(Spoilers) Julep November 2013

[lochnessie]

I also got that email! I had received the email the first time and even logged in and made my selections. It's ironic because most of the time I do not receive emails from Julep and just get info from here, this was one of the first times I actually did receive an email and I got a follow up email apologizing that I did not get the initial email... LOL.

While I didn't get a selection email or the follow up email... Even more evidence that Julep needs to figure out their email system!

 

[yunii]

I gave up on receiving their emails. I just come on here to see their updates.

 

[Rochellena]

I think this is the first month I'm actually going to get since I joined in May. I really wanted last month's, but alas, finances didn't allow it. I really like It Girl. My polish collection is still young and small, so I didn't really have any similar colors, and I'm excited for the satin finish on the blue. 

 

[LaStupenda]

Ok, I'm a studio photographer, so as far as "photoshopping" the nails go, here's my thoughts (at least)

The nails probably aren't as "photoshopped" as you think they are. They're shot in a portrait studio, with studio lighting that's color-controlled. Those long ass shine reflections? As best as I can tell, those are strip softboxes. You're seeing their reflection, just like catchlights in the eyes in regular portraiture. Photographers use color critical monitors and also color calibrate everything, including their lights. From what I've seen, the colors are mostly accurate from the monitor to the real product, but little variances come down to the fact that most peoples' monitors are A) Not calibrated (so they're usually throwing a big blue cast that most people don't notice, but it's there) and B) too bright, so everything on the screen looks brighter than it does in real life.

So there you go. That's my 0.02. The colors on the site are accurate. The users' monitors are not. Basically.

 

[LuckyMoon]

I'm leaning towards skipping. 

I just don't need another lipgloss & the 3 colors that I love this month:  Aisha, Cynthia, & Nic are all in different boxes.

It's just hard for me to skip since I have taken a box the last 2 months & would get a free nail polish this month if I take a box.  Still deciding, but I know I should just skip. 

 

[wadedl]

Ok, I'm a studio photographer, so as far as "photoshopping" the nails go, here's my thoughts (at least) The nails probably aren't as "photoshopped" as you think they are. They're shot in a portrait studio, with studio lighting that's color-controlled. Those long ass shine reflections? As best as I can tell, those are strip softboxes. You're seeing their reflection, just like catchlights in the eyes in regular portraiture. Photographers use color critical monitors and also color calibrate everything, including their lights. From what I've seen, the colors are mostly accurate from the monitor to the real product, but little variances come down to the fact that most peoples' monitors are A) Not calibrated (so they're usually throwing a big blue cast that most people don't notice, but it's there) and B) too bright, so everything on the screen looks brighter than it does in real life. So there you go. That's my 0.02. The colors on the site are accurate. The users' monitors are not. Basically.

I don't think the color is photoshopped on but the pictures have a lot of work done to them. I think their retouchers don't have the color in front of them and the colors have always been off for me with Julep. More of a brightness issue as in the color shows up and it is fluorescent when the picture is softer more muted tones. I have a friend who professionally retouches photos (recently got offered a job with David LaChapelle) and I know he is chosen as a retoucher for his ability to make the image ideal looking more than accurate in the swatches seem retouched in that manner to me. The nails almost look cartoony from being blurred and sharpened so much. I know monitor is not way off either, I do a lot of print design and have to work with color adjusting pictures a lot.

 

[jessicalriley]

It's crazy that so many bloggers have great swatch photos, but julep's leave so much to be desired. Sounds like they need to get some tips.

 

[cari12]

Ok, I'm a studio photographer, so as far as "photoshopping" the nails go, here's my thoughts (at least) The nails probably aren't as "photoshopped" as you think they are. They're shot in a portrait studio, with studio lighting that's color-controlled. Those long ass shine reflections? As best as I can tell, those are strip softboxes. You're seeing their reflection, just like catchlights in the eyes in regular portraiture. Photographers use color critical monitors and also color calibrate everything, including their lights. From what I've seen, the colors are mostly accurate from the monitor to the real product, but little variances come down to the fact that most peoples' monitors are A) Not calibrated (so they're usually throwing a big blue cast that most people don't notice, but it's there) and B) too bright, so everything on the screen looks brighter than it does in real life. So there you go. That's my 0.02. The colors on the site are accurate. The users' monitors are not. Basically.

