My First Influencer Photoshoot at Rove in Williamsville, NY

A few days before Christmas, I received a message from my friend Karla. She'd been interning at a boutique in Williamsville and at the end of her internship, was brought on as their Social Media Marketer (yay Karla!). Rove Jewelry, Accessories and Gifts LLC  was looking for local influencers to work with to promote their clothing and other fun accessories. She loved all the self-love and positivity I've been promoting on my Instagram and asked if I'd like to team up with them - of course I said yes! It took a little while to schedule a date because of holiday festivities and New Year's Eve, but we made it work.

Fast forward to the day of the shoot -I'm a ball of anxiety. I woke up way too early to do my makeup and packed way too many pairs of shoes to model with. But, I made sure to start the day off the Buffalonian way - getting breakfast from Tim Hortons, chocolate Timbits and Iced Capp included. That's what all the models eat before a shoot, right?

This was the first time I stepped foot in Rove, and it definitely won't be the last. When you walk into the boutique, you're greeted by a beautifully arranged display of purses, clutches, jewelry, and other accessories. The left side of the store is lined with tops and blouses full of fun colors and patterns. To the right, the wall is covered with necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. And scattered all around the store are cute gifts like mugs, candles, paintings... pretty much everything your mom wouldn't let you buy when you went shopping with her.

I had no reason to be anxious that morning because Karla was very accommodating and hospitable throughout the entire process! It was full of laughs, smiles, and sharing tricks of the social media trade. After some Instagram stalking, she decided my style lies somewhere between boho and tomboy and I couldn't agree more. With that knowledge, she took the time to find clothes that were flattering to my figure and matched style. Out of the outfits she put together, Karla let me decide what I would model and what pieces of jewelry I thought would be best to accessorize with. She wanted this experience to be personal and true to who I am. For the most part I was, but I challenged myself to try on styles and colors outside of my comfort zone, because why not? 

It paid off because I ended up going home with a fuzzy pullover - I opted for the pink color - and this faux fur taupe vest! I can lit-tra-ly wear this vest with the clothes I already own because it matches with everything. It even acts as an extra layer to protect me against the Buffalo snow. And the pullover is a great alternative to those fuzzy, overpriced, name-brand coats and quarter-zips. I also hate wearing coats, so it's super easy to just put this over what I'm already wearing.

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My favorite accessory of the shoot were these elegant, gold hoop earrings. They were slightly hexagon shaped, but contained so much more depth than your basic hoop earrings. You could wear them to work, or dress them up and wear them downtown! And if you're lazy in the accessory department like myself, these earrings are a must.

What was the best part of this photo shoot? How confident I felt after leaving Rove! Karla KILLED  the wardrobe she picked out for me. I would have never thought to pair some of the pattern/color choices with certain handbags, but it worked! She also chose pieces that were flattering on short girls like myself.  I felt like a million bucks every time I tried on a new outfit and posed for the camera.  I honestly had no idea that a top could look that good on me. Might I add, all these smiles are genuine because Karla did a great job of making me feel comfortable at the shop and making me laugh during photos. 

I'd 10/10 recommend visiting Karla at Rove! She knows what looks good on different body types and will pair your outfit with the perfect clutch or purse. It's also the perfect boutique to shop at when you need to get your girl friend something for her birthday, or a gift just because you love them. I promise you'll be in good hands the next time you visit Rove Jewelry, Accessories, and Gifts.