It’s virtually impossible to properly introduce someone so multi-faceted and talented like Nichole Robertson, creator of the blog Little Brown Pen. A copywriter by trade, her passion for Paris has managed to evolve her talents in ways she never imagined. Her enthusiasm and genuine appreciation for the city’s beauty, even in its perennial grayness, is infectious. Her eye for color has become somewhat of a trademark and has allowed her to transform what began as a hobby into a successful business. I admire her work, her vision and the ease with which she seems to balance it all. More than that, I feel honored to say she’s a friend. She graciously (and thoroughly!) answered some questions that I hope will help all of you get to know her just a little bit better. *all photos by Little Brown Pen*
People have been falling in with Paris for hundreds of years and, to be honest, we all know the reasons why – its pristine beauty, its romanticized mystique, inimitable charm – they all play a role. Tell us something different. What does Paris have that other cities you’ve visited have lacked?
Someone recently asked me which city I prefer: New York or Paris. I was in a hurry, so I copped out and said “it’s a tie,” but continued to think about it as I rode the A train to my office in the Chelsea Market.
When I got to work, a few members of the creative team (I am a copywriter) informed me that we were having a last minute, rush meeting about a concept we were working on for a client. I dropped my bags and spent the next two hours brainstorming a snazzy, head-turning Facebook app.
It was then that I was able to put my finger on the difference between New York and Paris, and ultimately on what draws me across the ocean as much as possible: New York is about looking forward, Paris is about looking back.
In New York, I walk fast, talk fast, think fast and spend my days working fast with tight deadlines. I think about the next ad campaign, the next great headline, the loaf of bread I will buy at the store on my way home, and the full inbox I will attend to after dinner.
In Paris, it’s the complete opposite. I walk slow, look around, sit for hours and savor food. I lounge in the same cafes my favorite writers did, step inside buildings that were built in 1400 and appreciate the work it takes to artfully illuminate the city at night. I appreciate things, I notice things, I stop and smell the roses so to speak.
Two years ago, when we made the rash decision to move to Paris, it was based on little more than an inexplicable connection to a foreign city and a desire to shake up our lives. We wanted to take a time out to re-evaluate what was important and where we are going. We looked back so we could look forward.
Two degrees in English literature, 12 yrs of experience as a writer, copywriter & blogger, and a burgeoning photography hobby. What do you consider yourself – a wordsmith or artist?
I think about this often, mainly because I cringe whenever someone calls me a photographer.
I don’t consider myself a photographer, though I love taking photos. When people call me a photographer, I get the impression that they think of me traipsing around Paris with a tripod waiting for the perfect shot. That’s not what I do. I kind of just stroll around Paris in my Paris-induced daze (there are drugs in the coffee, I swear!) and shoot what makes me happy. In a way, my photos are the stories of my Paris strolls. Sometimes I tell stories with words, sometimes I tell stories with photos. So in a way, my experience as a writer may have informed the way I shoot photos.
It is fair to say your shots of Paris have become iconic -a recognizable and frequently imitated style. Are you flattered or concerned by the flagrant and unauthorized reproductions?
That’s so nice! Thank you. It’s flattering that people like my photos, and at first, it shocked me. When I started taking photos of Paris by color, it came out of desperation, really. We had two young kids in Paris, therefore did not shop, eat in restaurants or otherwise spend a lot of time in the museums, hot spots, etc. Shooting random objects by color became a fun family event. Each day, we’d look for a different color.
After a few days of this, I started to see things differently, and noticed much more than I had before. I became more and more obsessed with the little details and the color story project was born.
My only moment of real disappointment or concern was when someone emailed me about putting together a blog post of all of the Paris photographers that shoot Paris by color. I was like “what?” it’s a trend now?!? For me, it will always be like a visual journal of my time there.
Whether you post flowers or baguettes, baskets or shoes, your readers connect to your blog with almost religious dedication. Why do you think this is? Would the impact be as pronounced if you started capturing the flowers in your parents garden in Lancaster or the wall art in New York?
I have no idea! When we moved to Paris, my blog readership went way up. I can only assume it had everything to do with Paris, or that people were perplexed by the sudden move abroad.
That said, I’ve made a point to keep my blog personal. I don’t try to editorialize my content, or act as if I am writing an online magazine. I write content for a living, and I have no interest in my blog being commercial in any way.
If people come back to my blog, it’s likely because they enjoy connecting to a person. 80% of the blogs I visit are personal. I like the blogs because I like the people behind them. I like snapshots of their lives.
You and your husband Evan recently launched the Little Brown Pen shop for your photography and prints. What motivated you move from Etsy to your own ecommerce and how do you envision it growing?
I resisted selling photos for a long time, but finally caved after numerous requests for prints. I was really uncomfortable at first, but have enjoyed the feedback we’ve received from our customers. Etsy is a great place for foot traffic, but it has limitations when it comes to presenting your products in the way you choose. We put together our own site in order to arrange things the way we wanted.
As far as growing, I am fairly certain Evan will have a larger part moving forward. He’s been working on some illustrations and adding to his Travel Poster series. Eventually Little Brown Pen will be half photos, half illustrations.
Little Brown Pen has existed for 2 years but you’ve actually been blogging since before anyone even knew what a blog was. What do you think of current blogs in your niche (lifestyle/photography) and do think you’ll always keep the LBP blog going?
When I first started blogging, many of my readers were people who had followed my beauty and fashion blog at Bravo. I think most of those readers have strayed because I no longer blog about True Religion jeans and Chloe bags, but that’s okay. I enjoy connecting to people in the same way you would with friends. I like to share recipes, talk about books, share photos, etc., and bloggers who simply write about what they are doing, reading, eating, etc., are the bloggers I visit most often.
I’ve honestly grown tired of blogs that just post photos of products, interior shots or fashion shoots. I sense a fatigue in the blogosphere because so many bloggers have adopted a similar style in order to attract ad dollars. It’s a very saturated niche and there is very little original content, which is sad.
Okay, you’re often photographing this essential cooking & baking staple. What is it about French butter that you just can’t live without?
The first butter we bought in Paris was Grand Fermage Aux Cristaux de Sel de Mer. We slathered it on some hot bread from Paul, and the creamy butter was second only to the crunchy salt surprises. I was hooked. I always bring back at least 6 huge slabs of that in addition to some Echire. Of course I could probably get some decent butter here in the US, but the difference is here, butter is considered a luxury ($6-$10 for a small amount) and in France, you can get a mammoth amount of butter for one or two Euros. A luxury vs. a birth right?
