This post was written in 2010 when blog reviews were popular. I updated it in 2024 with more information now that social media is more influential.
Are personal photos in blog reviews something that influences you to buy a product? What about seeing influencers actually use a product in videos? Turns out that real experience can be more influential than you think!
As you have seen I almost always post personal pictures if I am reviewing a product for a company. When I post my review of planetwise wetbags I will post a picture of that even, cause I believe it gives my readers a real life idea of how this will look if they buy it.
When I reviewed cloth diapers on my mom blog, I recorded, edited and uploaded videos of every single diaper I received. You can trust my review because you saw how it fit my baby and how easy it was to put the diaper on him.
The Importance of Personal Photos In Reviews
So what about other reviews that only have pictures from the company’s website? If a reviewer never shows a personal photo of the item in use I will not enter the give away or read the review. I have no basis for believing the truth in the review if I can’t see pictures. How do I know this person really used the items and isn’t just selling them on the side for extra cash?
Plus, personal photos and videos really sell items better than just “blah blah this item is great! go buy it” with the same pics you see on the website. To me that feels like you are just taking a free product and giving them advertising and the review is not honest. How can I trust what I cannot see?
I understand that some things just can’t be video taped or photographed. Take girl’s underwear or a DVD for example – in those cases I overlook the lack of personal pictures. But in my opinion reviews of most items are not legitimate unless there are photos or video of the item in use.
Should Influencers Sell Used Products They Were Gifted?
Another thing I haven’t decided how I feel about is selling used review products. Since I worked hard on my post is it my right to do with the product what I see fit?
To me selling it says you actually didn’t enjoy the product as much as you said you did in your post. What if your house is overrun with too many toys and you want to sell the ones you reviewed and loved – is that ok? I guess it is, but is it ok to sell them via the same social media outlets that the sponsors of your review products use?
No. To me that is just bad manners. It is announcing to the world “I have so much stuff I have to sell it now” and the companies that gave it to you will read that. If I had that problem I’d probably sell it privately to a friend or even better – donate it!
What do you think?
I suppose if you were on your last kid and they potty trained, it would be okay to sell the diapers, but I wouldn’t be bragging about it. That’s just uncouth. I do like seeing people’s kids actually wearing stuff that they are reviewing, it’s an idea of how it works in ‘real time’ and on different kids..
I didn’t mean to say some bloggers brag about it. I think that announcing you are selling them is uncouth as you said though.
And for the record I am not the one selling things, I saw another blogger selling a bunch of things she got for a review and it inspired this post.
At Peanut Butter and Pickles we always strive to us pictures of us using the products. Like you said though…sometimes it’s just not possible and a stock photo is used.
Since items received for review need to be included as income in your taxes…I would suggest rather than selling unwanted items..that you donate them to a charity instead. This way you cleaning out your clutter, doing something good, and getting a tax write off all at the same time 🙂
~ Lacie
What a great tip! I totally forgot that by donating you got a tax write off. Thank you Lacie!
I don’t sell items I review… I don’t think it would be wrong, I just really haven’t had anything I’ve wanted to part with. lol Now, I have reviewed a lot of toys and feel that we have too many for our small apartment. I just give away the excess or put some up high in the closet and switch the toys out.
I don’t know that I think personal pictures are a requirement, but I do prefer to see them! I have included them in almost every post, and I really love review videos as well. So helpful! I consider taking personal pictures a part of my job in reviewing the product. 🙂
I too consider taking the pictures and video as part of my job. For me, writing a review only take 20 minutes, max. It is the picture taking, editing and uploading that takes the hour or 2. And if you look at the price of an item – say $20 – I am getting paid around $10/hr if it only takes me 2 hours for a post. It is the responsible thing to do!
Personal photos I believe are a must. Only a couple of times I have not used personal photos on items and I felt guilty about it.
I too, don’t like review/giveaways with no personal photos. There is one cloth diaper blog in particular that NEVER shows a photo of their child in the diapers they review. That’s wrong. How do I know how that diaper fits on their child? Even if they had a reason for doing it for privacy it could be a photo from the waist down.
Selling the item on the blog is tacky.
i don’t review items, but if you are given an item for free to review and/or getting paid to review it and then try to sell it, it sounds money hungry. I understand if your kids have out grown the toy/diaper/clothing/whatever, but donate it like you said. or sell it privately on craigslist or at a consignment sale/store. It is rude to see it on your blog that your are trying to sell it. or give that item away on your blog again.
I try to include personal pictures..if applicable. Videos and CDs are hard, but I do try to include them.
Selling is no dice for me.
I’ve never sold anything that I have reviewed mainly because I only review things that I actually WANT.
I’m also greedy. I don’t want anyone else to have it.
I do like personal pics but I have also used stock pics. Whatever floats your boat, I suppose?
There are a few bloggers out there that accept pitches only to sell the items. That is not cool at all.
How can you rely on their review?? If they are selling something NEVER OPENED. How the frickety frack can they review it?
I mean, it only takes a few bad apples sitting on a shelf to make the others look bad.
Don’t be a bad apple.
Ok, now I’m rambling and have completely lost my train of though.
train of thought is what I meant
Hooked on Phonics workd 4 mi
I think personal photos are a must for a good review…but it won’t stop me from entering.. since If I win I still get the item that I wanted/needed right ?
Selling is a bit iffy… I would probably avoid selling it on the blog where the sponsor might see , unless it is something you have already had long enough for it to be outgrown.
Maybe you can do FFS style giveaways , where the winners pay the shipping ?
I agree! I do try to add personal pictures to all of my reviews. I feel its a personal preference I like seeing reviews posts with a personal touch makes the review more real to me. Not that those who don’t post personal pictures are fake but honestly I hardly read half the reviews that I enter for a giveaway I scan them for personal thoughts look at the pictures then decide if I’d like to have something like that.
I believe that after your done using something your done. Just as if you purchased it your self. With everything there is a “shelf life” and whether you sell it at a garage sale, ebay it or donate it doesn’t mean you like it any else just means its shelf life has expired. Out with the old in with the new. Have to make room or your just drawn in Stuff
I always try and use photos of the items I am reviewing in use as well. How else can anyone know I really used the item. It annoys me as well when I see a review with no personal picture. Makes me think they are one of those ebay power sellers! Come on ladies…let’s not get lazy. If we want companies to sponsor our blogs, let’s give bloggers a good reputation!
By the way Annie…I am totally impressed that you can write up a review in 20 minutes. Each review and giveaway I write takes me 2-3 hours minimum. I’m kind of a perfectionist though and spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to word things. And I edit my pictures, create collages and so forth. This is why i will not review for sample size products or anything less than $20 unless I REALLY need or want it. 🙂 Good post.
I agree with you about the personal pictures. I think it’s great because it shows the product actually being used and how it fits into that family’s life. It just makes the review so much more relatable.
do a giveaway. 8)
or donate. selling is ok but not preferred, particularly if you sell it as new and unused.
…i have really appreciated that you put so much effort into your reviews. i rarely watch the videos because i don’t have time, but i love the pictures, and the videos are great if i’m considering buying it.
so, i enjoy your blog. and i appreciate this post. thanks.