Ekta & Puru of Shadows Galore share how it all began with one trek...

What started as treks around Chennai, has now become a full-fledged blog. Find out what Ekta & Puru found during their exploration.

They like to stay objective and neutral with their articles, whilst they monetize their blog infrequently. Sticking to well-researched content is a persistent routine.

Read on to know more about the different shades in their blog.

Looking back, where did it all begin?

It began in 2011 with our first treks around Chennai and a trip to Sri Lanka, when we decided to revive the photo blog that we had created during our college days. We were also inspired by a now-defunct travel blog named Frenchie and Me that inspired us to write about our own travels.

What's in the name?

It was by coincidence. We were participating in a photographing competition during the college days, the theme of which was ‘Lights and Shadows’. Our entry showcased different shades of the subject by means of shadows, hence the name. Though we did not win the first prize, the name stayed.

What is your USP in this cluttered space? How does your content give you an edge?

We stick to well-researched content which is interesting to a certain section of readers and useful to many others, especially when it comes to places of historical or cultural repute. Combined with decent quality images and clean presentation, it has stood the test of time.

How do you take moolah with your efforts?

We do not monetize our blog usually. Infrequent sponsored posts and Google ads take care of the infrastructure costs and we are happy with that.

How do you maintain editorial objectivity with the influx of brand briefs?

Neutrality is of prime importance when writing an article and we are steadfast on exercising our right to stay objective and fair to our readers while writing about a brand.

One instance/experience that made it all worthwhile

During our journeys, we have met amazing people and made wonderful friends. Each of those experiences is a page in this book of life that we share with each other. While it is difficult to pinpoint which page is the most interesting one, the book is a lovely read for posterity for sure.

Weirdest brand brief/request ever

We were once asked to review a Gambling place and strip club, and the excuse given was that we are a travel blog and such things are a part of travel. Polite refusal from our end.

If not blogging, you would be?

If not blogging, we would still be travelling and taking photographs besides our day jobs. Sharing it with our reads makes it more interesting.

A day in your life….

Is spent balancing our lives, day jobs, postprocessing photographs from the previous trips, drooling over expensive cameras and dreaming about the next trip.

Message/tips for upcoming bloggers

Be persistent, be ethical and focus on creating honest and good content. Footfalls, Fame and money will follow through.

Your Favorite Influencer

This is a difficult question. I would say Peter Van Geit, founder of the Chennai Trekking Club. He is an amazing human being and can inspire/ influence individuals and communities to take conscious collective decisions. He ran all the way through the Himalayas recently and can be an inspiration for every traveler.

The Future you foresee for your Personal Brand

Much has been said about the future of blogging, about how it is losing out to more instantaneous forms of information like Instagram. However, I feel blogging still has a future and as bloggers, we are not only going to persist but also thrive. 2019 will be good for us.