Interview With a Blogger: Olivia Bossert

It’s been a couple of months since my last blogger interview post, but believe me, it’s completely worth it!

Over the last couple of months I heard a lot about Olivia Bossert, and since following her blog, social channels and photography, I cannot get enough! That’s why I was stoked when she agreed to answer some questions to feature her on Strawberry Squeeze. I’ll leave her do the talking though:

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m 24 years old, a fashion, portrait and wedding photographer, blogger, and the editor in chief of Atlas Magazine. I’ve been living in Falmouth, Cornwall for 6 years now, after I moved here from my hometown of Geneva, Switzerland to study at Falmouth University. I fell in love with the sea, the lifestyle of Cornwall, and a boy, so I couldn’t leave!

I started Atlas alongside one of my best friends, Megan Breukelman, between my first and second year of my Fashion Photography degree. Atlas is a print and digital magazine geared at the promotion of the next generation of fashion creatives. Needless to say, I’ve got my fingers in many pies!

Why did you initially decide to start a blog?

I started my blog in the summer of 2015. Initially, it was out of desperation to have a place where I could express myself, but also to talk about the health issues that I had been facing since I was 14 years old; Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I’d suffered with IBS for such a long time, but had started to have a bit of a break through thanks to going on the Low FODMAP diet a few months prior to starting my blog. It was such an exciting time when I began to FINALLY feel better.

I’d also had a really, really long time off of any photography due to focusing my full attention on Atlas for two years, and my desire to shoot again was slowly creeping back in. Funny enough, starting my blog has totally brought back my personal creativity!

What do you blog about and why?

I began writing about and sharing recipes and tips for IBS sufferers, but found pretty quickly that I wanted to blog more about my photography and other things as well. So it has quickly transitioned into a lifestyle blog. I’m interested in so many things, and the whole point of starting my blog was that I wanted a place where I could express myself freely, with no restrictions, so that’s what my blog is; if I’m interested in something, I’m going to share it.

You’ll find anything from the photoshoots I’ve recently done, to event’s I’ve attended, trips I’ve been on, food I’ve liked, beauty products I love and clothes I like to wear. I’ve not really done many fashion posts yet, mainly out of shyness, but it’s actually top of my list to try and do more of in the next couple of weeks… so stay tuned!

Any advice to anyone that wants to start a blog?

Funny enough, oliviablogs.com isn’t my first blog. I’ve had countless blogs since I was probably about 12 years old, but none of them stuck. I had a real go at it when I was 16, but I didn’t share it with anyone because I was so shy and self conscious about it. With hindsight, I wish I’d ignored that voice and just carried on because I think it would have been so empowering.

If you’re worried about starting a blog because you’re worried what other people will say, ignore them. I’ve found that since I started the blog I now write, I’ve grown in confidence, and I enjoy it so much. Just do it! Don’t care what people think. You’d be surprised: most of the time people are really impressed!

What are the best aspects of running your own blog?

I love the fact that I can be as creative as I want, and just chat about anything that comes to mind. If I’m feeling super creative, it shows itself in the blog. It’s really a space where I can just be myself, and I love that. I also like being able to share advice and ideas. One of the posts I’m proudest of is called “Being Brave” which is all about me being brave, and writing that post felt a bit scary and vulnerable, but once it was out there, I felt so empowered and positive.

What are the hardest aspects?

The hardest part is probably the self doubt. I still suffer with that a lot, and wondering if people just don’t really care about what I’ve got to say. There are so many blogs out there now, so many more than when I was younger, so trying to be seen above all the noise can be a bit intimidating. But I try not to put too much pressure on myself and remind myself that ultimately I’m using my blog as a creative outlet, not so much as a business venture.

Which social media tools do you use the most?

I love Instagram so much. It’s the place which feels the most creative to me, probably because I am a photographer so I think in pictures. Images are my entire life, and they have been for as long as I can remember. I use that and spend the most time there.

I’m starting to like Twitter more and more though. I didn’t used to! People used to ask me about Twitter and I’d say I didn’t like it because of the word restrictions. But actually, throughout the past few months I’ve been trying to be more active on Twitter and I’m seeing really strong benefits from that. It’s a community of such talented people, and you can make great connections!

What is the best opportunity blogger has given you?

Honestly, it’s probably the friendships that I’ve made since starting my blog. I have made SO MANY friends this year, all thanks to the fact that we blog, or they’ve read my blog and reached out to me. I feel like I’ve found “my people!”

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

I’m not sure if I’m honest. I’ll be 29 (ah!) and I imagine still in Cornwall. I’d like to be photographing campaigns and editorials more frequently, and spending less time answering emails. Really, I just want to feel happy and enjoy what I’m doing with my days. Maybe that will be working full time on Atlas, maybe that will be full time photography, maybe it will be blogging. Whatever it is, as long as I enjoy it, I’ll be cool with it!

Three blogs you love that we should know?

Oh god, only three?! I’m going to direct you to my bloglovin feed because I follow so many (https://www.bloglovin.com/people/oliviabossert-3006119/following) but three that are very different but that I adore and always read are On Serpentine Shores by Alex Barker, What Olivia Did by Olivia Purvis (she has such great fashion sense!) and Elle & Company.