Well kids... I bought a camera! My first big-girl camera, a Canon Rebel T3. I figured it was about time I upgraded, and I got a really great deal on Black Friday. Here's the catch though (there's always a catch). I tried taking my usual outfit photos with it yesterday and it was kind of a disaster. I had help (via phone and in person) from a couple semi-pro friends, but to no avail. You are looking at the one salvageable photo, and even it has a bit of a shadow still. (If you have any indoor photography tips or suggestions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section.)
Okay... on to the fashion stuff. I am totally obsessed with this inspiration photo and love the mix of maroon, mustard and animal print. I'm also wearing maroon tights for the first time and kind of love it. Tights are a big goal for me this winter - I want to get creative with them! Do you wear fun colored tights? What other colors should I buy?
Inspiration photo: Intermix
Cardigan: Victoria's Secret c/o MJR Sales, $18
Shirt: Gap, $30
Skirt: Victoria's Secret c/o MJR Sales, $14
Belt: Joe's Jeans c/o Marshall's, $20
Maroon tights: Hue via Marshall's, $5
Shoes: Restricted via Endless, $40
1. ASOS maroon skirt, $40.91
2. Limited tweed maroon skirt, $59.90
3. Victoria's Secret maroon skirt, $29.50 (on sale)
Great outfit! I wear tights all of the time because I don't like wearing black dress pants. I always flash back to the going out days when they were what you had to wear. Anyways... Patterns on tights are fantastic. Loft has some great ones that last!!
ReplyDeletei love to use colored tights to change up an outfit in styling and in feeling
ReplyDeletegood luck on the camera thing, hopeing to get a "big girl" camera for christmas
brett
I love tights. Get fushchia, turquoise, shades of purple...have fun with it.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great look! Love the animal print to tie it all together. Tights are a great way to add interest to an outfit and to make a look fun to get through those chilly days. Patterned tights are fun. I am working up the courage to wear a pair of bright blue tights! Heather
ReplyDeleteRegarding the indoor camera tips, there is one thing you need and two things that are optional. You will NEED a tripod. That will be your best friend if you are going to take a self portrait. The first optional one is a wireless remote control that is compatible with the Canon. You can find those for cheap on Amazon but if you want to wait, then set the timer on the camera and make sure you are ready to pose before it shoots. The next optional one is a external flash (with a bouncer) but it can be a pretty penny. That will avoid the harsh shadows you are casting off in your pictures. Let me know if you have any more photography questions!
ReplyDeleteI love the colors with the animal print! Super cute. Mustard is definitively the color of the season. & good luck with the camera!
ReplyDeletehttp://voguedglamour.blogspot.com
Love tights! I have not branched out to different colors, but I have a lot of different pattern and texture black and brown tights that I love. I even have a fleeced lined pair for when it is cold!
ReplyDeleteI love this look! Great combo of colors & patterns!
ReplyDeletewww.theprettyfactor.blogspot.com
J I love Love LoVe this outit!
ReplyDeleteLove these colors for fall! Very cute.
ReplyDeleteJulia
Cup of Tea
http://cupoftea-style.blogspot.com
Omg, I am in the same boat with the camera situation. I can't seem to find the right lighting in my home either and am taking photos with my iPhone as they take better pictures! I need help too! Hopefully, someone will have some insight for you as well. My issue is taking photos of jewelry, not of me personally. I love tights by the way and your outfit is really great color wise. I love the maroon and mustard with the leopard! Hope you figure out your camera.
ReplyDeletechicstayathome.blogspot.com
I love colored tights! I have so many that I put command strip hooks on my bedroom wall to hang them up so that I could easily see what colors I have (I live alone so it's o.k. to have delicates hanging on my wall). Tights are a great way to add a pop of color to any outfit!
ReplyDeleteI love the IDEA of tights but I am still trying to work them in. As someone who is working to work SKIRTS in too, it's been difficult. But I am getting there. One skirt/dress a week with tights. And so far I haven't gone anywhere other than black and brown but if you know me a year ago? I have come a long way. I can do this!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your big girl camera :) Sadly, the best way to prevent the shadows would be to invest in an external flash (you can get a great one for around $250) or use natural lighting. You could go the cheap route and buy one of the lightscoops ($20)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kiki - a tripod and remote are key!
