How a Blog Can Help Your Photography Business
Photo by Hamed Saber.
If you are a photographer and have a website, you need a blog. A blog can be a huge supplement to your website and can offer more for the viewer than just viewing your portfolio online. You can post new work to it and describe a little bit about your recent photo shoots, and add keywords to your copy which in turn will bring the search engines coming back to your site looking for new content.
Website Structure
I post the work I want prospective clients to see on my main website. This is where I host my updated portfolio for viewers to see. The stronger images are posted here so that clients see a range of work. I don’t show everything I shoot — just the photos I want people to see and those that represent my business’ look and feel. Remember the saying: less is more.
Here is where the blog comes into play. When I set up my blog, I wanted to use it as a journal for quick updates so the viewer can see what I have been working on, where I’ve been shooting across the country, as well as anything else I feel like sharing. I like to post behind the scenes photos from recent shoots. By doing so, the blog becomes a little bit more personal, and it allows the viewer to see my studio space or the type of lighting setup I am using. The most important thing about having the blog is that it allows me to post photos that might not make it to my main website. Basically, it’s an online portfolio of constantly changing work, and a great way to refresh the content on your website.
What to Blog About
For all of us photographers, I have found that a great thing to post to your blog is a couple of quick images from a photo shoot that have just been completed. It can be personal work or something you shot for a client. It can even be an article relevant to your business. All of these things are great ways to keep fresh content rolling through your blog. I do a lot of editorial shoots for publications so they get dibs on first run, but as soon as they hit the newsstand I will post a few shots on my blog. This is also a great way to plug a website and show the viewer who you have been shooting for. Don’t forget to link up if your client has your work posted on their website.
How a Blog Benefits You
The benefits of adding a blog to your site are numerous. I can speak from experience and tell you that I have had clients call my portfolio in for review simply because they looked at my photoblog and liked what I was doing. It shows a different side of your work. I am a big believer in getting fresh work on your site as often as you can, so that it will show your prospective clients and viewers what you have been working on.
It’s amazing when looking at your website traffic through Google Analytics or through your own website server how people are finding you and the keywords that are bringing them into your site. Because of the photoblog, I have gotten traffic from places I normally wouldn’t have on my business site, and I bet you will have the same result if you get started and keep the content rolling in.
Getting more inbound links means better rankings in Google without extra costs involved. It will take a while to see results but you will see your website gain ground gradually.
As far as posting frequency goes, I think a good number to shoot for (bare minimum) is three to four times a month. If you think about it’s not that much time dedicated to helping your photo business move along, and the more you post, the more success you will have.
How to Get Started
There are hundreds of ways to get your blog rolling. Personally I use WordPress.com but there are many options out there. Do some searching and see what works best for you. A self-hosted option like WordPress.org is often the best choice for business. If you decide to load software onto your server space and you’re not too sure about technical matters, find someone who is willing to help you get it set up, whether you’ve got a knowledgeable friend who will do it for free or you hire a professional.
I don’t have a single reason why you shouldn’t blog. The benefits are staggering and any negative consequences are rare and few. It’s a truly great thing for your photography business.
Leave a Comment
Great advice! A blog will definitely help any consultant or a freelancer! It will build your brand, showcase your skills, get you ranked in Google and other search engines and differentiate yourself and your business from the crowd over at Elance and other job boards.
Great Article!
I have created a number of websites for photographers (www.arlinemalakian.com , http://www.yuridojc.com) and I think this article is great advice for any photographer.
Blogs help show off the human side of you and your business and can make you more appealing. With photography people are often hiring someone who they are going to be sharing themselves with on a personal level more, than they might another service. To get to know that photographer personally beforehand through a blog can make their choice much easier.
Great post, Aaron! Dan Boud is a Sydney based photographer who’s blogged for years at http://www.boudist.com/ – easily one of my favourite blogs, he captures Sydney beautifully through its events and people (both locals and visitors)… No doubt he’s earned a lot of work out of it. A great case study for photographers.
yaa this is true i m doing the same thing it helps…..
