Have you done a mid-year reading check-in yet? πŸ“š
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What a wild year 2022 has been so far πŸ˜΅β€πŸ’« I've found new favorite authors, made progress on my original TBR, checked out some great backlist books, and hit some super exciting goals! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ I'm not going to *just* share my faves or least faves, but instead I'm going to share some of the fun stats from my reading year so far! 🀎
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- Out of the 30 books I just *HAD TO* read this year, I've read 24
- Out of my numerical goal of 120 for the whole year, I've read 119
- I've rated 44 books with 4.5/5 stars (hence my struggle when someone asks for a favorite from the year so far)
- I've read 16 ARCs from 12 different publishers (this makes me want to bawl with happiness because this was such a massive goal for me when I began book blogging!)
- I've participated in 10 buddy-reads
- I've added 38 books to my shelves (either purchased by me after I read and loved a book, given as a gift, or sent by a generous author/publisher)
- I've discovered that there's a chance I *might* like romance more than fantasy now and that's totally okay!
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What has your reading looked like in 2022? β˜•οΈ 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #midyearreadingchallenge #readinggoals #storygraph #readingstats #perfectespressopour
Which of your childhood favorites would you like t Which of your childhood favorites would you like to see reimagined? πŸ“–
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When I found out that GALLANT had The Secret Garden vibes, I was really excited because that was one of my favorites as a kid ⛲️ I think it would be really neat to see this story retold by a few other authors as well (looking at you, Marissa Meyer) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Some of the other stories I loved as a kid that I'd like to see "adulted" are:
πŸ‘‘ A Little Princess
πŸ§žβ€β™‚οΈ Aladdin
 🐁 Stuart Little (it could be cute okay? like some kind of fantasy?)
πŸ‘’ Madeline
⚜️ Rumplestiltskin (I've only seen this done once and I wasn’t obsessed so I need more!)
β˜‚οΈ Mary Poppins
🐎 Misty of Chincoteague
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Did you enjoy any of those stories as a kid? 🀎 
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#veschwab #gallant #veschwabfeatures #schwabstagram #readersofinstagram #booksofig #bookgrammer #bookgram #instabooks #bookgasm #fantasybooks #bookishfeatures #booktography #booklover #bibliophilelife #readersofig #readersgonnaread #bookaesthetic #instareads #readerlife #bookishlove #bookstagram #thesecretgarden #retelling #90sbooks #childhoodbooks #childhoodbooksrevisited #bookflatlay
Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Long story short, I joined bookstagram in 2020 because I love books and I love talking about books, but I never had a space to do that πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ After years of fashion blogging and feeling out of place because of my interests, I wound up on this side of IG and realized that it felt like home 🀎
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I schemed up a name (something to do with coffee and books that didn't have the words "coffee" or "books" in it), took a few photos, created a profile, and went to town πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It wasn't long before I completely FELL IN LOVE with the supportive community, safe space to find new books and talk about the ones I love, and really cultivate my photography skills (which had been lying dormant for far too long) πŸ™ˆ
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Now, I'm thrilled to have connected with favorite authors, created my own hashtag (hey there #perfectespressopour β˜•οΈ), reviewed incredible books, launched my own line of merch, and made tons of new friends 🫢🏼 When I begin to feel down about the numbers or the lack of inspiration, I remind myself of why I started in the first place and I find myself falling in love all over again πŸ₯Ή
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Thank you for being part of my bookstagram journey πŸ“š
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstagram #booktography #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #booksta #bookphotography #bookswithmagic #booksaremagic #booknerdigan
Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author and which book made you fall in love with their work πŸ“š
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A couple months back, I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of The Wonderland Trials by @saraellawrites... and I immediately fell head over heels in love 😍 Needless to say, I instantly added her entire backlist to my TBR πŸ™ˆ
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Lately, I've been feeling a bit disappointed with fantasy (which has always been my favorite genre) πŸ˜• It seems like each time I pick one up, I'm either completely uninterested in the story or it just falls flat - but The Wonderland Trials absolutely blew me away! 🀯 If you're looking for something that really stands out amongst the rest, you certainly need to pick this one up! 🫢🏼
