November 11, 2010

What to do? To-do lists!


5/30 [11/10/10]
{Pants & Top: Banana Republic, Cardigan: LOFT, Bracelet: Limited, Boots: Target}

5/30 [11/10/10]


I like to-do lists. Usually I have a few laying around my desk at work, a couple at home, maybe even 1 in my car. They help keep my eye on the prize, be productive and most of all stay focused. So when I started the 30 for 30 challenge I started making lists – potential outfit combinations, a tentative schedule and a chart of what I actually ended up wearing. And when I say chart, what I mean is spreadsheet. Yes you guys, I have a 30 for 30 spreadsheet…and guess what? Its color coded!

Think I’m Type A much? Yeahhhh, I didn’t think so.

Today, marks outfit #5. That means I’m 1/6th of the way done with the challenge! And while I’ve got a good feeling about my future outfits to come, there is something I struggle with – outfit pictures. Like other remixers have mentioned – it’s dark outside by the end of the workday. So unless I want to wake up earlier than usual to catch some morning sunlight (hmm, no), indoor photos are becoming the norm. Indoor pictures in my apartment/bedroom are, let’s face it, kind of dull. They make do, but I don’t love them.

So being the Type A perfectionist that I am, I brainstormed some ideas to improve my outfit pictures. Here we go:

- Invest in a boyfriend who is also a photographer.
- Coerce my sister to be my photographer in her spare time.
- Enlist a co-worker to be my photographer.

On that same note, I’ve also thought out the likelihood of each scenario.

- There are not many dateable boys in Cincinnati (no offense) and the chance that one is a skilled photographer is highly unlikely.
- My sister works 2 jobs and has about zero spare time.
- Enlisting a co-worker to take my picture would mean having to explain 1) the 30for30 challenge and 2) the fact that I have a blog.

Back to the drawing board. What do you guys think? What works for you?


spreadsheet
{I wasn't joking about the spreadsheet}

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17 comments:

  1. love that color combo AND that bow-tie shirt!!

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  2. I feel like a lot of bloggers have been asking this today. Must be something about nearing the end of the first week. :)

    I've struggled with this same issue, especially now that we've changed the clocks back. I've been getting up early to take my pictures this week.

    I put the camera on custom timer, and set it to take about 10 pictures at 2-3 second intervals. (I have a Canon point-and-shoot camera - nothing fancy.) Then I balance it on something decent, cross my fingers and hope it doesn't fall, walk away, turn around, and smile. :) It doesn't always work out, but it's actually less awkward for me than asking my friends or boyfriend to take my photos.

    For the 30 for 30, I found a nice wooden post outside that I've been using as a tripod for the past few days. It's taken some practice, but I think it's working out well. I've also been using a table on my boyfriend's patio. It's not extremely scenic, but...I've been pretty happy with my photos this week.

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  3. I love your tie neck blouse, it's so lovely! As for the photographer thing, I rely on my trusty tripod. I've gotten so used to it that when I have an actual person taking photos for me, I get so self-conscious. Good luck! =)

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  4. Your hair is adorable and kudos on the spreadsheet.

    Following you! :) www.stylocrat.blogspot.com

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  5. Oh my goodness! A spreadsheet! I love it! That is too cute.

    I was just thinking about the lack of light/getting really cold outside thing today. It is going to stink to all high heaven when I have to take pictures inside because my apartment is above the dimmest place is the world. Ugh.

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  6. i love that you have a spreadsheet! LOL - it would have also been easy to graph, later, if you were to enter the number of times you wore a specific piece.

    i use a remote with my camera, sometimes a tripod & sometimes not. have you thought about running away somewhere in the middle of the day, like on a lunch break?

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  7. I too would like to invest in a boyfriend who is also a photographer.

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  8. I take pictures inside. I leave when it's dark lots of times so waking up earlier just means more dark.

    I too had a graph. Well chart. http://scrapandrun.blogspot.com/2010/09/overall-30-for-30-summary.html I guess I should post that soon. I was going to wait to day 5 so it actually had some data on there.

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  9. OMG! Love the spreadsheet! I apparently couldn't even count my items accurately but some part of me holds your organizational skills to a very high regard!

    Re the pix, I use a tripod, I take a bunch of pictures with the self-timer. I tried engaging my husband but the pictures were less natural, I'm goofier by myself.

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  10. Tie neck blouse in black with muted pink cardigan? WIN! I absolutely love your outfit today and I wish I had a cardi that color. :)

    http://one-girl-vs-world.blogspot.com

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  11. you made a spreadsheet! that is so awesome. if i decide to do the 30 for 30 next time, i just might have to do one too! haha

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  12. I used to be extremely nuts about to-do lists while I was in school. Now, not so much. I think I just don't have much to do anymore other than shopping lists (usually filled with things I don't particularly need).

    I also have no one to take my pictures. And I don't want my co-workers following me in more ways than linkedin.

    Good luck to you!
    Kat
    http://www.dreamsdispersed.com

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  13. I do the whole timer, run to take picture, then check to see if the picture looks good. I have a photographer brother, but you know what he tells me. "Take your own picture." He's so nice. :P
    I'm thinking of getting a new camera that either has continuous picture taking or one that comes with a wireless remote.

    Enough about the picture taking process.
    I love the bow top and the color of your cardigan. Very cute. One of the awesome things about the 30 for 30 is that I have discovered a bunch of new blogs!

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  14. I keep wanting to invest in the same things for photographers! Sadly though, there are no date-able guys where I live, my sister lives a long ways away and I can't explain to my co-workers either that I have a blog!

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  15. What the Coastal Chicster said is good stuff:

    "I put the camera on custom timer, and set it to take about 10 pictures at 2-3 second intervals. (I have a Canon point-and-shoot camera - nothing fancy.)"

    Let me add to that, you can get a remote for many point and shoot cameras for around $25 (that's what the Asian Cajuns use, as well as many other bloggers). Combine a remote with a Gorillapod (tripod with super bendable legs) and you're in business. (Search for either using Google shopping to get pictures.) Some small pieces of equipment could free you up to try different locations in your house.

    OK, alot of other people said those two things, but really, some of the awesomeness of style blogs is seeing how people solve these types of issues.

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  16. Emily mentioned a remote for $25 bucks.
    I have 2 remotes. One was 3 bucks. One was 30 bucks. I like the $3 one way better. I can dig out the link to it if you want it. It doesn't do fancy things, but I am OK with that.

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  17. Your spreadsheet is amazing. I am not usually a list person, but now that I'm inspired...

    Also, taking photos is the bane of my existence. Its hard enough taking them, much less trying not to look awkward. Not you, me.

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