As a fellow photog I agree with this.

 

[LaStupenda]

Quote: It's crazy that so many bloggers have great swatch photos, but julep's leave so much to be desired. Sounds like they need to get some tips.

Other way around. The bloggers generally don't do any sort of studio lighting, whereas Julep obviously does. The people that shoot Julep's swatches are most likely people who specialize in product photography. Bloggers generally just take snaps in their bathroom or backyard.

What is "better" is subjective. Lots of people LOVE Instagram, but is it "better" than a real photographer's work? They're unique products aimed at specific audiences.

 

[Grau]

I've decided to skip this month as none of the colors wowed me. I upgraded for October's full and now my nails are all breaking off from hypothyroidism that I just developed! Sad.

 

[utgal2004]

Quote: Originally Posted by Grau /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I've decided to skip this month as none of the colors wowed me. I upgraded for October's full and now my nails are all breaking off from hypothyroidism that I just developed! Sad.
I went through that, a lot of my hair falling out, and the other fun symptoms of hypothyroidism.  Trust me, once you get it under control your nails will get better.  Good luck! 

 

[secrethoarder]

Quote: Originally Posted by LaStupenda /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Other way around. The bloggers generally don't do any sort of studio lighting, whereas Julep obviously does. The people that shoot Julep's swatches are most likely people who specialize in product photography. Bloggers generally just take snaps in their bathroom or backyard.

What is "better" is subjective. Lots of people LOVE Instagram, but is it "better" than a real photographer's work? They're unique products aimed at specific audiences.

I think blogger swatches are more useful to people because it shows the nails in everyday "regular" lighting. I'm not hanging out in a photo studio most of the time, so while it's nice to see the lovely clean presentation, it's not exactly relevant to me. I'm a graphic designer so most of my monitors are calibrated fairly well, and I still think the Julep swatches are a little off in some cases (Winona is definitely not what I expected!). Obviously the Julep swatches are "better" quality photos, and I love the clean professionalism and appreciate that they take the time to do swatches on different skin tones. But it's nice to see both the realistic shots from bloggers as well as the studio pics. 

 

[secrethoarder]

Quote:
Originally Posted by LaStupenda /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Ok, I'm a studio photographer

Quote: Originally Posted by cari12 /img/forum/go_quote.gif


As a fellow photog I agree with this.
  Props to both of you! I have zero photography skills and have been trying to learn. It's sooo much harder than it seems 

 

[jessicalriley]

I went back to check the swatches again to be CERTAIN I wanted to skip. There are only 4 colors that interest me: Alexandra: Blonde creme Cynthia: Desert sand microglitter Lola: Moonlit night blue satin Autumn: Burnt red-orange multidimensional glitter top coat I'm REALLY hoping they will offer sets later in November so I can pick up these 4. I have the Jules for a free box, but I don't really want the lip products or any of the other colors in the collection.

 

[deactivateduser232015]

