Name: Julia
Blog name: Imagelicious
Where were you born? Moscow, Russia
Where are you living now? Thornhill, Ontario
Why did you start your blog?
Originally I started my blog to share recipes with friends and colleagues
How did you decide on your blog name?
In the beginning I was mostly interested in Food Photography business and I was trying to come up with a unique name for the site, something other than my first name and last name that is the norm for portfolio websites. So, my friend came up with the idea for Images that are Delicious, hence Imagelicious was born.
What do you blog about?
Imagelicious is about my life and recipes that are intended to be made by everyday home cooks and busy moms without any sophisticated equipment or special training.
Is your blog your business, your hobby or something in between?
Something in between. It’s a hobby that I would like to turn into a business eventually.
What post on your blog most encapsulates you and why?
Cabbage Pie and my guilty ingredient!
I love food writing but I don’t do it too often. I try to include little stories and vignettes in most of my posts but I don’t have too many of real food writing articles. When I sit to write a piece, it often includes childhood memories and that kind of writing takes a lot of energy and time and soul and heart, so I avoid it often. This particular blog post is my ode to Russian cuisine, my childhood and my grandma. It’s painful and raw and it’s very intimate and real.
Which post do you wish received more love and why?
Tomato Salad. Just as the Cabbage Pie blog post, this one is also very personal and sharing something like that makes you feel vulnerable so I would want to have a more interactions on that post.
Which post’s success surprised you and why?
Vegan Potato Cakes stuffed with Mushrooms - I have no idea why but this recipe went crazy when I first posted it and it’s still going strong. It was pinned almost 290 thousand times. It’s my only viral recipe like this.
What’s your biggest challenge as a blogger?
My biggest challenge is to have inspiration to create and photograph new recipes. With having a small baby and being so busy at home it’s often easier to just keep making the same recipe over and over. So, I try to challenge myself and brainstorm ideas and develop new recipes at least a few times a week.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a blogger?
You need to keep constantly moving forward and working on the blog. Taking a break is a good thing but taking too long of a break makes you lose momentum and it’s too difficult to get back into blogging. So, I try to make sure that I post at least once a week to keep this momentum going otherwise I stop and lose interest.
Share a couple of your favourite food blogs to read. Why do you like them?
Show me the Yummy - I love their videos! Videos are everywhere now but SMTY was one of the first to come up with the cool tricks and ideas on how to make videos fun.
At the Immigrant’s Table - I absolutely adore Ksenia’s writing. Her style evokes so many emotions, her stories are exquisite and her pictures are gorgeous.
Favourite food - care to share a recipe or a restaurant destination?
Mashed potatoes. Easy, simple, buttery.
What are you working on next for your blog?
I really want to create an eBook.
What else should we know about you that may or not be in your “About Me” page?
I love reading books and I watch way too many TV shows. I used to play flute, piano and guitar. I have two younger sisters and a brother.
What makes your blog unique?
I think my stories of Russian childhood make the blog unique.
What part of the FBC site do you find most useful?
Definitely the Facebook groups. I read them every day!
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Great interview – one of my favourite bloggers / food photographers!
You are so sweet, Julia! Thank you so much!