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Have you read any great Alice in Wonderland reimaginings? πŸ‡ 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #thewonderlandtrials #aliceinwonderland #fantasybookrecs #yafantasybooks #fairytaleretellings
Recommend me an underrated queer book! πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ
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In my world, every month is #pridemonth and I always, always have queer books on my TBR (not just white mlm, but a wide range of lgbtqia+ stories) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It's important to me to constantly be diversifying my shelves, learning more about the people around me, and continuing to create a safe environment for everyone in my little corner of the web 🀎
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My goal for June was to pack my TBR with as many queer books as I could in CELEBRATION of Pride Month, so I've already read 4 books with lgbtq rep:
πŸ¦‰ Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
🌎 The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
πŸ“Ί The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
🌌 Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefluer
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I'm currently reading 3:
πŸ«– A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
🩸 Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
πŸ–Œ Portrait of a Thief by Grace D Li
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 And I have 2 more on my immediate list:
πŸ₯€ Malice by Heather Walter
β˜€οΈ Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #queerbooks #readqueerallyear #queerreads #lgbtbooks #queeryourshelves #flippingpages
Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌 β €β €β € Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌
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I'm officially considering this Shadow and Bone week, between celebrating the 10th anniversary of the book and finding out about Ben narrating the Demon in the Wood audiobook! πŸ₯‚ 
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Also, catch me counting down the days until when I get to see my babies on-screen again (can we get a season 2 premiere date, please?) πŸ“Ί
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To answer my own question, Genya is my very favorite Shadow and Bone character 🀍 In fact, I have plans for a Genya tattoo in the near future πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Are you as excited for the audiobook and season 2 of the show as I am? 🀩 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #shadowandbone #grishaverse #genyasafin #leighbardugo #grishaversary #binbons
Do you have a favorite book dedication? ✍🏼
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I've found a few recently that have definitely stood out to me πŸ‘€ Sometimes a dedication sets the mood for the book and that's something I really love! 🀎
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A few that have blown my mind recently are:
πŸͺž GALLANT (pictured) by VE Schwab
πŸ‘‘ FOR THE THRONE (actually, both of The Wilderwood books have fabulous dedications) by Hannah Whitten
πŸ›« EARLY DEPARTURES by Justin A. Reynolds
πŸ“– THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig
πŸ’” ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART by Stephanie Garber
πŸ₯˜ WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo
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Have you read any of these magnificent books? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #bookdedications #gallant #veschwab #gallantbook #fantasybooks #fantasyreader
Is there a book you've read this year that is unli Is there a book you've read this year that is unlike anything else you've ever read? πŸ“–
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When I read THE ATLAS SIX in April, I was blown away by how unique it was! 🀯 I have never in my life read another book like it and that's part of why it got 5 stars from me ⭐️ Sure, it started at a slower pace but the further the story progressed, the more fascinating it was (and the pacing at the beginning made far more sense because it led to absolute BRILLIANCE) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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I don't read much dark academia, so recommend some titles to me (THAT AREN'T AS WELL KNOWN) that you've enjoyed! πŸ›
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Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vib Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vibes✨?
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I definitely do! 🫢🏼 In the past few years, I've read more and more books like this and they always leave me feeling utterly fascinated (and maybe a little confused?) πŸ€” I gotta say that writing reviews for them can be a bit tough, but reading them is a lot of fun πŸ™ˆ
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Books I enjoy that are no plot, just vibes:
🐝 The Starless Sea
πŸŽͺ The Night Circus
πŸ’ƒπŸ» Where Dreams Descend
πŸͺΆ The Raven Cycle
πŸšͺ The Ten Thousand Doors of January
πŸ§™πŸ»β€β™€οΈ The Once and Future Witches
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“– 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #noplotjustvibes #turningpages #booktography #bookphotography
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The Espresso Edition

