Portrait Photography, Photography Tutorial

“No matter what, the very first piece of social media real estate I’d start with is a blog.”

– Chris Brogan, Keynote speaker, founder, New Marketing Labs

There is no denying that social media is an invaluable tool in marketing products and services. A social media campaign has many advantages that serve to make it successful. However, blogs are the foundation of a social media campaign.
In online marketing, a website can be likened to a brochure while a blog brings personality into your products or services. So why should you, as a photographer seriously consider starting a photography blog or even two photography blogs? Well, photography blogs give photographers’ followers – for example clients, fans and other photographers – the chance to understand more comprehensively and more intimately, who you are as a photographer and what makes you tick (or click!).

A photography blog also allows you to easily and conveniently share with your followers, the latest news in the photography industry, new ideas, and the work, concepts and photography projects that you are currently undertaking. Minutes after you have posted new photos and other photography related content, your followers can see and give you almost instantaneous feedback. In this way, a blog also offers you the opportunity to see where you can improve and also allows you to see which of your photos most resonates with people.

Speaking of feedback, one sure way of getting feedback on the content you have posed on your blog is by commenting on other photography blogs. The golden rule applies here: do unto others what you would like them to do unto you. Would you like many, quality comments on your blog? Then, be sure to visit other photography blogs and leave quality comments. Also, once people have commented on your content, be sure to thank them and respond to any questions they may have asked.  So how effective are photography blogs in marketing your photography? Well, Rosh Sillars, in an online article about marketing photography informs us that: “Art buyers are seeking out blogs before they hire so they have a better feel for who the photographer really is and what skills they possess that may not be reflected in their portfolio.” However, the effectiveness of blogs in marketing your photography can only be maximized if you practice consistency and authenticity.

Consistency simply means that you have to update your blog regularly. If you start out posting content once a week, try and keep that pace. If you do not update your blog at least once every 4-5 days, your followers will gradually lose interest or will naturally gravitate to other photography blogs that are updated more regularly. Also, if potential buyers come across your blog and see that your blog has not been updated in quite a while, they may assume that you are not an active photographer or that you are taking a break from photography!

Authenticity simply means being yourself. There is no need to portray an unreal version of yourself on your blog because sooner or later, the truth will come to light and your professional integrity will come into question. Do not pass up other people’s photographs as your own. Give credit where credit is due. Be authentic about your strengths and weaknesses as a photographer. Do not say your strength is portraiture when it is landscape photography. Just be yourself! A blog is meant to convey to your followers who you are – your personality – and therefore, it makes no sense to be inauthentic on your blog.

There are a number of ways in which you can make your photography blog stand out. One way is by staying on message. Your blog is about photography and thus, the content on your blog should largely be about photography or subjects related to photography. The wonderful thing is that in this day and age, any subject under then sun can be written in such a way that a photography element is included. Be creative! For example, seek out current events making headlines then find a way to make it have a photography element in it. Any visitor who comes across your blog for the very first time should know in the first few seconds what your blog is about.

Another way of making your photography blog stand out is by offering photography tips. Your fellow photographers – both amateur and professional – are always looking for ways in which they can improve their photography or solve their photography problems. By giving them various photography tips, you can be assured that they will keep coming back to your blog for more and also tell other photographers about your blog!

Yet another way of making your photography blog stand out is by making it personal. The very nature of blogs is that they are meant to be personal, approachable and intimate, as opposed to websites which are more commercial in nature. How can you make your blog more personal? You can do this by sharing your life with your followers, sharing anecdotes about your work, family and interests. Your photography blog should definitely have pictures of a photographer. Preferably, the picture should be of you but these pictures of a photographer can also be of your favorite photographer or even of a photographer that is currently in the news.

Do try and enchant the followers of your photography blog.  As Guy Kawasaki – Former Chief Evangelist and Apple co-founder – quipped: “When you enchant people, your goal is not to make money from them or to get them to do what you want, but to fill them with great delight.”

Portrait Photography, Photography Tutorial
Portrait Photography, Photography Tutorial
Portrait Photography, Photography Tutorial

Portrait Photography, Photography Tutorial

Related terms: Tips for How to Take Good Portraits, Tips for Taking Portraits, Tips for Taking Portrait Photography, About Portrait Photographers, Take Great Portraits, Family Portrait Tutorial, Taking a Portrait, Studio Portrait Photography Tutorial