Hello all! 
I haven’t been talking about blogging tips for a while (cos I’m never very sure how helpful it is, seeing as to how there are so many other wonderful bloggers out there doing a much better job of it!) but I was thinking about this one recently as I did some image searches on the internet.
I notice that it seems de rigueur for many bloggers who blog about beauty, to include an extreme close up of the product being reviewed in action, primarily, makeup. This could be an extreme close up of their lips, eye and especially, nails.
I’m curious to know if you feel, as a blogger, that an extreme close up of your eye, lips or nails is “necessary” when you blog about beauty. Is it something you feel compelled to do because everyone is doing it? As a reader, as much as we appreciate the work and detail that goes into an extreme close up, do you think it “necessary”?
I don’t pay a lot of attention to nail polish but I find online swatches very helpful when deciding on a colour, if I’m looking at a brand unavailable locally. The thing is, more than once, I’ve seen a beautiful extreme close up online, showing off a beautiful smooth application and lovely shimmer only to find when I receive it that it may not be quite as beautiful. I may realise that the shimmer is only detectable close up, as in the extreme close up online, and not when viewed from a normal viewing distance. Few of us thrust our nails in the faces of others, I’m sure so a lot of that beauty is probably reserved for personal pleasure. I have nothing against nail bloggers – I could never do their job; but I would really appreciate a distant shot as well as I do the extreme close up just to see how things look from a distance.
This is true also of other examples of extreme close ups of eye makeup and even lips. I do these close ups too, which a lot has to do with peer pressure (haah!) but I have realised when going around the blogs and the internet, that plain and clear swatches and/or a “look” done to show how the colours work overall helps me much more than an extreme close up does, because it shows how it works from a natural viewing distance. Not only up close and personal. In fact, I find 2 eyes more helpful than just 1 – also true of seeing. You have to use 2 eyes to see the full picture 
You may think me hypocritical to raise this, considering I too am as guilty of it, but I am doing a bit of reconsideration in terms of presentation of reviews, because as I said, I realised that the way something looks generally gives me a better idea of how it works than an eye or lip in isolation (unless there is a colour comparison going on in which case, it can be quite useful). Perhaps, half a face, or a portion of a face, if one is not inclined to show the whole face, just to see how that pretty eye looks, when you pull away from the tight macro shot. Is the detail noticeable from a distance? Does a wonky eyeliner really matter when one isn’t looking at you from 2cm away?
But that’s just me so I’m opening this up for discussion
Do you find it necessary to have extreme close ups in a beauty blog? Do you find that it helps you?
I personally don’t think it necessary although I have to admit that I admire the work and detail that goes into it. I don’t find it helpful per se as I find that a shot that is pulled further back helps me more than a tight one. I salute all the bloggers who do extreme close ups beautifully and in fact, the majority will. But sometimes (or maybe not just sometimes) it can be a little unnerving stumbling across a hairy lip or an unruly brow in extreme close up Ah the perils of blog hopping 
Paris B
Simple Blogging Tips are some simple tips I have for fellow bloggers, based on my own experiences. I’m no ‘guru’ but I hope they will help you. You may read up on previous Simple Blogging Tips here or please feel free to ask your question in the comment box or in email.
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Hehe I think the best is to have both close up and full shot. Each to its own purpose and advantage; close up allows us to see or scrutinize the texture and shade, full shot to view the overall look or put the shade in perspective. Sometimes it looks great close up but the overall shot lacks the oomph. Lighting is also important – artificial lighting may not reflect the true colour etc. There are some bloggers who will take multiple lightings – natural, outdoor, artificial. But I appreciate this post of yours today. It shows how much thoughts and dedication you put into each post and as readers, we’re so pampered
Twitter: paris_b
January 20, 2013 at 9:19 am
I think you’re right, Jennifer – both would be ideal
I can understand why some people only highlight 1 feature. Sometimes, you don’t feel like putting on a whole face just to take a lip shot but I think ultimately it helps to see how it goes with other colours, skintone etc Lighting can be quite a peeve of mine too but sometimes I can understand why some lighting is off due to time and location, although a quick tweak of white balance can usually do the trick 
Glad you enjoyed the post 
Twitter: TheBeautySample
January 12, 2013 at 6:53 am
I definitely don’t think they’re necessary but I personally like them. I enjoy shooting in macro (can’t wait to get a better macro lens for my new camera!!
) and really like to see other people’s extreme macro shots, whether it be their nails or eyeshadow. *However*, I think that it would be a wise thing to include a shot from a normal viewing distance for practicality’s sake.
Becca recently blogged…The Sample: NEW Chanel Poudre Signée de Chanel Illuminating Powder Review & Swatches
Twitter: paris_b
January 20, 2013 at 9:22 am
Tunnel vision isn’t a good thing is it, Becca?
I love macro shots too. I still haven’t gotten a macro lens because I’m not sure how much use I’d get out of it but I’ll think about it. It could potentially prove useful 
Twitter: smellyocheese
January 12, 2013 at 10:31 pm
For certain makeup, I would appreciate close-up shots such as base makeup (a sheer-looking coverage from afar can really be thick and cakey up close!) and eye makeup. Especially for eye looks, I can tell more accurately what were the colors used to create the look. From a distance, a smokey eye is a smokey eye but it’s the close-up that tells the difference between a good smokey eye and a bad one.
Other than that, I don’t think macro shots are necessary
Connie De Alwis recently blogged…Out With The Old
Twitter: paris_b
January 20, 2013 at 10:13 am
You’re right about the eye application thing but for someone who maybe isn’t as talented at applying shadow,but is talented enough to make it look good from a distance (speaking for myself of course
), I think there shouldn’t be that sort of pressure to show an extreme close up of what maybe a less than stellar application technique hehe…
Twitter: smellyocheese
January 20, 2013 at 10:59 am
Fair enough. In real life, I sometimes ignore a crooked line or blending that isn’t quite as seamless. After all, nobody’s gonna be staring that closely at my makeup! As long as it still looks alright from a distance :p
Connie De Alwis recently blogged…Teal There Was You
Yes they are very very helpful to me- I really appreciate both, but if I can only have one, I like the extreme close up. xoxo Beth in Pgh
Twitter: paris_b
January 20, 2013 at 10:17 am
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, Beth!
Hmmm, that is a very good question. I think especially for lips, everyone has different natural lip colour so I don’t find extreme close ups on lip swatches to be particularly useful though perhaps you could just the level of pigmentation. I prefer swatches on arms or canvas if I want to check the accuracy of a particular shade. Though close ups of eyeshadows on eyes interest me a lot more as I can see how they can be blended with other shades to create a look.
Twitter: paris_b
January 20, 2013 at 12:55 pm
I have to agree with you about the lip swatches. Swatches on skin are better for me because it gives a more “neutral” representation of colour although it can be interesting to see how a colour can disappear into the lips but for that, I don’t think a close up is really necessary
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