Cozy Lifestyle Blog

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Fashion · June 15, 2018

How to Feel Confident in Front of a Camera

It’s taken nearly three years, but I’ve finally found my groove in front of the camera.

Yep, that’s right – three years. Sure, in the first year of blogging, it wasn’t awful – but I constantly felt the stares of every person around me like they were boring into my skull, and it was incredibly awkward. I’ve gotten to a place where those stares barely phase me and I can confidently be as quirky or silly as I want! This topic pairs particularly well with these photos because during this photoshoot, my friend, Lindsey, and I experienced some unusual (and uncomfortable) gawking as we posed. In the onlookers’ defense, we were in a hotel lobby. However, this specific lobby is one of the most popular in my city, and there are bloggers aplenty who grace its pink, velvet couches for their photos. It truly wasn’t so abnormal for us to be there … and we had to ignore their gaze and act natural.

It’s easier than it sounds once you’ve had some practice, but I constantly receive questions asking how I look so natural in my photos. Someone recently told me that my photos actually look candid, and that was a massive compliment. It made me think about it a little further, and I wanted to share some of my best tips for feeling confident in front of the camera – whether that’s a video or a photo!


Outfit Details
dress | shoes | necklaceΒ | earrings | similar bag

Make sure to wear something comfortable.

When it comes to being a fashion blogger, I never want to share items of clothing that I wouldn’t comfortably wear in person. Take this dress, for instance: the midi length is my jam. I appreciate the adjustable strap. Mostly, the tie front doesn’t completely expose my chest, so I can wear a bra (which is what I prefer). I felt 100% comfortable, so I was at ease in front of the camera, not worried about pulling my top up or my skirt down or thinking about being too cold or too hot or anything else!

Have a friend there for the awkward moments.

If Lindsey hadn’t been with me, I would not have had anyone to laugh with over the awkwardness of the situation. Since I wasn’t alone, the focus wasn’t entirely on me. Plus, when you’re laughing, the photos lookΒ way more natural!

On that note, make sure you’re comfortable with the photographer.

One of the worst experiences for me was when I took photos with someone who didn’t make me feel comfortable in my own skin. If I can’t beΒ me then I don’t want to be around you. I typically take photos with other blogger friends or photographers I’m already friends with. It helps when you can be relaxed, rather than feeling the need to be someone you’re not in order to impress a stranger.

Forget about the stares.

Most likely, the people staring will never see you again. If they do – you’ll already have a rocking photoshoot or video under your belt to help you feel more confident in front of them.Β “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” – Dita Von Teese. Truly, people will always find a reason to hate, but just keep in mind that in the long run, holding your head high and being confident will take you further.

Smile until your cheeks hurt.

I smile so much that I have a permanent wrinkle by my mouth and every day my makeup sinks into it, no matter what I do. I guess that’s not a bad thing though because it means I’m trying to be cheerful all the time. It shows in my photos. I think about something funny and make myself laugh, or I have a friend to giggle with. Once you’re smiling, a lot of the other insecurities melt away!

Remember why you do it.

Personally, my blog and my social media channels are why I take photos and videos. My readers and followers mean everything to me, and I wouldn’t have those friendships if I didn’t stand in front of a camera 90% of my time. So when I’m feeling nervous about being the center of attention, I think about what killer content I’m creating and who I’m creating it for. It puts everything in perspective!

Be yourself.

ClichΓ©, but totally true. I think this one speaks for itself. I have never tried to be anything other than myself online. The best part about that? When I finally meet someone in person, and they tell me that IΒ am The Espresso Edition. There’s nothing that’s hiding in the shadows because I’m just me! It’s such a great feeling knowing that I’m staying true to myself and always being authentic and real!

If you’re a content creator, do you have any tips for camera confidence?

In: Fashion · Tagged: midi dress, polka dot dress, polka dots, Quirk Hotel, RVA, Target, target style, tie front dress

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Comments

  1. Cathy says

    June 15, 2018 at 10:23 AM

    Great tips and love your dress! It took me a long time to be comfortable in front of the camera. I always feel good when my kids take my pictures. They make me smile and people on the street think it’s cute instead of vain. haha If my husband is snapping my photos I get laughs, sneers etc, but I have learned to tune them out.

