The world of photography is constantly evolving, and as a photographer, it is important to stay ahead of the curve. One way to showcase your work, connect with your audience, and establish yourself as an expert in your field is through blogging.
Studio portrait of Nathalie, 2020 (150mm - 1/125s - f/11 - ISO100)
Why starting a Blog?
While I was working on my new portfolio website a few days ago, the question propped up whether besides this portfolio I also should have a personal blog.
For a professional photographer, the answer would be a no-brainer. Every professional absolutely should have a blog for works sharing, marketing, clients presentation and in general improving his personal brand. But what in case you are just a hobby photographer? Will it be worth the effort and time spent? Wouldn’t the profiles you already created on social media platforms as Facebook or Instagram be sufficient?
Today I’m convinced the answer to the “Do I need a blog?” question is a resounding ‘YES’. Even being an amateur photographer, a personal blog is an absolute must have. After all, blogging is by far the easiest way to share your passion with community and the best tool to assist in growing as a creative. The very simple reasons are:
The era of static photography websites is finished. The audience is expecting to receive more information from a photographer than only an overview of images. A photographer must be able to share his ideas, reflect his personality and promote his work. A blog provides a medium to talk about yourself and the things that keep you busy. In the end, people don’t connect with images. People connect with other people. For your website visitors, your photo’s will be more interesting if people learn to know more about you as a person and the human being that’s behind the lens. By sharing your knowledge and expertise through blogs including your personal interests, experiences, insights or photography tips, you can position yourself as a trusted authority in your niche. Also behind-the-scenes stories can build meaningful connections and foster a community around your work. This can help attract potential clients who are looking for a skilled photographer.
Escape from the social media ghetto. You can present your work on all kinds of social media. However, the trick is not to become a slave to social media. Once you’re locked into their platform, you start to lose control of the work you’ve posted, and you’re restricted in the ideas you’re able to share. I’m also present on some of those platforms, but I try to limit the number of contributions and shares (except on my Instagram page where I try to post one picture on a daily base). And it pleases me to notice that some of my pictures receive appreciations from friends and are shared. But after a while they all get lost in the clutter. I don’t want to give the impression that a photographer’s presence on social media channels is unimportant, but to my opinion a personal website and blog are better tools to show the soul of my work to the community.
Blogging is easy fun. Blogging is really-really easy, at least when you do have some topics to write about. Anyone who’s able to write an email, should also be able to start up a blog. And blogging is so much fun. It’s pleasing to go out in nature and shoot, to walk through a city’s backstreets and capture life, to meet a stunning model and portray her. But all this just becomes much more fun if you immediately have an audience to showcase it for. Blogging is easy fun in every way.
Blogging will boost your SEO. Search engines love fresh content, and regularly updating your blog with high-quality posts can significantly improve your website's search engine rankings. This, in turn, can lead to increased visibility and more potential clients finding your work.
Blogging improves your skills, helps other people and makes this world a better place. A blog is less static and restrictive than a just a portfolio. I already mentioned that to my opinion the days of static portfolios are passed. A blog allows the photographer to experiment with art daily, take some risks and see what resonates with the audience. The possibility of experimenting will result in a serious improvement of technical photography skills. Furthermore, your writing and communication skills will be improved. Blogging brings inspiration and motivation and it makes you start to think about who you are and who you like to become. It enables you to share information and knowledge and might be very helpful to other people. And finally, when having a blog, you also have a voice. You can spread out all things you like and don’t like – without any social media control – and maybe change the world.
Tips for starting your Photography Blog
If you're convinced that starting a blog is the right move for you, here are some tips to get you started:
Choose the Right Platform: There are several blogging platforms available, such as Wix, WordPress, Blogger, or Squarespace. Research each platform's features and choose one that best suits your needs and technical abilities.
Create Engaging Content: Your blog posts should be informative, visually appealing, and reflect your unique style as a photographer. Experiment with different types of content like photo essays, interviews with other artists or industry professionals, and tutorials to keep your audience engaged.
Promote Your Blog: Share your blog posts on social media platforms and collaborate with other photographers or bloggers to expand your reach. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and actively participating in photography communities online.
Maintain Consistency: Regularly updating your blog is crucial for building an audience and keeping them interested. Set a schedule that works for you (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) and stick to it.
Showcase Your Personality: Let your true self shine through in your writing. Injecting personality into your blog posts helps create a connection with readers by allowing them to see the person behind the lens.
In conclusion, having a blog can be a powerful tool for photographers and artists. It enables you to showcase your work, insights and personal experiences. It allows you to connect with your audience in a dynamic way, boost your SEO, and establish yourself as an expert in the field.
So why wait? Start blogging today and take your photography career to new heights!
Ben.
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