ReplyDeleteI would skip the flash. Ambient lighting will give a softer, more 3-d feel to your outfits. Just be sure to adjust the white balance to compensate for yellowish indoor light. Get the room as bright as you can (all the lights!) and/or increase the exposure compensation. I recommend shooting in the Aperture priority mode. Adjust the aperture until the number is as low as possible (opens the aperture to let in maximum light).
Here are my other photo tips!
http://whatiwore2day.blogspot.com/2010/02/mail-bag-indoor-outfit-photos.html
Enjoy the new toy!
love the tights, i have a mustard pair that i absolutely love!
ReplyDeletewww.modernsuburbanites.blogspot.com
Great outfit! Love the way the colors work together.
ReplyDeleteI have a pair of bright red tights that I absolutely love! It's fun in the winter when everyone is usually wearing all black. I wear them with a black sweater, black pencil skirt and black booties - so that pop of red definitely makes a statement! I also have a pair of royal blue tights that I'm trying to figure out how to wear...
ReplyDeleteAlso, as far as the camera goes - more than likely why your pictures are turning out crummy is because of lighting. You are taking your pictures against a bright white wall and if you are using a flash when you take the picture... well it just isn't going to work. You can either try getting an external flash (that sits on the top of your camera) and pointing the light up, so it bounces off the ceiling first and then reflects down on to you. Or try putting your camera in either shutter (S) or aperture (A) setting and playing with it that way. You also have the option of adjusting the E/V. If this is all too much for comment, or you have more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! :)
for self portraits with the slr, you definitely need a wireless remote, and for indoor photos, you can find a menu option to lower the power of the flash - also you could get something to diffuse/bounce the flash.
ReplyDeleteOf course going outside is also a great option, and I would highly recommend picking up a lens that has a wide aperture. The 50mm 1.8 is a great option, just because it is so darn cheap. (and it's how you can get some nice shallow depth of field, and really, when we buy our shiny new DSLRS, that is the only reason, right?)
I just bought some houndstooth tights and am wearing them for the first time today! Although they alrady have a tiny snag boo :(
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely check out WeLoveColors.com for tights. They have, like, every color imaginable!
ReplyDeleteWhat she said.
ReplyDeleteAlso, even if the pic turns out crappy you can fix pretty much anything with say Photoshop, which turns a dark cloudy pic into a bright sunny colorful one in a matter of seconds. Doesnt have to be Photoshop, there are other user friendly apps that are simpler than Photoshop, so dont be intimidated to try them out. It's really a question of how much time ur willing to invest into improving the pictures on your blog, maybe a tripod and wireless remote or just taking your pics outside would do it for you, OR you can take it even further by learning some simple image editing tricks that will do wonders as far as the quality of your pics goes.
Also, most crazily popular blogs, especially fashion blogs, have *heavily* edited photos, which might not be very obvious to an untrained eye, but if you look closely and pay attention to details you can spot whats been photoshopped. Whiter teeth, fixed fly-aways, added blush and hair shine.. remove the cat or tree behind enhance colors etc. it takes like 3 minutes and the pic looks sooo much better.
Dont misunderstand me, im not saying you should go to the extreme, i know you just want to fix the light:) ..just saying maybe image editor is what ur looking for, fixing light takes a minute:)
Plus ur lucky to have a gorgeous figure so no need to photoshop anything:)
Love the outfit!
J - you make me actually LIKE animal print with these outfits, bravo! Also, I have to thank you a bazillion times over -- I work at a law firm (business casual) and I was running into a lame period of just black skirts and button downs. Having your outfits page has given me a ton of ideas about mixing colors and styles, and it makes getting dressed in the morning fun :)
ReplyDeleteI have been new to tights, and I so far I am having a lot of fun with colors. They are a new and interesting way to bring a pop of color to your outfit.
