While I usually write about the latest beauty product or what to do on a trip to Ireland, today I am going to answer one of my most asked questions; why I started my blog.
It all began with modeling
I moved to the US in 2014 and before then I lived almost my whole life in Ireland. During the years leading up to my move, I modeled a lot and had a modeling agent for a few years. I LOVED modeling. I got to meet so many new people from the other models to the photographers to the makeup artists and hair stylists. I was a financial auditor in Ireland so this was such an adventure on my weekends compared to my day to day job. I always viewed modeling as a hobby although I modeled almost every other weekend. I knew that I wanted my career in Finance. I didn’t have an Instagram account before 2016 so posted a couple of photos occasionally on Facebook, however, not many people knew I modeled.
My first ever photoshoot in Ireland
I missed the creative side of my life when I moved to the US
After I moved to the US in 2014, I was a financial consultant and I loved my new life. There was so much newness, traveling, new friends, first apartments, new clients with my consultant role and so much excitement. I met a photographer in DC randomly and he asked if I would do a photoshoot with him. He had no idea that I had modeled before at that time. After some persuasion, I ended up doing it. I initially said that I had retired as a model and that was in my past (I was 25!). That initial photoshoot lead me to the fashion circle when I lived in DC including modeling in DC fashion week. I realized that I missed the photoshoots, getting my hair & makeup done and meeting all these new fun people so I started saying yes to some fun opportunities that came my way.
My first photo shoot in DC
Modeling on TV in Washington DC
I had no reason to use all the photos from photoshoots
I set up a modeling Instagram page (which I now use for my blogging) and posted a few photos and kept growing on instagram. After lots of photoshoots, I had so many images yet nothing to do with them. I have always loved writing & I thought I should use these photos for blog posts. I originally started as a Beauty, Fashion & Travel Blog and definitely thought that I would end up writing more on fashion however the beauty world makes me so passionate that I love focusing on beauty topics.
A very fun and different photoshoot that I did in San Francisco
I kept enjoying blogging more and more
It’s been quite a few years since I started my blog as a hobby and I can say that it has brought me so much happiness, learnings & friendships. I moved to San Francisco from DC in 2016 and set up my blog in 2017. It really helped me to make friends through blogging events & also one sweet model/photographer became one of my closest friends here. I have learnt so much from blogging and know that I will keep learning the longer that I continue to blog. It is so different compared to my full-time finance job so I really enjoy blogging as a past time.
The first photoshoot in San Francisco that was specifically for my blog
10 things I’ve learnt as a blogger
How to design a website - this was quite the learning curve and Youtube became my best friend
Photography 101 - I am still learning at product photography. I was always in front of the lens so being behind the lens taking the photo is new for me.
Expectations from brands for content - so much to learn about what brands are looking for and expecting from a brand campaign
How to use social media for a blog - I am learning Pinterest here and how to share my blog posts through Pinterest
When I put in an effort, the results are massive compared to when I let things slide for weeks
Bloggers/influencers work hard and it’s not simply receiving free products
There are so many friendships to be made through blogging
How much goes on behind the scenes - a lot!
I really love writing - as you can see from this post, once I start writing, I find it hard to stop
I am so so passionate about Beauty - I am a #SephoraSquad influencer which you can read about HERE.
Hope you learnt more about why I started my blog and some of the things that I have learnt as a blogger. Read some more of my recent blog posts below to learn about some of my favorite beauty, fashion and travel adventures.
Thanks for reading.
Recent Blog Posts