Quote: Originally Posted by secrethoarder /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I think blogger swatches are more useful to people because it shows the nails in everyday "regular" lighting. I'm not hanging out in a photo studio most of the time, so while it's nice to see the lovely clean presentation, it's not exactly relevant to me. I'm a graphic designer so most of my monitors are calibrated fairly well, and I still think the Julep swatches are a little off in some cases (Winona is definitely not what I expected!). Obviously the Julep swatches are "better" quality photos, and I love the clean professionalism and appreciate that they take the time to do swatches on different skin tones. But it's nice to see both the realistic shots from bloggers as well as the studio pics. 
Basically this. We live life outside of a studio, and what it "really" looks like is pretty useless to me. Also, the argument that it's *our* monitors that aren't calibrated properly therefore Julep is in the right is extraordinarily pretentious. If that is the case, then the majority of people's screens and calibrated improperly then it's still the default. The best analogy I can think of is -- in an orchestra, everyone tunes to the first chair first violinist. Now, violins tend to tune flat because that's what happens when the strings start loosening, and violinists are pretty sensitive to tuning sharp. However, as long as the entire orchestra is in tune with itself, there isn't really an issue even if the first violinist was flat. It might bother the few people with perfect pitch, but it's not super relevant, considering the tuning of the A key has risen in the last few hundred years as well. So if Julep's colours are "correct" to them and the few people with "correct" monitor colouring but useless to most people's "not correct" monitor calibration, then the picture itself is still not correct.

I mean, it's not even like Julep's photos are particularly flattering. Their swatch for Blakely (which is a dupe for Love & Peace & OPI and Essie For the Twill of It) is hardly even inspiring:



I mean the biggest comparison I can think of would be looking at swatches for Dance Legend's multichromes today. Leah Ann put them up next to The Polishaholic's swatches, are pretty *plain* in comparison, so you can see the difference between a company's studio shots and "real life" shots. While they're not necessarily close, I wouldn't say I would necessarily feel betrayed when I get the polishes and they're not nearly as shiny as the studio shots whereas for Julep I'm not even sure when half the time the polishes look a certain way on *my* screen and everyone else's screens and then they turn out completely different.

I do appreciate Julep putting in the work to swatch for us, but it'd be nice if they took a page out of some other companies' books then.

 

[CaliMel]

I like the products but I skipped. It would have been $25 for everything and i just would rather save that and go to Sephora. I mean, 2 months of boxes is almost $50 and I'd rather get a Sephoras Favorites.

 

[wadedl]

With them being studio shots they should be able to photoshop less and have a more accurate color.

 

[CheshireCookie]

Quote: Originally Posted by Grau /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I've decided to skip this month as none of the colors wowed me. I upgraded for October's full and now my nails are all breaking off from hypothyroidism that I just developed! Sad.

I hear ya! Stay positive, I know how frustrating that is.

I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which involves hypothyroidism, and it took me a short while to get my nails back on track to being strong and healthy but once I understood my supplement intake and balanced it out they went back to normal and are even healthier now! Don't stress

I hope you feel better soon, as well as your nails!

I'm hoping the polishes I chose for November are prettier in person than they look on the computer....I have high hopes, but you never know

 

[rainpetal]

I'm so conflicted.  I really want to get my a box this month, but I have so many polishes and I'm so bad about painting my nails that it seems like an epic waste of money.

How often do you all change your nail polish?  I get so frustrated when my nails chip within a day or two and I hate the idea of redoing my nails every 2-3 days because it takes time I don't really have.  I just wish I could get a nail polish to survive through the work week.  5 days is all I'm asking here people!

 

[tulosai]

Quote: Originally Posted by rainpetal /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  I'm so conflicted.  I really want to get my a box this month, but I have so many polishes and I'm so bad about painting my nails that it seems like an epic waste of money.

How often do you all change your nail polish?  I get so frustrated when my nails chip within a day or two and I hate the idea of redoing my nails every 2-3 days because it takes time I don't really have.  I just wish I could get a nail polish to survive through the work week.  5 days is all I'm asking here people!
It varies EXTREMELY how often I change it. I can go about a week without chippage bad enough that I feel I *have* to change it, but I can only go about 4-5 without any chippage at all no matter what I do.  Sometimes I get bored and change it after 2-3 days. Sometimes I am crazy busy/lazy and leave it on for 2 weeks even though it looks like utter crap.  It really depends.

Do you use both a base and top coat? If so have you tried different bases and top coats to see if they work better for you? Sometimes certain polishes also work better than otehrs for some people regardless of the topcoat issue.  For instance, color club chips on me within 3 days no matter what I do; Opi stays on me for at least 5 days barring catastrophy.