Thanks for the encouragement, as I just started my own blog along side my photography portfolio at http://www.chrislanephoto.com. I was planning on doing both the things you talk about with latest updates and such, but also teaching people how to be better photographers themselves.
Alavari’s comment is definitely true about bringing out the human element in a business.
Thanks for the post!
While I was searching for my blog’s template, I tumbled through some terrific blog templates for photography blogs, and that too free…. There are a whole set of designs out there and any good photographer can make one hell of an impression by uploading stuff on a photography blog.
can you share the link with us
De-ja-vu – Nice Post!
Here’s a template that I use from webrevolutionary.com called Sharpfolio. It features a great description of your work; photography or website. Overall it is a great clean template to use or start with.
After posting it to my site I then push the link to another social media network to blog on.
You know, I’ve always wondered about whether to promote my blog independently or within a portfolio. This helped me answer that.
This is such a short brilliant way to explain it. Very handy to persuade some of my friends. Cheers!
Great advice here, I fully agree that blogging helps freelance photographers.
Five years ago I started publishing my photos on a blog, eventually it became a daily photo blog and now gets hundreds of visitors a day that a static website wouldn’t have got from Google.
Through blogging my photography developed from a hobby to now being a full time freelance photographer. I still have a long way to go but many of my clients have told me they enjoy reading and seeing how my work is developing.
Thanks again x
Excellent…photogs who don’t blog are cheating themselves, same way writers who don’t shoot their own photos do . (Sorry, photogs.) Cross pollenization used to be what I called this sort of thing, but now being a jack of many trades is almost a necessity. It’s less about crossover and more about making yourself as marketable as possible.
Thanks for the great comments everyone, glad you liked the article.
Good article, but it needs to be taken further. Here are five tips:
1. Don’t just do a blog post and let it sit there. Tell the person/people involved in the post about it. I like to send a short e-mail with the header, “You have been blogged.” The body of the message includes a clickable link to the blog post.
In some cases, I don’t hear anything back. But, in other cases, the response is quite warm. There are plenty of people and organizations who love being blogged about. And, I’ve found, if I ask them nicely, they’ll link their website (or blog) to my blog.
2. If you have an e-mail newsletter, make sure that your best blog posts are included in each issue. Month after month, I’ve found that my “Best o’ the Blog” feature has been my e-mail newsletter’s most popular.
3. Does your blog have an RSS feed? Make sure that the feed’s on your portfolio’s home page.
4. Does your blog link to your website? (Yes, I know. My bad. My blog doesn’t do that at the moment. But I’m fixing that problem, so stay tuned.)
5. What do you want people to do after they’ve read your latest blog post? I don’t know about you, but I’m interested in money, honey! That’s why I included a short pitch for assignments after the posts that relate to the areas in which I’d like to get assignments. For the areas in which I’d like to sell stock photography, well, let’s just say that I’m in the process of building a stock selling site, and when it’s done, my blog will link to it.
“4. Does your blog link to your website?”
Excellent comment! But instead of linking to your website, it should be part of it. I don’t understand why so many photographers have a completely separate site for their blog: since the blog is going to be getting more traffic because it’s updated regularly, doesn’t it make more sense to incorporate it as part of the main site?
I like the tips you have written.
I am thirsty for more because I have only a few visitor to my site so far.
I need further advise to increase visitors.
Really good article, and smart comments of course.
What would help even more is to think of your online presence as a small universe and include more places in it.
Cross-link between Twitter, FriendFeed, Flickr, Facebook etc. By doing that you might catch the attention of more visitors that might not use read blogs actively (with RSS for example) but will be happy to follow you on Flickr or Twitter. It’s one thing to comment on Facebook (your friends) than commenting on Flickr (people there really like to comment) or on your blog (only the brave, I think).
As said above, writing about others, clients or competitors, makes your blog more interesting and open. And perhaps they link back?
Teaching is also a good way to go.
Waiting for your new precious articles ! thanks .
