26 comments

What I’ve Learned in 10 Years Posting OOTD

outfit of the dayifb-fashion

I've been posting outfits of the day (OOTD) for ten years. Back when I started, not a lot of people were doing it, so it was a relatively new phenomenon, and there weren't a lot of “rules” or standards. Now, though, personal style blogs are a dime a dozen, and there are more OOTD photos floating around on Instagram and blogs than ever before.

Here are some things I've learned from posting my outfit pictures online the last ten years:

Have a goal

My goal when I started posting outfits, and still is today, was to simply show what items of clothing looked like on MY (average-sized) body. Back then, there wasn't a lot of styling going on, and OOTD weren't photo shoots like they are today. Keeping that in mind, my requirements might be different from yours, but it's important to think about your goals when you post your outfits so you know what you want to achieve from them.

Show your face

I used to cut my head off in photos for a couple of reasons: I didn't want my face “out there” on the internet, and it was tough to get a photo that was a great OUTFIT shot and a great head shot while I was working with a tripod and timer. I got tired of that quickly though, and recognized that my readers responded better to complete photos rather than headless ones.

I understand the feeling of wanting to remain anonymous, and maybe for some of you that's a priority, but I would encourage you to try posting photos of yourself on your blog. The only thing that sets you apart from other bloggers nowadays is YOU, and your readers will never really feel like they know you without seeing your face.

It's okay to take your photos yourself

I have always taken my photos using a tripod and timer or remote control. Mostly because, well, you know that saying “if you want something done right, do it yourself”? And I knew that if I wanted to get outfit shots in a timely manner, I'd have to do it myself, whenever I could. Again, if my goal was to style outfits and really make my photos tell a story, then using a tripod probably wouldn't cut it. Think about why you take your outfit pictures in the first place, and plan/adjust accordingly.

Be Prepared for weirdos and nasty comments

This is what happens when you post pictures of yourself on the internet. Just prepare for anything, and figure out how you're going to deal with it beforehand.

A DSLR is NOT necessary

But do try to get the best photos possible with whatever equipment you have available. Work on lighting, composition, editing afterwards…there are lots of great articles on that here at IFB. I just recently started using a DSLR and definitely see the difference in terms of clarity and photo quality, but what's most important is that you work with what you have, and what you CAN do right now, instead of thinking you can't because you don't have “the right” equipment.

Be Consistent

This is one of the most important factors in being successful as a blogger, but especially for outfits. Do you post what you're wearing every day? Do you post outfits only on the weekends? Try to get on a reliable schedule so your readers know what to expect.

Engage

I always write a bit when I post an outfit, but I know a lot of bloggers don't. I find it helpful to talk about what I was thinking when I chose that outfit, or how I chose it, or what I was doing that day – anything that helps your readers relate to you more will bring more engagement, and ultimately more loyalty.

One or two pictures is enough

I rarely show more than one photo of my outfits; most of the time another one just isn't necessary. Take a closeup to show accessory details or give a better idea of the fit of something, but don't just post 5-6 photos that are almost EXACTLY the same because you can.

What have you learned from posting OOTD?

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26 Responses

  1. Ashley

    “One or two pictures is enough”

    YES YES YES. Unless your blog is editorial photography ala Sea of Shoes, keep it simple. I used to aim for around 1-4 (one to just show the outfit, up to 2-3 extras **IF** there are great detail shots to show). Learn how to edit – you don’t need two identical shots, where you’re looking left in one and right in the other.

    Reply
    • Jessica Lauren

      Yes, yes, yes, one to two photographs are enough. I love to see others outfits but I can not tolerate an endless stream of photos that can go on for 10- 12 shots. I will make the exception if the shots are broken up into different parts of the outfit (example: a zoomed in view of the detailing of the outfit or footwear). Ladies and gentlemen, sometimes less is truly more. But keep up with the OOTD posts, I love to see what you come up with!

