You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
So, I was thinking…
In my future recipe posts, would you be interested in seeing more photos of the process, as opposed to just the final product? Would that be at all helpful?
I’m warning you: the recipe-process photos won’t be pretty. I usually cook in my very tiny and very dark kitchen. And if I’m not there, I’m in my parents’ much bigger—but just as dark!—kitchen.
You know those gorgeous white kitchens you see on Pinterest?
Yeah, so not my kitchen.
Above, unfinished Copycat Peanut Butter Eggs.
And by “unfinished” I obviously mean “not yet covered in chocolate.” However, this didn’t stop me from eating one two of the eggs straight off the piece of parchment paper. Really, can you blame me?
And what’s this?
Why, it’s a giant ball of unshaped peanut butter dough.
Did I say my “in process” photos were ugly? I take it back! 
This looks like a painting.
An edible painting.
Peanut butter art?
Oh Van Gogh, you know you’re jealous.
I also made this for you:
If you get a chance, please do check out the above link and let me know: Are the step-by-step photos helpful? Would you like to see more of them in future posts? Or are they as ugly as I cautioned and you’d rather use your imagination? (Be honest!)
And sorry about all my weirdo commentary in this post. One too many glasses of wine last night.
Or perhaps it was all the reeses eggs…
I LOVE the step-by-step photos – they’re extremely helpful to me. I’m such a visual learner, so I really get a lot out of seeing the steps as well as reading the descriptions. If you have the patience to take pictures during the process (I wouldn’t, haha) I would love to see more step-by-step photos in the future!
I like the step-by-step pics…..It helps some of us who aren’t so great in the kitchen know if we’re on the right track!!! 🙂
I don’t think you could take a terrible photo, Katie 😉
It honestly makes no difference to me! I sometimes post step-by-step recipes on my blog, especially for people who don’t cook or bake very often. For me the step-by-step is not necessary, but I know it helps some people. And of course I’ll continue to read no matter what the majority vote is!
I would appreciate step by step photos. Even on easy recipes like the reese’s eggs, it’s cool to see it all laid out so the reader can feel like they are actually making the dessert with you. That way if I don’t end up ever trying the recipe in real life (because who has time to make everything we read on blogs/pinterest/etc. haha), I can at least feel like I did by living vicariously through reading and seeing the pictures step by step.
My two cents 🙂
Michelle
Can I suggest a compromise? When I read a blog as wonderful as this I’m okay with pictures along the way. Maybe include a link for a pictureless version as well for those that don’t need it, or have made that particular recipe enough to not need the photos? Just a suggestion.
I like your suggestion and was thinking the same thing! Keep them off the main page, but put a link in case some people want them. I don’t really want the ugly photos on my main page anyway ;).
I think this is a great idea! I was just about to post at the bottom but decided to reply here instead. I live overseas where internet is not nearly as fast as it is in the US. I’m doing well to download the number of pictures you already have on your posts, so I cringed when you mentioned that you might start including process photos. I’ve had to give up on several other blogs that do that because I can never get to the recipe itself! Thanks for asking our opinions on this and thinking it through before you do it. I really appreciate it! (And even if you do it, I won’t give up on you. I love your recipes and your adorable commentaries too much!!!)
Ugh I remember struggling with the internet overseas! I don’t remember the slowness as much as all the sites that were blocked when I lived in China. Doing a research paper was really hard!
I think the step by step with photos help non seasoned cooks learn the process. The non proffessional photos makes it easier for the beginner to relate also.
So true! I’m a beginner cook and love the step by step photos!
Ugh, the woes of cooking in a tiny, dark kitchen. I feel ya sista! It’s good to know I’m not the only one. As for the process pictures, I don’t necessarily think that you need to do them. I think your recipes are easy enough without them. However, I’m also an improviser and am comfortable enough in the kitchen to “make it work” so you probably shouldn’t listen to me! I’m interested to see everyone’s responses though b/c I’m wondering if maybe I should do the same thing? My recipes tend to be a little more complicated, but unlike your beautimus process pics, mine really would be horrible! What kind of camera and lenses do you use? What about lighting?
I have a Canon Rebel and usually use the 50mm f/1.8
Seriously, I live in a cave! And if I go outside in the Tx sun it is too harsh… so I usually use a higher ISO and set the exposure a few stops over to try and compensate.
Maybe your photos are a bit dark (such as the first one with the fork) but they are always so good because they are sharp and on focus!
I personally like having the instructions of the recipe in one place, because if there is a line of text then a photo, 2 lines, photo, 1 1/2 line, two photos…. I don’t know, the recipe gets so long! And I think that one good thing of your blog is that is has only fast and easy recipes (hello 1 minute mini chocolate cake!) and I think the short instructions emphasizes this…
That said, I understand that some non-seasoned cooks could prefer to see step-by-step photos for tricky passages (such as forming the core of the eggs) to check if they’re doing right, but a photo for each passage in my opinion would be too much.
Lots of love, darling! (:
I really like the step-by-step photos, although if there is none, it’s completely fine too!
Although, in more savory (aka, dinner) recipes, step-by-step instructions seem like they’re more needed because, well, I don’t cook dinner all that much.
And you call your photos horrible? Oh, no, I beg to differ!
PS. what editing program do you use?
Photoshop 🙂
I am a very visual person so I really like the step-by-step photos and pictures of ingredients.