Great post, really helpful, this has helped me make up my mind to change from a static website! Thanks!!!!
yep great advice here. Of course it applies to any photographer really, not just freelance and whatever field youre in a blog is always going to help engage your site visitors and keep them coming back, as well as helping to boost your sites rankings in the SERPS. Especially if you have your blog on the same domain as your main site.
All said here is so true,blogging is king in my book.To keep people on your blog longer I have found having some videos embedded really helps-I use Jing which sits on your desktop and is free to use-the only downside is videos are only 5 mins-however it is surprising what you can show and do in 5 mins- you can then upload to Youtube or store in Jing. To get traffic I feel you should post at least once a week unique content,and write lots of quality articles and put them on Ezinearticles and Goarticles with your biobox pointing back to your site.
Another tip I do is to use Twitter and Facebook to tweet my article on Ezinearticles to get traffic to the article which in turn gets higher in rankings on Google, all helps to get those important back links. Again very well put together post and some very helpful comments-Much appreciated
I agree with all the above advice, I too have run a blog is alongside my normal photography business website and have found it invaluable. The best things about a blog, from my point of view, that its easy to update which keeps it fresh for both your readers and from a search engine point of view keeps the relevant and high at the indexes. Thanks again. Pat
Great information. I deal mostly with photography as a hobby but some of the advice works even if you only do it as a hobby.
Well done.
Great tips and I’m a firm believer that blogs are the future to get noticed on the web as a photographer.
I’d like to add that a WordPress blog is fantastic in terms of SEO to get free traffic to your website from Google and other search engines. Especially if you use the following free plugins for WordPress:
- All in one SEO pack
- Google XML Sitemap
And additionally change the permalinks setting from default to (important):
/%post_id%/%postname%/
Don’t forget to ping your blog each time you make an entry as well….you can go to a free site like:
http://www.pingler.com/
It helps let all the search engines know of your new post…that way you don’t have to wait ages for them to spider you
I would also add that when using a Blog, it allows the photographer to be more personable than on the website (the store). The blog is an opportunity for him or her to appear more real and show personality. This will appeal to some and wont to others, but given the subjective nature of our work its important to really have not only a style match with your client, but a personality match. Using a blog to show your personality is a great benefit. The real challange I see photographers having with blogs, is the consistency required to keep it up. I can’t tell you how many of my members don’t update their blogs regularly! Regular quality updates are what its going to take to increase subscribers and keep interest.
Also a regularly updated blog can improve your Google ranking and drive traffic to your main website.
a blog can be a powerful tool for any market your in. good tips!
I could see my hits doubling when I started a blog!
This is a great site most especially for photography junkies like me!
I totally agree. You can also do a video distribution to support that
In order to get noticed online today, it’s imperative to have a site that will have consistent content updates no matter what business you’re in. If you want to draw people to your business, blogging is a good way to achieve that.
Not only can you give updates on things like photo shoots, you can write informative posts specifically related to your business. Maybe a post about “What to Expect During a Photo Shoot or How To Find The Best Freelance Photographer.
I was just too lazy for years to collect all my best photos, and to put them at one place. Now definitely I started thinking about making a blog.
Thanks!
I too have started to put my photos grouped on a site. I really think its the safest place for them these days.
Great post! I am waiting for some more… I really find them helpful! Thanks
Nice post! i like it , so interesting…Thank you for sharing it.
Great post!! Thanks for sharing such an wonderful information.
Definitely! I love blogging as it’s a fun way to keep clients (and prospects) up to date on what’s happening in the business. And, it makes me a real person, not just ‘a website’. It’s very important to have that personal connection with those who are going to have you take their photographs!
A blog can be a great tool for any business. Especially if you don’t know much about web development and don’t want to constantly pay your web developer to add fresh content. I’ve seen people use blogs as their main website, and they did a good job with it so it wasn’t blatantly obvious.
I am a newbie, but this article is giving me motivation to trust and to continue what I was planning… thanks!
Before you get your blog up and running, you’ll want to think about who the audience is for your blog. Then your content should be geared toward them. For example, if you’re targeting wedding clients, giving tips on how to look great in your wedding photos would be good content.