    XOXO
    Cathy

    Reply
  2. Rach says

    June 15, 2018 at 10:33 AM

    It has taken me a long time to feel comfortable in front of the camera. Until now, I still get camera shy (especially when I see other people walking by haha). You have some great tips and I definitely will need to try it out. I also think through time, it helps to get comfortable because it feels ‘normal’.

    http://www.rdsobsessions.com

    Reply
  3. Julia Comil says

    August 21, 2019 at 5:39 AM

    Such great tips!! Love them!!

    Reply
  4. Nailil says

    August 21, 2019 at 6:45 PM

    Great tip girl. That dress is so pretty. I am loving the polka dots trend – which never really goes away.

    Xx, Nailil
    http://thirtyminusone.com

    Reply
  5. Nora says

    June 15, 2018 at 11:26 AM

    i’ve been needing to read a post like this, absolutely love it!! it’s 2018, i don’t get why people still gawk at others who are taking photos or videos of themselves?! i’m a fairly new blogger & i must admit i can be a little camera shy, so far i’ve only taken pictures of makeup/beauty products. i wanna step out of my comfort zone & start taking pics of myself!(yo & your pics are gorgeous btw!)
    xo, Nora

    http://simplymissnora.com/

    Reply
  6. Tonya Tardiff says

    June 15, 2018 at 11:51 AM

    I absolutely love this post! It’s so easy to feel everyone’s eyes on you, but you put it into a whole new perspective!

    Reply
  7. Sarah Lagen says

    June 15, 2018 at 12:44 PM

    Very cute post and I’m constantly reminding myself of this!! It’s not easy being in front of the camera alone…. like what do I do with my hands? my feet? where do I look…. lol, great tips and these photos are so cute!! I love the pink couch!!

    xo, Sarah

    Reply
  8. Kim says

    August 21, 2019 at 5:39 AM

    You look so confident and amazing in all of these pictures! I LOVE those pink sofas and would totally let people stare at me to get a shot! Thanks for all the great tips πŸ™‚

    xoxo,
    Kim

    Reply
  9. lee says

    June 15, 2018 at 1:27 PM

    You look so confident and happy in your photos, I absolutely love them! Such great tips for those feeling shy in front of a camera.
    Lee

    Reply
  10. Lauren says

    August 21, 2019 at 12:41 AM

    This is one of my biggest struggles!! Forgetting about the people staring at you is sooo important especially when I’m never alone while shooting in nyc :p These are all great tips, and you look stunning and so happy!!

    Xx,

    Lauren | lifestylesbylauren.com

    Reply
  11. Julia Comil says

    June 15, 2018 at 2:35 PM

    Such great tips!! Love them!!

    Reply
  12. Nailil says

    June 15, 2018 at 2:51 PM

    Great tip girl. That dress is so pretty. I am loving the polka dots trend – which never really goes away.

    Xx, Nailil
    http://thirtyminusone.com

    Reply
  13. Kim says

    June 15, 2018 at 4:57 PM

    You look so confident and amazing in all of these pictures! I LOVE those pink sofas and would totally let people stare at me to get a shot! Thanks for all the great tips πŸ™‚

    xoxo,
    Kim

    Reply
  14. Lauren says

    June 15, 2018 at 5:47 PM

    This is one of my biggest struggles!! Forgetting about the people staring at you is sooo important especially when I’m never alone while shooting in nyc :p These are all great tips, and you look stunning and so happy!!

    Xx,

    Lauren | lifestylesbylauren.com

    Reply
  15. Kileen says

    August 21, 2019 at 12:40 AM

    These are awesome tips babe and you are so cute! I love that your personality shines through your pictures!!

    Kileen
    cute & little

    Reply
  16. Kileen says

    June 16, 2018 at 3:14 AM

    These are awesome tips babe and you are so cute! I love that your personality shines through your pictures!!

    Kileen
    cute & little

    Reply
  17. adriana says

    August 21, 2019 at 6:45 PM

    Being yourself is the best tip! Those are the shots that come out the best πŸ™‚ I love these pictures and the backdrop!

