Here is a list of the questions I receive most often:
How old are you?
I am 28 years old.
How tall are you?
I am a 5’6,” when I stand up straight!
What did you study in college?
I received my BA in English and a Minor in Peace and Conflict Studies. I’ve always loved reading and writing so it was the perfect fit. There’s also so much you can do with an English degree. Throughout college I was thinking I wanted to go to law school but after working full-time for a firm once I graduated, I realized it wasn’t for me. I started to pursue more creative careers, working for a magazine helping style and plan shoots, as well as writing editorial content. From there I went on to be a buyer and stylist for an online clothing store, and then marketing for a women’s shoe brand.
Any tips for getting into the fashion industry?
Intern! Once I realized I wanted to go into fashion I interned for a small fashion magazine. I learned so much information that I still apply in my job today. It’s important to try to get your foot in the door however you can. Even if you’re not making money, hopefully the experience you’ll be gaining will be even more valuable. I do think it is hard to get into the fashion industry without having a lot of experience, but once you’re in, you’re in. It becomes a very small world, believe it or not! You could try working for a shop or showroom and that could lead to some buying and styling experience. Don’t feel bad to put yourself out there. It goes a long way and you’ll benefit from it in the long run. If you’re interested in buying in particular, and you’re still in school, I’d recommend taking some math classes because buying deals with a lot of numbers. You’re constantly looking at your budget, making projections, and also analyzing your current sell-through. Taking a job as a Buyer’s Assistant will teach you a lot of valuable information, while allowing you to learn from an Assistant Buyer, or maybe even the Head Buyer. It would be a perfect way to find out if it’s a career you’re interested in.
What kind of camera do you use and who takes your photos?
I work with a few different photographers for my style posts who use different cameras and lenses. When I shoot my recipe posts I use a Nikon D600 and either a 50mm lens or an 85mm.
Do you edit your photos? What program do you use?
I would ideally like to edit all my photos but working a full-time job, and blogging semi-full-time makes it a little difficult. Time becomes very valuable to me. Most of the time I don’t edit my photos, unless it’s small adjustments like cropping and brightness. When I do have time to edit photos I use Photoshop. I’m still learning the ropes on there, though, but once I have it down hopefully I’ll be able to use it more often.
Why, and when, did you start your blog?
I started my blog in 2009 when Matthew and I were in a long-distance relationship. I’ve always been one to keep diaries and journals, and even had a Livejournal back in the day. I loved the idea of creating a space that could be our own, where I’d share photos and stories from our visits together. It also helped to be a creative outlet while I was working in a law firm as a legal assistant. It made me realize that I wanted to be doing something a little more creative with my career. I started sharing recipes right away, since food has always been a big part of my life. Baking is my favorite hobby and a major stress reliever for me. When Matthew moved down to LA, the blog started to include more personal style posts since I’ve always loved playing dress up and being creative with my outfits. It’s crazy to think that M Loves M started when Matthew and I were dating, documented our proposal, shared wedding planning, even adopting our puppy Ginger. It’s very exciting to think about what the future holds for this site!
I’m just starting to blog. Do you have any advice?
First off, congratulations! Starting my blog was one of the best things I ever did. It’s been over 4 years and I still love it just as much as I did day one. I think the important thing is figuring out what you want to blog about. I think it’s always best to write about what you’re most passionate about. Don’t try to be like someone else, be you! Voice is a very important component and you need to identify it so you can set yourself apart from others. Pull inspirations and make moodboards to help you figure out what you want your blog to look like, and feel like. Sometimes the cleanest and simplest layouts look best. Consider the name and what it will say about your site. These are things to think about before you start. I started M Loves M not really thinking about what it would become, but it’s an important aspect to consider. Once you do start your blog I think it’s best to write as often as possible. Network with other bloggers through blog comments and social media sites like Twitter and Instagram. I would invest in a nice camera. I don’t think you need a DSLR but perhaps something other than your camera phone {although those are pretty nice these days}. You want to have clear photos with good lighting. Bottom line, have fun with it! If you’re having fun and loving what you’re posting about, others will to!
What’s your policy with working with other brands?
I’m definitely open with working with brands. I am somewhat selective as I want to work with brands I feel represent M Loves M, and myself. I want to remain credible to my readers so I will never promote a company or a product that I don’t believe in 100%. I often receive items from brands to post on my site and those will be noted with a “c/o,” meaning courtesy of. These are items that I feel reflect my personal style, and are ones I would choose to buy on my own as well. I try to be as genuine as I can be and if you have any more questions about working with sponsors feel free to email me.
What’s your privacy policy?
I do allow third party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit M Loves M. These companies may use non-personally identifable information (e.g. click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice visit the NAI at http://networkadvertising.org. You can always opt-out of this type of advertising by visiting http://www.aboutads.info/choices.
Can I email you?
Absolutely! I love receiving emails from readers. I’m lucky to have become friends with a lot of readers through emails. Feel free to email me here!
xox
