The truth about blogs, lifestyle blogs in particular, is that they often provide only a very narrow slice of the reality. That is, a highly styled, photoshopped slice. This is particularly true with me because I love beautiful, meticulously-processed photos, and don’t feel like my dirt is all that special and picture-worthy.
On the other hand, I realize that all these polished photos might give some people a wrong idea of how things really are.
What you might think dinner looks like:
What dinner looks like:
What kids look like:
What kids do:
Although, for the purposes of full disclosure, these children have also been known to do this, increasingly more often:
Especially when I promise them some cookies.
Which sometimes burn.
And, the truth is, I am not ashamed of my messes one bit – it’s just that I don’t think that they would make for very appetizing blog content, especially since, like many others, my blog is a business. It’s what you call “industry standard” – you wouldn’t show up for work in your pajamas, and neither would my blog. But this doesn’t mean that it’s my everyday reality, either.
Here are some more examples:
This laundry pile is a part of my five-year plan.
And this is what a section of my entryway looked like when I removed all the boots to clean it out. I must be living on a farm or something.
If you are a reader of blogs, keep in mind that whenever you see glossy photos of food, on my blog or elsewhere, they are often the result of styling and photo-editing involving professional-grade equipment. They are there to make the dish appealing but are not meant to represent anyone’s everyday life. Those beautiful plates are often props that are not a part of everyday dinner rotation, and the pictures are more the artwork to accompany the recipes than anything else.
This doesn’t mean that you should be angry with the bloggers, whose goal is to entice rather than deceive, and who invest countless hours into the beautiful content that keeps you coming back.
This means that if a blog ever makes you feel inferior, don’t. Everybody’s life has a little bit of the above, especially that of rural food bloggers with a pile of kids.
And I do mean “pile.”
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
I totally agree. Real life is messy and those that post pics of things so perfect really dont live like that. I feel it gives a false sense of life tho just like all those airbrushed photos of models. On my own blog, the dishes you see are the ones I use all the time. The pots have been used for yrs and even any decor……it stuff I have around. I dont go buying anything special to take a shot. I post about real life and real food. Hopefully stuff just about anyone can do. Sadly I find so many cant do these days and have to be taught. So all us real life bloggers really do give a great service to the world.
Pat recently posted..Simple but good: Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
If you think of a blog as a business – and mine certainly is, it warrants a polished look – and I do value it. It’s the industry standard – I work hard to achieve it have the readership size to prove it. I feel like it’s something blog readers should be aware of though – just like the readers of magazines should be aware of all the airbrushing that goes on. I think that most are.
I love pretty pics as much as the next guy or gal, but I REALLY love your real-life pics. Thank you for sharing those with us, too. (and dang those kids are fabulous!)
Love cause its so true!
(ps I’d eat those cookies!!)
Janie recently posted..I Found Another Blog-Dragon Fly Dreams
Just ate the last cookie myself, Janie! It was burned and dry but I still enjoyed it.
Go real life! The messes are part of the adventure.
I love, love, love this post! Way to keep it real.
What you said is true in most walks of life and situations though…you never hear a gambler brag about all the times they have lost money…only when they win. I take blogs with a similar grain of salt…
Sorry, Greg, I accidentally deleted the link to your last blog post – blaming the phone.
What do you mean its all polished just to look good on screen. Are you telling me you are normal people with a messy house? Surely not…. just kidding. I love that you just
“keepin it real”. Have a glossy, photo shopped, low lighting kinda weekend!
For the record, my house has been becoming increasingly clean because I am realizing that with three children I need to keep it relatively together for everyone to function, but yes, I am not above photoshopping out a speck on the wall. But obviously food styling is a different story altogether. It’s like an art form more than anything. Many of the backgrounds that you see in food photos are painted boards, made just for that (not yet on my blog, but only because I didn’t have the time-space to do it yet) – not rustic picnic tables.
Love this post! Not only do bloggers compose their photos, but of course, we decide what to write about in the first place…pre-censorship, if you will. Yet it gives the impression of being a “natural” slice of life. You’ve nailed it!
anexactinglife recently posted..My Mom’s Table vs. My Table
I think it’s just important to keep in mind that many photo/domestic blogs are not “dear diary” projects (like I’ve been trying to explain to my husband forever) but reference resources. I mean if you open a cookbook, chances are there’ll be no dirty underwear on the floor in the photos, and nobody is going to assume that such a thing never occurs in the life of the author. But it’s different with food blogs, people may or may not think of them in the same way.
Isn’t that silver with the Corelle?
Love your blog, messy kids and all. They are so beautiful!
The spoon might be gold plated. Here is to real life. From the old country. Correlle plates, yes. See them on my upcoming column.
thanks for keepin’ it real. LOVE that real dinner shot. i myself often take photos of messes (for future referrence) but I’m always disappointed since they only show ONE mess and do not adequately represent the entirety of our ridiculously messy house.
Calamity Jane recently posted..Why Mamas Gotta Do Their Thang
Love your blog, love the “get real” pics, as we all have them:)) So cool to find a “PRO” hunter blog too like mine:)
Cheers
Ang
Angie recently posted..Homemade Apple Pie Filling
Ha ha I like your honesty. I look at some of these lifestyle blogs and wonder if their lives really are as wondrous as they seem to be. iphones only capture lovely moments I guess.
Allyssa
Allyssa recently posted..DIY Pallet Shelves
Not as wondrous but most people’s houses are much nicer than mine. Pretty lifestyle blog is totally a bourjois thing.
I just found you through your ‘homies’ nomination. Yes your blog title stood out among all the other ‘pretty’ lifestyle blogs! Not to say you are not pretty (OMG I starting out on the wrong foot here!).
Great first post (well, it was really the chicken butcher 101) to start me off! I had to see if you were hand plucking, but no!, you had a plucker!! They are the best! We raise about 100 chickens a season and I too second that the chicken tractors are a pain in the butt. Between raccoons and coyotes breaking in we now lock them down at night in a traditional coop.
Molly (Mike and Molly’s House) recently posted..The New Plant Starting Station (AKA the laundry room)
I was having a crappy morning. Then I read your “about” section and the above entry. My day is now better. It’s a beautiful life, eh? Go Badgers. I forgot that there are other moms in the world that do what I do, care about what I care about, and also have chickens. And dirt on the floor. I really like your blog. Thanks for doing what you do.
R