The Story Behind...with Chapters of May blogger Anika

When did you start taking photographs and how did you learn to perfect this skill?

I started taking photographs when I was introduced to the hobby at school. I studied photography and graphic design during my final years of study, and that’s when I really learned how to use a camera and how to edit my photos. I definitely haven’t perfected the skill yet, I have a long way to go, but I’m enjoying learning more about photography with the gallery I share on my blog chaptersofmay.com.

Any top tips for photographing outside with the changing weather, light etc?

My top tip would be to learn and understand camera basics like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. You don’t have to know everything, I certainly don’t, but it’s the best way to feel equipped when it comes to shooting in environments that can switch almost instantly. Once you know how those features can be adjusted, you can adapt to unpredictable changes.

What are the challenges of making your blog stand out? How have you grown your audience in the past years?

The blogging industry, for any niche, is undeniably saturated, so the challenge comes in sharing original and distinctive content. It’s not always easy to do, but I try to remember there’s only one me, so the best I can offer starts there.

I have grown my audience by remaining consistent, creative, and engaged. Sharing social media-friendly content on a regular basis has really improved my blog stats. Plus, I like to interact with readers and followers, as well as other creators, which has also helped to grow my overall audience.  

Reading is your first love, what tips do you have for people who are time poor or can't decide which books to choose?

I have a post on how to read more books, which I think has some pretty good tips. Audiobooks are my go-to when it comes to enjoying stories if I don’t have the time to sit down with a physical book. As for picking your first read, I suggest looking for recommendations from friends or online, choosing a book based on your interests, or picking up a book by someone you already admire.

Where do you see Chapters of May in the next 5 years?

My goal is to continue sharing the posts that you’ll already find on my blog, but I’d also like to expand my career as a freelance content creator and photographer. I would love to collaborate with more brands, sell my photography, and maybe even produce my own product. We’ll just have to wait and see!

'The Seasons', the photobook you made with us, is beautiful and so inspiring, had you made a book before?

Never! I have seen them before, and love the idea of printing your photos in that way, but never considered doing it myself. But now that I have tried it once, there’s no doubt I’m planning photos to make another.

Follow Anika on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads  and her blog.