This is one of the first things I suggest my clients do as long as they are willing to put in the time to give it some love. It shows the activity level of the photographer which can certainly help buiness when there is a lot of competition like there is usually in the Wedding Photographer space. Cheers!
A blog or any type of website will definitively help you publish your art and let people know about you. It is free advertising!
I am also a photographer. But not really that geek. I was thinking to put up a blog for my hobby but then I wanted to customize it the way I wanted it to appear but then buying a domain is too expensive. Can’t even afford it.
A blog is essential to any entrepreneur, regardless of your field of expertise. It’s the perfect way to connect with an online audience of people who would be interested in what you have to offer. Great post!
WordPress was the best choice for my business. It is easy to use and you can use lot of templates.
Great article.
Does anyone have any well documented real-life casestudies of how a blog helped you photography business?
Can I also add that it is a great idea to automatically sudicate your blog to Twitter and Facebook.
I use the free service LinksAlpha.
Oli Hille
Author
http://www.LifestyleBook.com
These are all good tips for the photographer just starting out in his or hers career. We try to keep an updated blog with our current mishaps and inspiration.
It is amazing how quickly traffic starts coming to your site after a few months of constant posting.
I’m just about to get my website redesigned for my photography business in Bonnie Scotland! The designer advised that I go for a blog format rather than the current ’boutique’ style I have. I’ve been convinced about the rewards of a blog but I’m worried about the aesthetics of not having the fancy slideshows and the ability for clients to login and view their photos. My current site uses Joomla which is good for functionality but I’ve heard it’s not good for blogs.
Any advice?
We get a lot of Photographers in our retail shop and we always like to recommend good sources of information regarding photography. I shall add this to our list of resources to check out. Thanks Very Much
I believe that there is no need to write blog post. you can just upload you picture and let you work show how good you are
Hi Aaron, thanks to you for posting this article. Found it useful and interesting.
This is some great advice. I have a blog up and running, but I don’t post to it enough. This has encouraged me to rethink the benefits of blogging, and I am going to devote myself to it again.
I completely agree about the importance of a blog. I’m in a very related industry (modeling) and its always amazing to hear the success stories of people that have started to build an online presence, using sites like
Model Mayhem, Onemodelplace, and Models.com.
Are there any sites like these for photographers?
We live in a digital age these days, so to be successful you have to make it easy for people to find you online.
Great article! I agree, having a blog is a wonderful way to promote your photography. I’ve found that it also helps me to get me to try new things and then get some good feedback from my readers. In a way it helps me to improve my photography!
I personally think a blog can help any business in several different ways, and that obviously includes a photography business. Whether you use them as a stand alone site of their own or as an addition to an existing static site, they can be very useful. Thanks for the great information.
i can say useful info
I have recently moved from private photography for about 10 years into a small business, this was a helpful article in helping me decide if I should dedicate the time to a blog. my interest in it was simply for fun after reading this I can see the business benefits as well.
Thank you
Michael
Good idea about using a few pictures from a recent project. Blogging is great but it can be an issue with coming up with the content… This helps out a bit on that point. Thanks!
Thanks for this, I am just starting out as a photographer. This information is useful
Cheers
I’ve found your blog to be quite informative. As someone new to blogging, I’m visiting various websites to learn about more about blogging in general and how I can monetize my blog. I’ll have to bookmark your blog post so I can from time to time.
I’m an amateur photography who wants to one day possible go pro. This would be a great way for me to get feedback on my attempts plus possibly get some business. Thanks
Great post! Very informative and the writer is generous enough to share his ideas. This is a blog worth reading for and I’m sure I’ll keep coming back to check out on new posts because I’m sure I could get more ideas to improve my own blog about photography.
Blogs are all well and good but if you are not posting regularly with content that will hold the attention, and make your visitor wanting to come back, then is there any point?
So many photographers blog anything just for the sake of blogging.
Blogging that builds a loyal fan base isn’t easy and unless you can do it well and do it consistently, I wouldn’t bother.
Good debate though.
I totally agree! Since starting a blog my business has tripled. There’s just something about current and regular updates that keep customer much more engaged and interested in doing business with you, again and again.
