My sister is an artist and she wanted to start a blog to let people know what she’s been up to and what’s new on the painting front. She did have a ‘proper’ website but had to rely on a friend if she wanted to change or update anything. Which isn’t the best way of working so she decided to start a blog, but had no experience of how to create one or how to use one. That’s where I came in, she wanted me to help her set one up. While doing this I realized that there may be others out there like my sister who were struggling to find the right information, or just didn’t have the time to look for it.
Why am I telling you this – Stay with me a little longer…
Anyway, that’s when I decided to write a series of posts for the absolute beginner blogger that wants to start a free blog with Wordpress.com, on my other blog that follows, you guessed it my blogging exploits – Build a Blog. I decided the best way to show her how to start a blog was to start one! So I started a blog of my own on Wordpress.com called Mandy Jones Photography (there’s also a link to it in the navigation bar at the top of this page).
I thought straight away of starting a Photoblog. You already have a blog I hear you say? Yes I do have this blog, but this is a blog about digital photography and my journey as a photographer and although it has lots of images on it, it’s not solely about the image there’s information that goes with it, and the image is there to enhance it. I wanted a blog where I could share the growing amount of images that are gathering digital dust on my hard drive and that nobody is getting to see, and let it just be about the image. And yes I have a Flickr page that I can do that with, and some of my images may end up on both the photoblog and Flickr.
So do I really need a Photoblog?
No, I don’t NEED a Photoblog. But I do think it could be an advantage to have one…
I know one thing for sure it’s not going to be a portfolio site, it’s just going to be more of a photodump for my images, sharing them and letting them get some air. A more specific portfolio collection of my images is on its way but more of that to come… I also like being able to show my growth as a photographer, I think that’s an important part of sharing my journey, so the opportunity arose at just the right time.
Starting a Blog on Wordpress.com
It’s a bit like running a blog with one hand tied behind my back at the moment after being used to this blog running on Wordpress.org. But it’s given me a different view of blogging as well as taking me back to my early blogging days that may have grown a little dim in the old memory. Going back to basics is not always a bad thing because it makes me keep things simple, and focus on what is the most important thing that I’m wanting to get over to my readers. In this photoblogs case it’s the image. So it will be interesting to see how this blog develops.
I chose one of their photoblog themes for the blog, the Duotone theme. They don’t have many photoblog themes at the moment, but one of the features that I really liked about this one was that it automatically publishes the EXIF data for the image with every post I make.
Do you have a photoblog? If so which service do you use? Please let me know in the comments…
Mandy
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Mandy,
I do not have a photo blog yet but I’m planing to build one.
I’m planing to write in there about all my jobs as a photographer.
Thanks for your article.
Al
Hope it all goes well, come back and post the link when it’s live!
Hi Mandy,
I just stumbled across this blog whilst searching Google for interesting things to do with my photography website/blog (I’m not really sure what to class at as!) I just started out a month or 2 ago building a website as I’d never done it before and thought I should give it a try, I’ve now started to incorporate a blog in there too so I can share with the world my progress as a photographer too.
On a separate note I really like you work, a lot of close up’s and quite minimalist, it’s really different from what I’m doing at the moment which is mainly landscapes and the odd portrait…I think you may have inspired me to have a go at trying a new style.
I see you’re using a Canon 450D, what do you think to it? I started out with a 400D around 18 months ago and found it a really good camera to get to grips with as a complete beginner.
Anyway all the best with your blog…I’ll check back for updates to your blog and your pictures, feel free to have a look at mine to at http://www.chrismartinez.co.uk I’d be really keen to hear what you think if you get chance…it’s a bit (or very) rough at the moment so hopefully some tweaking over the coming weeks can make it a bit nicer.
Happy blogging
Chris
Hi Mandy, sorry if I put something in my post that I shouldn’t have, I see it’s been deleted… I didn’t mean to go against the rules of your blog and im really sorry if I did.
Chris
Oops…im an idiot!
i see it is there…i think i must have used back on my browser…sorry if this looks like im spamming your post, i feel stupid now.
Hi Mandy, I have just created a blog on my website and plan to update it as and when I head out to do new jobs as a photographer. Please have a look and feel free to comment. The blog you can link to by going to my website… I won’t add my URL in the post. Keep up the great blogging.
@Chris – Sorry it was my fault your comments didn’t appear straight away I hadn’t approved them! Thank you for the lovely comments about my work, I’m really glad they moved you, as a photographer that’s the best response I could get for my work!
I love my 450D it gives me great room for creativity, I’m now working on expanding my glass collection…
Very nice blog, very clean and minimal which draws the eye to the photography (which is where you want it). All blogs are a work in progress no matter how old they are, and they evolve as you grow as a photographer. Great start keep up the good work.
@David – Love your site, great wedding photography and a nice slideshow that isn’t sluggish to use – which software do you use?
Writing about your current projects through a blog I think is the best way to promote yourself and engage with prospective clients. It’s really important, don’t be shy about promoting it!
Your blogs styling works well with your site, I’m guessing that your site isn’t run on Wordpress though due to the lack of links to the blog in the navigation bar. That’s when you need a web developer hat! I’m a blogger so I naturally look there first…
Blogging is a skill I’ve learned and am learning as I go along (I write about it at Builda-blog.com), bottom line – search engines love blogs. Keep blogging and sharing your photography and you’ll be amazed by the rewards.