    Reply
  18. adriana says

    June 16, 2018 at 3:24 PM

    Being yourself is the best tip! Those are the shots that come out the best πŸ™‚ I love these pictures and the backdrop!

    Reply
  19. Tara Fuller says

    August 21, 2019 at 5:39 AM

    these tips are so spot on! I think practice makes perfect!

    Reply
  20. Anna English says

    June 17, 2018 at 3:17 PM

    These are all great tips! I think being yourself is the most important, always!

    Reply
  21. Tara Fuller says

    June 17, 2018 at 5:55 PM

    these tips are so spot on! I think practice makes perfect!

    Reply
  22. Taylor Mobley says

    August 21, 2019 at 12:41 AM

    This year I am my most comfortable in front of the camera. I totally get this.

    Reply
  23. Taylor Mobley says

    June 18, 2018 at 11:11 AM

    This year I am my most comfortable in front of the camera. I totally get this.

    Reply
  24. Amanda says

    August 21, 2019 at 5:39 AM

    Yes to all of this! I don’t care too much about stares anymore, what annoys me is the people who have 20 questions– what is this for? Who are you? Are you a model? Can I be in the pic? It’s always men too… creepy!

    Reply
  25. Amanda says

    June 18, 2018 at 8:02 PM

    Yes to all of this! I don’t care too much about stares anymore, what annoys me is the people who have 20 questions– what is this for? Who are you? Are you a model? Can I be in the pic? It’s always men too… creepy!

    Reply
  26. Laura says

    June 19, 2018 at 10:14 AM

    Such great tips!! Thankfully I’ve always been comfortable with my photographer because when I started I had either my mom or my husband taking all my pics. Now I’ve got a photographer who’s quickly turned into a friend making it super easy to shoot together.

    xo, Laura

    Reply
  27. Jessica says

    August 21, 2019 at 12:40 AM

    These are all such great tips! I think working with a photographer that you are comfortable with it very helpful!
    xo Jessica
    http://www.whatsfordinneresq.com

    Reply
  28. Jessica says

    June 20, 2018 at 10:00 AM

    These are all such great tips! I think working with a photographer that you are comfortable with it very helpful!
    xo Jessica
    http://www.whatsfordinneresq.com

    Reply
  29. Sara says

    June 21, 2018 at 3:19 PM

    Girl I feel you! I used to only take photos in my backyard or driveway haha but now I give zero effs about who is around or who is looking!

    Reply
  30. Laura says

    August 21, 2019 at 12:40 AM

    Such great tips!! Thankfully I’ve always been comfortable with my photographer because when I started I had either my mom or my husband taking all my pics. Now I’ve got a photographer who’s quickly turned into a friend making it super easy to shoot together.

    xo, Laura

    Reply
  31. Cathy says

    August 21, 2019 at 12:40 AM

    Great tips and love your dress! It took me a long time to be comfortable in front of the camera. I always feel good when my kids take my pictures. They make me smile and people on the street think it’s cute instead of vain. haha If my husband is snapping my photos I get laughs, sneers etc, but I have learned to tune them out.

