Chitchat with Jackie

While I was thinking about what I wanted to write this week, I thought I should do a little Q & A, and there was no one more perfect for this than Jackie over at York Avenue!  She is one of my favorite bloggers and I am so happy to present this little chitchat with Jackie!

Q: Why did you start blogging and what inspires you to blog?

A: I started blogging mainly because for many years, I read a LOT of blogs every morning, and it was one of the things I most looked forward to each day. I never got sick of reading my favorites and they always made me feel so inspired and happy, so after a few years I got to talking to my sister and we decided to start one of our own. As it turned out, it was more of an interest of mine than hers, so I started it on my own (but she's always my biggest supporter!). Once I started, I realized how nice it felt to have a creative outlet and a way to share the things that I'm passionate about, whether it's baking a sweet treat, trying a cute new place in the city, or an interior design element that I'm obsessed with. My job is so the opposite of everything that I blog about, so it's a nice break from the everyday. I'm inspired by books that I read, things I see on the Internet, and things I come across while exploring NYC. My favorite bloggers inspire me as well! 

Q: Any advice for bloggers just starting out?

A: I'm certainly no expert on blogging! But, I would definitely say that it's not advisable to start blogging for the sole purpose of trying to make money or a career of it. It's extremely difficult to reach the level where you can quit your job and blog full-time, and a LOT of hard work and luck goes into it. So I would say the best reason to blog is because you love it and you want to share your passions. I think it's good for people to consider what it is that they want from blogging-are you trying to make a career of it in some way, or just doing it as a hobby? If it's just a hobby, don't put pressure on yourself! If it's more of a concentrated effort towards a career path, then you should perhaps be more organized and purposeful about it, and post on a daily basis. Also, get your name and your site out there! Leave genuine comments on blogs that you love and new blogs that you discover. Everyone loves getting comments, so it's a nice thing to do anyway, and it will bring more awareness to your blog. I think it's also important to try your best to be original. If you're posting something that you think or know that a lot of others have posted about, that's okay, but find a way to make it your own. Use some original photography, or put your opinion in there in some way. Just find a way to make it uniquely you!

Q: I know you just finished a photography class, any advice for us newbie photographers?

A: Photography class was a really great investment! I enjoyed it a lot and found it very inspiring. I recommend getting a good (but not crazy expensive) camera body (I got a Canon Rebel T3i), along with the kit lens. Although it's not a great lens, it does have the ability to zoom in and out, which is useful. I would say in addition to the kit lens, definitely get a 50 mm f1.8 lens to serve as a basic, high-quality, all-purpose lens. It's great for taking blog pictures (portraits, food photography) as well as just for overall photography needs.

Definitely learn how to use your camera in manual. It would be a bit of a shame to spend so much money on this piece of equipment that can do so much and just use it in auto. Plus you will take much better pictures in manual than the camera can take in auto. As we learned in class, "a camera only has one eye. You have two eyes and a brain."

Unless you're the type of person who can learn on your own by reading a website or book (in which case, I'm jealous!), I would recommend taking a class. Concepts that seemed so foreign and difficult to me at first quickly became second nature when explained by the teacher and then put into practice. It seems really complex at first, but don't get discouraged and keep practicing! The basics get easier and then it's just a matter of finding your style and having fun trying different compositions, lighting, angles, and more. And participate in the class! I regretted not bringing more of my photos in to be critiqued.

Q: Lastly, I'm dying to know, what is life like in NYC?

A: Life in NYC...it's a complicated question! I personally love living here, but I know a lot of people who don't. I would hate to romanticize it because it can be a tough place to live - the way that it's portrayed in movies and on Sex and the City isn't quite the reality! That being said, it really is an amazing place. It's vibrant, full of people, and full of energy. I love that there are so many unique, charming, interesting places to visit, from shops, to museums, to restaurants, parks, cafes...the list goes on. I love that each neighborhood has it's own completely unique and distinct personality and vibe, and it's easy to get from place to place. The biggest thing is that you could never get bored here. There is just an endless amount to do, and even more so, an endless amount to see. Every time I leave the apartment and go for a walk, it feels like a little adventure. You never know what strange or wonderful thing or person you'll see. I like that you can get away from the hustle and bustle by going to a quieter neighborhood, or you can just walk into a high traffic area and be right in the middle of this massive amount of energy and excitement. It feels like you're somewhere, somewhere special. It has it's downsides. It's crowded, it's noisy, it's EXPENSIVE (so expensive). But if you love it, none of that really matters. And people love it for so many different reasons. I think that's part of what makes NYC special-it's a completely different place to each person who experiences it. To me, it just feels like home, and I hope that I'm lucky enough to always be able to call it my home. 

You should definitely go check out Jackie's blog!  She is absolutely wonderful and I am so happy I was able to bring this interview to you!