Something I’ve had to learn and grow since starting this blog is self confidence. The confidence to put myself out there and share my stories. The confidence to pose on a bustling street and have my photo taken. And most of all, the confidence to back myself in creating something I can be proud of and stand behind.
I started the Girl With The Bob as a creative outlet and a way of showcasing my style and fashion inspiration. However it’s taken quite a while to get comfortable with calling myself a ‘blogger’. Fears of being judged or that no one would like what I was doing held me back from promoting my little brand and what I was creating.
Now I’m a long time performer having grown up dancing and acting, so standing in front of camera and striking a pose should be simple right? But in actual fact, dancing on stage for thousands of people was a piece of cake compared to taking one outfit shot on the street where, god forbid, someone might see me! There have been times in the past where I’ve called it quits on taking photos because I was just far too embarrassed. I’ve talked about finding the confidence to stay true to my own style, even if others find it a little bizarre, so I feel like this is perhaps a part of that learning curve.
I’m still very aware of the eyes on me as I stand in front of amazing street art on a crowded street, or pose with my coffee in a cafe or restaurant. The only difference is how I choose to react to it. Instead of baulking and turning in for the day, I do my best to laugh it off and focus on what I am trying to achieve. Yeah it might look silly to passersby, but I get to shoot content with one of my best mates for my website for people to see and hopefully appreciate! And I get to work with some pretty cool products and meet some wonderful people because of it.
The day Kiera and I shot this look was a prime example of this. We were outside The Nest Boutique Hostel in Salthill, admiring the beautiful colours of the building. After taking some shots, we were invited inside by one of the girls working there to take advantage of their beautiful interiors. Once upon a time, I would have been terrified at the prospect and probably would have turned down the opportunity. So it felt like progress to step inside, go for it and get some really cool shots to share with you here. Plus, the girl was so lovely and made us teas and coffees in return for a shout out online! I’m all about sharing the love and giving what you get returned.
Coat: Primark (similar here) | Top: H&M (similar here)| Trousers: Topshop | Bag: New Look | Socks: COS (similar here)| Boots: Primark (similar here) | Earrings: Colette (similar here) | Sunglasses: ASOS
There’s a long way to go before I’ll feel 100% confident in what I’m doing, but like anything worth doing, practice makes perfect. We’re continuing to push through week after week and as the year will soon be drawing to a close, I can’t wait to look back to see how myself and the blog have evolved. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little insight and if you have any confidence tips or tricks for me, please leave them in the comments below!
Until next time,
Sinead
Photos by Kiera Murphy