      Reply
  2. Diane

    I don’t do many OOTD posts (ok, I think the last one was in December) because I don’t have a DSLR – yet – or a personal photographer. I guess I feel like if I’m going to do an OOTD it should look professional or I shouldn’t do it at all. I try not to feel too bad about it and focus on posting about other things – beauty reviews, fashion trends, and blogging tips. I don’t want to be completely faceless, though, so I do intend to branch into OOTD posts soon.

    http://stylecontext.com

    Reply
  3. Miche

    I think definitely limiting the number of photos is important – when I started (albeit only a year ago) I thought ‘more is better!’ but thats so not true, and it actually annoys me now when people post tons of pictures of the same thing/pose. Going for fewer, higher quality is the way to go in my book!
    Miche from Buttons and Birdcages

    Reply
  4. Danielle Fuechtmann

    I totally agree with your points about editing down the number of photos and not needing a DSLR. I think it’s really easy to get caught up in all of the equipment you “need” to successfully run a blog and this can actually hold people back. Yes, having a DSLR and fancy equipment can improve quality, but if budget is an issue or it’s a small hobby, I’d rather see more effort in engagement or writing because unless the blogger is providing consistent, excellent editorial images, I’m probably there because I feel a connection to the blogger.

    My biggest pet peeve is scrolling through over a dozen of nearly identical photos in a post. I’m really glad you pointed it out, I feel like it’s becoming more common.

    Reply
  5. Chelsey

    I’m still currently working on editing the number of photos I post. As a reader, I lose interest after 3 or 4 photos. As a blogger, sometimes I just really like how an angle or pose came out and want to post that one in addition to the standard shots. Finding the balance is key, and I’m hoping to get better at editing.
    http://ventifashion.com

    Reply
  6. Paige

    I agree with limiting the photos on the blog. If there are more than 4 photos that you like, use them to promote the post on your social media sites.

    Reply
  7. Ashley Taylor

    My blog IS a personal style blog, so outfit posts are 90-95% of my blog, BUT I always explain my outfits because a lot of thought DOES go into them. Whether its my mood, the weather, an event, or the styling of a specific piece, there was SOME motivation behind the whole look, so I always make it a point to share that. I want people to come to my blog when they don’t know what to wear.

    Also, two things come to mind: One, I think I need a mentor for my online questions. I don’t know anyone in my personal life who is familiar with the blogosphere or very tech-savvy. I have so many questions, all the time!!

    Two, I think I’m doing something wrong with my blog, since I’ve never had one negative comment on the blog, or on any social media, ever….

    Advice on how to find a mentor? Advice for feeling like what you’re doing isn’t working?

    xo Ashley
    thetiniestfirecracker.com

    Reply
  8. Ren

    I agree and identity with all of your points, though I have to say that having a tripod and taking a picture that tells a story is possible, just time-consuming. I mean if Cindy Sherman could do it… with film, no less!

    Ren
    http://pupuren.com/weblog

    Reply
  9. yvespink

    Posting outfit pictures can be a bit tedious, because you have to consider what angle looks good in pictures, one has to put a little effort.
    http://yvespink.blogspot.com

    Reply
  10. Rebecca Tembo

    I absolutely needed the advice from this post and the comments! I literally just started my blog at the end of April and right now I feel that I haven’t been able to produce as much as I could have done to the quality I want – I’m also starting a YouTube channel so this really helped with ways to shoot videos too.

    From my minimal experience I think consistency is very important! Whether you believe it or not, people will and do check your blog and if they don’t see anything new then they will give up on you. So organisation comes into that when considering balancing your blogging life, work, school/college and all sorts.

    The comments on the number of pictures shocked me actually. I love looking at pictures as I am a visual person but I guess that varies depending on who you are. I tend to like to see 6 pictures if its and OOTD but I can understand the need for more if they are showing details.

    Great post! Can’t wait to read more

    stylewithrebecca.blogspot.co.uk

    Reply
  11. Marta P

    As usual, quality over quantity!

    http://thisissimplymee.blogspot.co.uk

    Reply
  12. Katie

    I do agree on the last comment on not posting tons of photos of the same thing. That is something that I’ve begun see more with bloggers today, and its something that I absolutely hate. Scrolling through 15 photos of the same thing is irritating.

    Reply
  13. Kierra

    I love how you said minimal photos!! I can’t stand going to a page and having to scroll thought 15 photos. Another thing for those who don’t have a fancy camera or a photographer is to use polyvore! I take inspirational pics from Pinterest or wherever and then I restyle them using a set on polyvore. Sometimes if I didn’t have time to snap a photo of my outfit I will make a set of what I wore on polyvore! It’s a great alternative for those who don’t have a camera!