ReplyDeleteas for indoor photography, I avoid it at all costs, but when it has to be done, I ditch the flash. Get your self a "nifty fifty" lens. The fifty is a very sharp lens and it does a great job in low light. It could eliminate your
need for a flash.
http://work-it-blog.blogspot.com/
She's a food blogger, but Ashley's photography posts are great!
ReplyDeletehttp://edibleperspective.com/2011/11/photography-101-shutter-speed/
Love the outfit! About tights - I use the essentials, black and skin color, depending on the outfit and shoes... Also sometimes, I get some use out of brown and beige ones, beige especially with some pattern and thicker than "normal" ones... (example of what I wear beige tights with: cognac knee high boots and brown/cognac/camel mini skirt; or knee lenght brown/cognac/camel skirt with cognac pumps)
ReplyDeleteI've said it before and I'll say it again - no outfit is complete without animal print!! As for tights, I have a small obsession with good tights. If you are wanting to experiment, I highly recommend the site We Love Colors. Every color and print under the sun, great pricing and they are super involved with the blogger community!!
ReplyDeleteOh, so I'm LOVING the color combo in this one. Very cute. Usually I hate skirts that length because I think it just makes my calves look fat/weird, but it's really working here. Cute, J!
ReplyDeleteI don't wear colored tights, or any tights BUT it is in the 40s in New Orleans ... I will be shopping tonight ;)
ReplyDeleteKiki, a tripod and self-timer is how I've been taking photos throughout this entire time, lol! :-) (How else would I have done it?!) I did read about bouncing the flash, but unfortunately my flash doesn't swivel and not sure I have the funds to invest in an external flash. Thanks for your tips though!
ReplyDeleteCathy - I got in touch with them recently which is partly what sparked this post! They have so many fun colors, no idea how I will ever choose. :-)
ReplyDeleteYay, thank you so much! Glad you are having more fun getting dressed in the morning! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes! I am planning to order from them this week, that's actually why I wrote this post. SO many colors though, how will I ever choose? :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for this Jenny - my camera has an aperture setting so I might try playing with that! And red and blue tights sound pretty darn cute to me. :-)
ReplyDeleteAwesome, thank you for the tips Kasmira! (ps. A tripod and self-timer is how I've been shooting this entire time - how else would I do it? LOL.) Living in sunny Florida, I am going to attempt to skip the flash and play with my aperture settings. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteYes Patty, WE can do this! I feel the same way. I've come a long way, but tights still baffle me. Looking forward to the challenge. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI am completely horrified that most bloggers use Photoshop. Isn't that like, THE POINT, of being a blog?! That's it's realistic? Ugh. I use iPhoto as my editor, and I always adjust the lighting, color balance, that kind of thing. Wouldn't know where to start on making myself look "better" though. What you see is what you get people!! (reality!) :-)
ReplyDeleteI picked colors I wouldn't feel silly wearing, of course. I often see fashion bloggers in the bright blue & Kermit green ones, but they feel way too jarring to me. I like that you've kept your tights the same color as your skirt, which doesn't break up your body or cause that shocking "Her tights are WHAT color?!" reaction. I'd start out by buying colors that are the same as skirts/dresses you already own & would like to pair tights with! I went with magenta & teal.
ReplyDeleteLove this outfit, especially the tights!
ReplyDeleteTry learning how to set for a proper exposure so you can ditch your flash. I do self-portraits with an aperture of f8, any lower than that and you'll start looking fuzzy unless you know exactly where to stand so your body is in focus. You can make up for the low light by turning up your ISO to something around 1600. Just keep playing around and eventually you'll be able to turn the "auto" setting off!
kateanfinson.blogspot.com
Ohhh I NEED a maroon colored skirt and tights... I feel like the tights are so versatile and that color is one that can work with so much! I'm wearing berry colored jeans today but I'm also dying for a pair of eggplant ones... colored jeans are just ruling my wardrobe this fall!
ReplyDeleteYes to colored tights! A must-wear as the days get colder for many of us :) Turquoise opaque and pink sheer are both pretty with grey and black palettes w pops of color in shoes and jewels. Kate Spade shows eye-catching outfits w tights this season. Good luck in building your tights base {and comfort zone!}
ReplyDeleteAwesome way to think about it! This will for sure help me narrow it down, thank you! :-)
ReplyDeleteJust bought the Skirt through VS. I am excited to try this look. Thanks for always inspiring!