Great post actually this information like massage for all photographers who is interested in blog. I like this >>:: A blog can be a huge supplement to your website and can offer more for the viewer than just viewing your portfolio online. Thanks for sharing.
I enjoyed a lot in reading your blog. Very interesting and informative. It would be helpful for all photographers who are willing to start a log like you. No only for blogging it is help full for getting ranked in search engines well. Thanx for your posting
thank for your post , i just created a personal blog
All very good points. I just need to blog more!
When you’re a keen photographer and you have the desire to spend your working life doing something you enjoy such as photography, it would be a shame if you didn’t pursue it further wouldn’t it? You really don’t have to join an institution or pay thousands of dollars to get started either. You simply need the passion to learn and persist. Most great photographers who rely on their trade to survive don’t even know they have these traits because they love what they do and they simply can’t stop.
The mark of a true professional is someone who is willing to share their knowledge to help others grow. I have never known a great photographer to be threatened by helping or including an amateur.
I really appreciate these advices. I am about thy start my own photo blog, so this was very useful! Thanks!
What do you think of posting a blog entry every day? Is that overkill?
Great post!. A comprehensive roundup of all the good sources I already knew of and few I didn’t. I am always looking for new ways to make my site more useful to my users. Thanks for your kind consideration to help us improve our service. Thanks a bunch.
only confusion – how do people find your blog without going to your website? is it going to rank higher than your website in the SERP’s? what do you think about using wordpress as not only a blogging platform, but a portfolio platform?
Good question Les. My new site (was not set up this way while this article was written) now is a WordPress template so that when someone is linked to my blog, it is going to my website. WP allows you to create pages so that my current website at http://www.aaronlindberg.com will go to the first page which is my portfolio, second page is my blog and third page has my contact into so when someone clicks to go in my direction, all of the traffic is going to aaronlindberg.com and not separated websites like I use to have it set up.
Hope this info helps people get a better understanding of how you can set up a site with WP.
Howdy,
Great post! Very insightful as I have just started my blog as well. I’m actually an avid writer so blogging is a good way for my to do just that, write!
I haven’t had my blog for a week and already do amount of readers and followers is quite exciting to see!
Personally, I don’t just post new work and leave it with no commentary (as I’ve seen other photogs do) I don’t understand this. Isn’t that why you have a website? To just post images and leave them there?
For my blog, I have uploaded my recent shoots and made comments on HOW I lit my images. Of course this wouldn’t really be beneficial to clients (I don’t think) as it would be to OTHER aspiring photographers, but as stated the response has been very well, so I will continue doing this and see where it goes.
S
If you’re passionate about photography and want to pursue this versatile career, it’s important that you take the time to learn from experienced professionals that can guide you in your efforts to pursue professional photography, motion picture and video photography, visual journalism, and thinks like visual communications. What’s great about attending photography schools nationwide is that you dont’ have to begin an expert, you begin a beginner! Many of you are pursuing this field because you have a natural eye for photography, and that’s great – but maybe you’re just developing one. That’s great too! What you probably didn’t know is that photography school will teach you much more than simply how to snap a few brief pictures and dip em in developer. They teach you the scientific processes of film, chemistry, optics, color theory, lighting rations, and digital and computer skills.
A blog is very important to share with the whorl you thoughts, your work and also it is a free way to get feedback! It’s very useful to have a blog so you can say to the world “hey! I am here”. It’s not hard to set up and run a blog, but take into consideration that an updated blog with new ideas and content will be the key to be visible to the world’s eyes.
I will be soon converting my HTML website to a WP theme.
Thanks for sharing, good info..
Another point is that if you are going to get a new url for your blog, get one where your prime keywords are in the name. in my case, Dallas-photographerdotcom was taken, but i was able to get dallas-photographer.us – which has the same weight with google.
Thanks for the article. I’m starting my photography as a business now but not sure what to write about… this is definitely a great start.
thanks!
Great article. We have been working with others in our area and I will forward this along. It is a nice general overview.
thanks for the advices … I have just started my blog and ‘ll use everything you wrote