    Reply
  14. Kierra

    I love how you said minimal photos!! I can’t stand going to a page and having to scroll thought 15 photos. Another thing for those who don’t have a fancy camera or a photographer is to use polyvore! I take inspirational pics from Pinterest or wherever and then I restyle them using a set on polyvore. Sometimes if I didn’t have time to snap a photo of my outfit I will make a set of what I wore on polyvore! It’s a great alternative for those who don’t have a camera!
    XOXO
    http://aprettythought.org

    Reply
  15. trash2treasured.com

    Editing is everything and with so many free editing websites (such as Pixlr and PicMonkey) it’s a breeze to give your photos a high quality finish.

    Tina xo
    www.trash2treasured.com

    Reply
  16. Cat

    you are gorgeous and you have wonderful taste in clothes. You carry it with such elegance and ease. I would love for you to check out our GLASSWORKS DRESS by Bless’ed Are The Meek (see below) from StyleCloset. I think it would look smashing on you. Thanks so much for your thoughts. i really enjoy reading your blog and checking out your pictures. cheers! 😀

    Reply
  17. Elena

    I agree, posting 2-3 photos but good quality is enough. I think people will get tired of scrolling down and seeing same photos over and over again.
    Thank you so much for sharing your great tips with us!
    http://dcinstyle.com/

    Reply
  18. Megan Doyle

    I have learnt a lot of lessons after posting outfit photos on my blog for about 2 years. Yes, I think that too many photos can bore people (and often comes across as a bit narcissistic to me) but I think the most important thing I’ve learnt is exactly what Grechen said- if you want a job done well, do it yourself! I now solely use a tripod and remote control to take any outfit posts after months of having to nag family and friends to help me, only to be unhappy with the results! Always so much more rewarding being able to say you’ve literally done everything including take the photos. I find I’m also looking noticeably more comfortable in images when I don’t have a photographer. I suppose learning from your mistakes is all part of the experience!

    Megan

    Reply
  19. Noemi

    You’re so right! I’m not a personal style blogger and I really can’t stand those post that show about 25 photos of an outfit, and most of all the time in the same position, and sometimes the photos are blurried! I like the photos by The Cherry Blossom Girl, also because she shows not only the clothes but also the landscapes and details.

    Reply
  20. Amy J. Frost

    Wow. This is great. I am soooo guilty of posting too many photos — I guess. I was trying to give people a full visual, but maybe it’s overkill? I’ll have to get better at choosing.

    I agree with Ashley. I really need a blog mentor. How does one find that?
    https://glassesgrl.com

    Reply
  21. riris

    be consistent is really hard for me.. But I always do my best as much as I can, I’m not posting OOTD reguraly, I try to post it once a month but still feeling hard. I agree with you to posting one or two our ootd, well.. read a blog with too many same photos are bored. I think, less photos with best quality is better. thank you for share this tips.

    xo,Riris

    Reply
  22. Lynne Kayenne

    Insighful post 🙂 I am Launching my blog in 4 days and this site has been my Blogging bible. I’ve found so many answers to my blogging queries on here 🙂 🙂

    Please don’t hesitate to stop by at www.populairelife.co.uk to say hello
    Lynnexxx

    Reply
  23. Carol @ Jolly Caucus Race

    I enjoy seeing a bit of a write-up beside outfit photos too.
    There’s more substance to a post then rather than just putting up the pictures.
    Clothes have functional peoperties too and it’s nice to find out where you wore the outfit to or what external elements affected your choice.

    www.JollyCaucusRace.blogspot.ie

    Reply
  24. Taylor D

    I’m surprised to read all these comments and find out that 1-3 photos are good enough! I always try to have 6 or 8 shots in my outfit posts, mostly because I can’t choose which ones to put up!

    -xx Taylor
    http://when-im-older.com
    http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/3729106

    Reply
  25. Simone

    I definitely agree with the engaging with readers part. If I come across a blog that is just photos of the outfit and nothing else, I don’t really feel connected, understand the person or their outfit choice and ultimately I don’t follow their blog. It’s never that memorable if there is nothing written on the post.
    I always write something with my outfit of the day posts on my blog. I’m the same as you: it might be about why I chose that outfit or what I was doing that say. Either way, it makes the post more fun to write and hopefully more enjoyable for my readers!
    Thanks for sharing your tips 🙂
    Simone

    Reply