ReplyDeleteTights are my goal as well this fall/winter, but my problem is that I have had such an aversion to skirts! I need to have more skirts so I can show off those lovely tights! I just bought a pair of maroon tights myself, and also a pair of teal. I'm on the hunt for the perfect par of sweater tights! I like ivory and heather ribbed and cable-knit sweater tights!
ReplyDeleteI love this outfit from head to toe! I live in a cold, snowy area so tights are a must! I typically wear black or gray (I love pretty gray tights!) but I also have a nice red and a lovely blue. Thanks for the inspiration as always!
ReplyDeleteVery chic! I've been wanting to try the mustard/maroon combo, but I was afraid it would come out looking too Harry Potter. But I think the animal print really takes it in a fun, feminine direction. I'll definitely be re-creating this look for myself!
ReplyDeleteCan I ask you what tripod are you using? I am looking desperately for one myself. Love the outfit!!
ReplyDeleteI also take my own pictures, J, and use a self-timer for that. But to answer your hypothetical "how else would I do it?" - I don't have a tripod so I just prop my camera up on the grill outside my house and then run in front of the camera before the 10 seconds runs up, hahaha! So that's one way of how else :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I don't know enough about photography to really lend you any tips except - why don't you try taking pictures outside? Since you live in Florida (I'm at the beach in NC) you probably have a lot of sunny days - I usually take all my pictures, the same day of the week, right outside in my backyard - the outdoor lighting just can't be beat, in my opinion - take advantage of it!
http://somethingoldmeetssomethingnew.blogspot.com/
My tripod was given to me by a friend when I first started blogging. It says "Primz Pro 1000 Tripod" on it. No idea what that means. :-)
ReplyDeleteAmanda, that is too funny! It's hard enough with a tripod, I can't imagine using a grill. :-) I love the idea of going outside but there are two obstacles: 1. It's sooo freaking hot outside usually and I'm posting winter looks for you guys who live up north. I'm sweating to DEATH inside when I take the photos, can't even imagine being outside. 2. Outside used to be 3 flights of stairs away. Now it's only one flight, but even that seems far away... am I lazy, lol? Okay, I might be lazy. I will consider giving outside a try. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love tights, this year I bought khaki green cable knits, an eggplant stripe, and the sort of orangey/terra cotta color lace from H&M. I mostly wear black lace patterned tights to go out at night, I have many different ones, this year I got a mini fishnet. I really want a beige mini fishnet but have only seen them at J Crew and I thought they were too much.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I've been doing this year is wearing over the knee socks with boots, now that it's getting colder I'll layer tights under them.
Wow! We are wearing the same outfit today! Only, my skirt is a maxi and the animal print is on my belt.
ReplyDeleteI have a bunch of colored tights, and the best thing I can offer is to get them in the same colors that dominate your wardrobe. I have olive green, purple, rust, and mustard. You like brighter colors than I do, so go for tights that match what you already have. That will help outfits just fall together.
ReplyDeleteLove this outfit..one of my faves from you :) And congrats on the camera!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this color/print combo as well! I've been really wanting to purchase something mustard and this looks fabulous! You pull it off flawlessly!
ReplyDeleteluckeysgoods.blogspot.com
was it a disaster because of the flash? as a general rule, never use flash with a DSLR camera. for now, use the "no flash" setting on the dial. You could get another lens (not a zoom lens), I can't remember tehe canon model, but I have it's nikon counterpart and it's much better in low light conditions. try setting up better lighting inside your room/house. sometimes i light lamps in each corner of a room (for parties) and I get great pictures without ever using the flash . Of course, another method is to just learn aperature/shutter speed :) But I'm guessing you have the 18-55 lens which typically sucks indoors
ReplyDeleteI love how you made your ruffled mustard blouse *a.s.y.m.m.e.t.r.i.c.a.l.* in feel, simply by leaving the top two buttons open; then............ BALANCING the asymmetry of the ruffle on your RIGHT side............ with your folded belt on your LEFT side. So *artistically* stylish!!