    XOXO
    Cathy

    Reply

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Have you done a mid-year reading check-in yet? πŸ“š
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What a wild year 2022 has been so far πŸ˜΅β€πŸ’« I've found new favorite authors, made progress on my original TBR, checked out some great backlist books, and hit some super exciting goals! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ I'm not going to *just* share my faves or least faves, but instead I'm going to share some of the fun stats from my reading year so far! 🀎
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- Out of the 30 books I just *HAD TO* read this year, I've read 24
- Out of my numerical goal of 120 for the whole year, I've read 119
- I've rated 44 books with 4.5/5 stars (hence my struggle when someone asks for a favorite from the year so far)
- I've read 16 ARCs from 12 different publishers (this makes me want to bawl with happiness because this was such a massive goal for me when I began book blogging!)
- I've participated in 10 buddy-reads
- I've added 38 books to my shelves (either purchased by me after I read and loved a book, given as a gift, or sent by a generous author/publisher)
- I've discovered that there's a chance I *might* like romance more than fantasy now and that's totally okay!
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What has your reading looked like in 2022? β˜•οΈ 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #midyearreadingchallenge #readinggoals #storygraph #readingstats #perfectespressopour
Which of your childhood favorites would you like t Which of your childhood favorites would you like to see reimagined? πŸ“–
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When I found out that GALLANT had The Secret Garden vibes, I was really excited because that was one of my favorites as a kid ⛲️ I think it would be really neat to see this story retold by a few other authors as well (looking at you, Marissa Meyer) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Some of the other stories I loved as a kid that I'd like to see "adulted" are:
πŸ‘‘ A Little Princess
πŸ§žβ€β™‚οΈ Aladdin
 🐁 Stuart Little (it could be cute okay? like some kind of fantasy?)
πŸ‘’ Madeline
⚜️ Rumplestiltskin (I've only seen this done once and I wasn’t obsessed so I need more!)
β˜‚οΈ Mary Poppins
🐎 Misty of Chincoteague
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Did you enjoy any of those stories as a kid? 🀎 
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#veschwab #gallant #veschwabfeatures #schwabstagram #readersofinstagram #booksofig #bookgrammer #bookgram #instabooks #bookgasm #fantasybooks #bookishfeatures #booktography #booklover #bibliophilelife #readersofig #readersgonnaread #bookaesthetic #instareads #readerlife #bookishlove #bookstagram #thesecretgarden #retelling #90sbooks #childhoodbooks #childhoodbooksrevisited #bookflatlay
Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Long story short, I joined bookstagram in 2020 because I love books and I love talking about books, but I never had a space to do that πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ After years of fashion blogging and feeling out of place because of my interests, I wound up on this side of IG and realized that it felt like home 🀎
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I schemed up a name (something to do with coffee and books that didn't have the words "coffee" or "books" in it), took a few photos, created a profile, and went to town πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It wasn't long before I completely FELL IN LOVE with the supportive community, safe space to find new books and talk about the ones I love, and really cultivate my photography skills (which had been lying dormant for far too long) πŸ™ˆ
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Now, I'm thrilled to have connected with favorite authors, created my own hashtag (hey there #perfectespressopour β˜•οΈ), reviewed incredible books, launched my own line of merch, and made tons of new friends 🫢🏼 When I begin to feel down about the numbers or the lack of inspiration, I remind myself of why I started in the first place and I find myself falling in love all over again πŸ₯Ή
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Thank you for being part of my bookstagram journey πŸ“š
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstagram #booktography #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #booksta #bookphotography #bookswithmagic #booksaremagic #booknerdigan
Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author and which book made you fall in love with their work πŸ“š
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A couple months back, I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of The Wonderland Trials by @saraellawrites... and I immediately fell head over heels in love 😍 Needless to say, I instantly added her entire backlist to my TBR πŸ™ˆ
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Lately, I've been feeling a bit disappointed with fantasy (which has always been my favorite genre) πŸ˜• It seems like each time I pick one up, I'm either completely uninterested in the story or it just falls flat - but The Wonderland Trials absolutely blew me away! 🀯 If you're looking for something that really stands out amongst the rest, you certainly need to pick this one up! 🫢🏼
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Have you read any great Alice in Wonderland reimaginings? πŸ‡ 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #thewonderlandtrials #aliceinwonderland #fantasybookrecs #yafantasybooks #fairytaleretellings
Recommend me an underrated queer book! πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ
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In my world, every month is #pridemonth and I always, always have queer books on my TBR (not just white mlm, but a wide range of lgbtqia+ stories) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It's important to me to constantly be diversifying my shelves, learning more about the people around me, and continuing to create a safe environment for everyone in my little corner of the web 🀎
