Danielle from Story Of Style

Danielle of Story of Style is one of the first bloggers I met in Boston. I love her vivacious, warm personality and cool girl vibe! She was also one of the first fans of my photography, and we both share our love for the Big Apple!

Needless to say, I was beyond thrilled to photograph her recently, before her big move back to New York City!

We were supposed to meet last week on Monday April 15, but we all know how that day panned out.

So, with a beautiful Spring day in Boston this past weekend, we were able to shoot at The Liberty Hotel and in and around Beacon Hill.

Here, some of my favorites....

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Boston: Blog Better Boston Style Summit

This past weekend was the Blog Better Boston Style Summit, a local blogging conference organzied by Amy and Alana and held here.

I was honored to be invited to host a discussion session on Instagram sharing 10 tips on How to Make your Instagrams Better and Finding Your Voice (Thank you Kait for this shot of me!).

I also enjoyed attending the style summit to hear the other speakers discuss topics such as working with brands, creating content calendars and media kits. 

It was so wonderful to meet bloggers in person (Kaitlin, Melissa, Georgina, the JustUsGals, Allie, Tieka, Julie, Emily, Alyssa, Susan, Brooke, Holly, Sheryl) and see others I hadn't seen in a while (Alison {who I accidentally called Amy during my sesh!}, Shauna, Alana, Amy, Emily, Kristen, Amanda, Surabhi, Noelle and Elissa)

If you missed my Instagram discussion, here's a recap:

10 tips on how to make your Instagrams better

• Find your voice on Instagram by connecting and following others in the IG community
• Hashtag so that people can find you!
• ie: #igersboston (Instagrammers in Boston), #igers, #igdaily, #ignation etc., will allow you to connect with other IGs in Boston and around the world!
• Take a genuine interest in others, and leave comments
• Be visible, not just online (attend events such as Blog Better Boston and other blogger events)
• Be passionate about your IGs, treat them as you would photos with a real film camera
• Explore other apps to make your IGS better (ie. VSCOcam, Instasize and Afterglow)

There were a lot of sessions I wanted to go to, but alas, could only attend a handful, so here are some things I learned:

Working with Brands led by Kristen

• know your stats using google analytics
• a media kit is really important to introduce yourself
• create a pitch and send to a brand you really like and identify with
• know which posts are most read on your blog (most interaction/likes/views)
• your time is valuable
• follow up once you have worked with the brand/done a post

Creating a content calendar led by Julie:

• identify your priorities
• create a content calendar and schedule posts so that there is consistancy for your readers
• use google calendar or even a paper calendar and pencil, whatever works for you
• stick to a general theme and find your niche
• save your great idea for when you have time

Creating a media kit led by Tieka:

• a media kit is a pre-packaged set of promo material on YOU
• selling yourself to give a brand a few facts on whether or not you are a good fit for them
• include: about page, you and your blog, site stats, past brands/partnerships
• what you can provide as a service (ie. sponsored blog post, giveaway, side bar ads, text links, be gifted products to review)

Here are just a few snap shots from the Style Summit, as I was mostly taking notes! For more #BBBos coverage, check out the Twitter feed, and for more photos and updates follow Blog Better Boston on Facebook.

Thank you Amy and Alana for having me, and for all the sponsored goodies!

Here's how you can join the next Blog Better Boston summit.

Boston: MiniLuxe

Location:

296 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115

Who doesn't like things in mini sizes? Mini cupcakes, mini chocolate bars, mini Easter eggs...okay...perhaps these are not the best examples as they're all chocolate related, but, what I'm trying to say is that it's easy to indulge when the portion is mini, right?

You still get the satisfaction of having the whole thing, but it's guilt-free. Such is the deal with MiniLuxe...it's all of the luxury of a full service nail salon without the big price tag, and without sacrificing cleanliness, while still offering maximum satisfaction and relaxation in a pretty salon setting.

I stopped by the MiniLuxe on Newbury recently, courtesy of my friends at Aigner/Prensky, and was treated to a wonderful warm oil pedicure and full manicure by Danh. My feet were soaked, scrubbed, oiled down and steam wrapped. It was a glorious 45 minutes of heaven and the jet-free foot tubs are much nicer and make everything feel much cleaner. Speaking of clean, all the instruments are autoclaved (pressurized steam-heated machine for sterilizing) and the other utensils are freshly opened from sealed packages. The nail files used on clients are theirs to take home after.

Here's the full MiniLuxe Menu.

Thank you Danh for pampering me and getting my nails ready to shoot this event the following day!

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Boston: Indochino Traveling Tailor

I was honored when Indochino commissioned me to photograph their Traveling Tailor pop-up shop at 234 Clarendon St., in Boston this week!

Based in Vancouver, Canada (always happy to work with my fellow Canadians!), Indochino provides customizable, high quality, hand-tailored suits and shirts (and accessories) for the sophisticated and dapper gentleman.

Traveling Tailor has already been suiting up Chicago, New York City and Washington DC, and now they are here to #SuitUpBos!

Pre-book your 30-minute appointment with one of their talented senior stylists, and if you purchase a suit in store, (starting at $379) you'll also receive a free custom designed and fitted dress shirt as well as a gift set containing cufflinks and a tie pin!

Indochino is currently taking appointments so get measured up to size, while the traveling tailor(s) are in town, only until April 15!

Here's a look at INDOCHINO in Boston...

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Boston: Neiman Marcus, CUSP Preview Party!

I've been meaning to try Bar Method for over a year now. No, really. I meant to join a few of my favorite Boston bloggers at the studio in Boston, and never did, and now they're at Level 2, and I've still been meaing to go.

So, I was definitely excited to meet Bar Method Boston owner McKenzie Howarth at the Neiman Marcus CUSP Preview party and see some of the demos first hand!

Along with amazing Kate Somerville's Dermalquench facials, Estee Lauder spring make-overs and music by DJ Liz Ladoux, McKenize and Adrian demonstrated many a bar method move, making each look effortless and elegant.

They were even giving away passes to a MONTH of free classes! I think everyone who was at the CUSP party was inspired by them and (like me) immediately considering signing up for a class the next day.

In fact, I really am going tomorrow. I WON a month of free classes! I'm nervous. Wish me luck!

Have you tried Bar Method?