ReplyDeleteThe pairing of maroon and mustard together reminds me of Garnet Jewelry In Gold Settings; so all you need now, J, is----what? Maybe some smooth, (i.e., cabochon-cut) garnets............ in a goldtone wrist *bangle*!!
Buy Black and Gray. When i lived in Spain a lot of women wore purple and green.
ReplyDeleteDepends on where one wants their blog to go in the future. Im a photographer and i follow many fashion blogs, ive seen girls start a blog with crappy pics, they quickly learn some neat tricks to improve their photos and bam the blog popularity quickly jumps to 20.000+ followers with sponsors all over. Please dont get me wrong, im not saying you shouldnt "keep it real", but what i am saying is dont be naive in thinking its all about the right light and nice camera. It is so not, all those pics are edited in some shape or form and that is just a sad reality of everything around us, whether it be blogs, magazines, tv etc. I know, i do it for living. It is nearly impossible to take a "perfect" picture in fluorescent light standing against the wall in your living room. It's just not going to happen, the outfit may be awesome but a picture taken outside with some composition and light in mind would do wonders for your blog stats.
ReplyDeleteI follow some 35-40 fashion blogs, and out of those yours is my absolute favorite by far and ill tell you why. Other blogs are just nice.. you know for inspiration i guess, while yours is practical for real women and I actually copy your outfits and learn from you. Your style and fashion sense is superb and you should be right on top of fashion blogosphere in my opinion, possibly with your own tv show in the nearest future. But if you really want to take your blog far and make it big, you need to start thinking big. So keep keeping it real, just make it as beautiful as you can:)
Wish you all the best:)
Ana, thank you for this feedback! Flattery will get you everywhere with me. ;-) I am definitely not arguing the HUGE importance of having good, clear photography on a blog. Super important for any blogger/website, but especially in fashion because we want to see what you are wearing! There are some bloggers with great style, and the pictures they post are so tiny or dark, I can't see anything, so I don't read it. :-( What I was referring to, are all the Photoshop scandals that pop up - retailers making model's waists disappear, that kind of thing. The fact that bloggers are doing it too, well, that just stinks because we are supposed to be the "normal" people blogging instead of the "big media." What's the point if we are just pulling the same crap they are?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I would love to hear more about what you mean by I "need to start thinking big." What are you suggesting for the blog that I'm not already doing? I've been wanting to revamp things this winter so would love to hear your feedback. And if you tell me to start posing in empty parking lots and fields or coerce a significant other into taking photos for me, I will NEVER do that. The whole empty field/parking lot/roof thing drives.me.absolutely.insane. and feels soooo fake to me. It's not a photoshoot, I'm just showing you my outfit. And I don't have access to a photographer (which is normal... most people don't)... but again would love to hear your suggestions for anything I can do to improve that still keeps it real! :-)
J- I absolutely LOVE this outfit definitely one of my favorites of all the ones you have posted. Great color combo! :) Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteOn another note- I have a fashion question. I bought a dark brown skirt that has a camel colored belt. I have dark brown heels to wear with it. What color tights/shirt/accessories would you pair with those? Thanks!
Thank you Cassie! Pretty much any "autumn" tone would work with that outfit so a maroon, hunter green, mustard, or leopard top would work. You could also do an ivory top with some chunky gold jewelry. For tights, I would try dark brown and see how that looks - will probably make your legs look a mile long which is nice. Dark brown tights with camel shoes would also look good!
ReplyDeleteThis outfit is awesome! I wear alot of tights, but so far all neutrals - maybe this will inspire me to branch out!
ReplyDeleteThis is a hot look! I love it! leopard & burgundy look amazing..
ReplyDeleteI don't have any great photography advice, but I did want to say that this is SUCH a cute outfit. The skirt and the cardigan and the tights are all just awesome together!
ReplyDeleteHi J! How do VS clothes run? Can you tell me what size skirt you're wearing here?
ReplyDeleteSara, I think it's pretty true to size! I'm wearing a size 2 in the skirt, and a XS cardigan. In general, their clothes are more fitted, but the size # seems to be the same!
ReplyDelete