Anyone can start a blog but the pressure to compete and live up to the rising expectations can make it seem like you need to be loaded to write about lipstick. It feels as though you need the latest products, the best editing software, camera and lighting equipment - just to keep up. I have definitely fallen in to this trap before, paying out more than I'm earning to stay in the game but in reality, it doesn't have to be expensive.

When blogging and YouTube became HUGE 10 or so years ago the quality was low but the passion was high. We were excited, we wanted to share things and, as readers, we bought in to the personality of the creator or the information they had. We didn't worry quite so much about all white backgrounds or studio lights and we definitely didn't have different cameras (and lenses) to choose from, in fact most of us just had iPhones. This has been on my mind lately because I've been considering replacing my old, worn out vlogging camera and am torn between that or vlogging on my phone - old school style. (Professional) Mirrorless Cameras are great all rounders and if I were starting out today I think I'd pick up something compact that would work in all settings.

If you find yourself needing super detailed shots or macro video then it may be worth the upgrade but I've noticed a shift in blog/YouTube audiences lately and I think something less polished sets a blog apart from a magazine. It's REALLY easy to see super glossy images and want your entire online presence to look like it stepped off the pages of vogue but (depending on your genre) it doesn't feel very personal. I can count on one hand the number of people I actively follow whose content is editorial-ready because I like to see real people living a life like mine. Don't get me wrong, beautiful pictures are still beautiful and they're lovely to look at but I enjoy reviews and outfits and LIFE from people I can relate to.

With that in mind, I am making the effort to return to old habits and care less about the quality and more about the ethusiasm. I'm not going to run out and buy something just to review it, I'm going to share what I love and am excited about. Sometimes my photos will be darker or less crisp (it's Winter!) and I will share outfits that are old and you can no longer buy.

Blogging used to be fun and now it feels expensive and elitest but we can make it what we want it to be!