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My goal for June was to pack my TBR with as many queer books as I could in CELEBRATION of Pride Month, so I've already read 4 books with lgbtq rep:
πŸ¦‰ Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
🌎 The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
πŸ“Ί The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
🌌 Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefluer
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I'm currently reading 3:
πŸ«– A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
🩸 Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
πŸ–Œ Portrait of a Thief by Grace D Li
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 And I have 2 more on my immediate list:
πŸ₯€ Malice by Heather Walter
β˜€οΈ Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #queerbooks #readqueerallyear #queerreads #lgbtbooks #queeryourshelves #flippingpages
Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌 β €β €β € Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌
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I'm officially considering this Shadow and Bone week, between celebrating the 10th anniversary of the book and finding out about Ben narrating the Demon in the Wood audiobook! πŸ₯‚ 
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Also, catch me counting down the days until when I get to see my babies on-screen again (can we get a season 2 premiere date, please?) πŸ“Ί
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To answer my own question, Genya is my very favorite Shadow and Bone character 🀍 In fact, I have plans for a Genya tattoo in the near future πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Are you as excited for the audiobook and season 2 of the show as I am? 🀩 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #shadowandbone #grishaverse #genyasafin #leighbardugo #grishaversary #binbons
Do you have a favorite book dedication? ✍🏼
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I've found a few recently that have definitely stood out to me πŸ‘€ Sometimes a dedication sets the mood for the book and that's something I really love! 🀎
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A few that have blown my mind recently are:
πŸͺž GALLANT (pictured) by VE Schwab
πŸ‘‘ FOR THE THRONE (actually, both of The Wilderwood books have fabulous dedications) by Hannah Whitten
πŸ›« EARLY DEPARTURES by Justin A. Reynolds
πŸ“– THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig
πŸ’” ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART by Stephanie Garber
πŸ₯˜ WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo
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Have you read any of these magnificent books? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #bookdedications #gallant #veschwab #gallantbook #fantasybooks #fantasyreader
Is there a book you've read this year that is unli Is there a book you've read this year that is unlike anything else you've ever read? πŸ“–
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When I read THE ATLAS SIX in April, I was blown away by how unique it was! 🀯 I have never in my life read another book like it and that's part of why it got 5 stars from me ⭐️ Sure, it started at a slower pace but the further the story progressed, the more fascinating it was (and the pacing at the beginning made far more sense because it led to absolute BRILLIANCE) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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I don't read much dark academia, so recommend some titles to me (THAT AREN'T AS WELL KNOWN) that you've enjoyed! πŸ›
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #darkacademia #theatlassix #darkacademiabooks
Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vib Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vibes✨?
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I definitely do! 🫢🏼 In the past few years, I've read more and more books like this and they always leave me feeling utterly fascinated (and maybe a little confused?) πŸ€” I gotta say that writing reviews for them can be a bit tough, but reading them is a lot of fun πŸ™ˆ
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Books I enjoy that are no plot, just vibes:
🐝 The Starless Sea
πŸŽͺ The Night Circus
πŸ’ƒπŸ» Where Dreams Descend
πŸͺΆ The Raven Cycle
πŸšͺ The Ten Thousand Doors of January
πŸ§™πŸ»β€β™€οΈ The Once and Future Witches
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“– 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #noplotjustvibes #turningpages #booktography #bookphotography
Do you enjoy books with illustrations? πŸ–Œ β €β € Do you enjoy books with illustrations? πŸ–Œ
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I definitely do! πŸ™‹πŸ»β€β™€οΈ One of the most pleasant surprises when I opened up GALLANT was seeing the hauntingly beautiful pieces of art inside πŸ–€ It made the story feel more alive and helped me understand the way the character's mind worked 🧠
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There was a similar feeling when I first read THE ATLAS SIX and saw the character art 🎨 It gave the cast so much more depth and it made me wish that more books included pieces like this πŸ“–
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Other additions that make books stand out to me:
πŸ“° Unique chapter breaks (I read a basketball book that was divided into 4 quarters, and a book about an actor divided into acts, things like that)
πŸ’¬ Text messages
πŸ—Ί Maps
✍🏼 Handwriting (especially in the form of letters or lists)
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What are some unique things you like seeing in books? πŸ“š 
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #autumnvibes #fallvibes #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #readersofinstagram #bookrecs #gallant #gallantbook #veschwab #bookillustrations #bookart #characterart #booktography

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