photographers. Couples that blog together stay together, right? Of course they do – they have to! Because if we break up who the hell will wake up at the crack of dawn to take all of our photographs – for free? All jokes aside, it’s great blogging with my boyfriend Carl Thompson. We’re both pretty dedicated and he’s incredibly flexible and selfless, putting getting my shots before his every time, especially when I forget to charge my camera battery even though he told me to about 3 times.
What an honest and refreshing post. I actually cannot believe the orange incident. I showed it to my boyfriend like 'THIS IS WHY I GET SO HET UP WHEN WE TAKE PHOTOS!' Good on you for brushing yourself off and carrying on. I'm going to think about your lessons a lot over the coming weeks as a try to devise a blog plan! x
Martha Jane | http://www.marthajanemusic.com
Sounds like you've had an amazing 3 years! Can't believe someone threw an orange at you?! – I mean 'haters gonna hate'!
Sinead x
http://www.lovestylemindfulness.co.uk
You have a truly refreshing and interesting blog, not forgetting that you're beautiful, and you deserve all the success you've built in the last three years. Definitely a blogger to watch in 2016! Wishing you all the best in the next year Sophie, and hope that it's orange free!
http://www.highstreethopes.co.uk
Congratulations! I always read your blog but don't think I've commented once in three years… Ermmm, oops. I will in future! Good luck and please don't stop, fuck the orange throwers of the world!
Aww I loved reading this Sophie, you have achieved so much and I've enjoyed reading your blog over the past few years – seeing it grow from strength to strength. You always write engaging posts!
Megan xo
Thumbelina Lillie | UK Beauty & Fashion Blog
How did I not know you had a man 🙂 Your blog shots are looking ridiculous lately so I can't wait to see what you two bring in 2016 – Happy New Year and P.S your bikini body shots are kicking me up the arse for my pre-wedding diet! xxx
http://www.lurchhoundloves.com
I love your more opinionated pieces. Glad you see the benefit of speaking out on your platform also. Happy belated Birthday Fashion Slave lol
BLEURGH – http://www.bleurghnow.com