photography business | Steinberg Photography

Sometimes, it takes a bit of guidance from another photographer to encourage young photographers to start a photo blog. Well, consider this your encouragement! Starting your first photo blog is daunting, of course, but don’t judge yourself too harshly. A photography blog can be an important tool in achieving your goals, whether it’s to get better behind the lens or to start making money with your photos. Here is our best advice on how you should start that blog to maximize your chances of success.

Know Why You’re Starting a Photo Blog

When you first start your photography blog, you’ll feel a rush of inspiration. But, at some point, that will fade. In the moments when you’re not feeling as inspired or dedicated, you need to know why you’ll push on. Also, when you make your decisions about what platform you host your blog through, you may need to know why you’re blogging.

Some reasons to start a photography blog are:

– Improve your skills, get more feedback

– Share your experiences and journey

– Help others improve

– Develop an audience

– Encourage sales

– Hone in on your style

Know Your Audience

When you get stuck on topics to write about or new photography techniques to explore, you should turn back to your audience. Who are you trying to connect with, and what might they want to read or look at? Possible audiences for your photo blog might include:

– Businesses that buy photography

– Regular people that buy photography

– Fellow photographers

– Those who enjoy travel photography, or whatever you specialize in

– School admissions people

Sort Out Your Website Options

There are lots of website hosting platforms, but photographers tend to gravitate towards two main options: WordPress and Photoblog. You should consider this carefully and do some research. But the basic factors are that Photoblog is simpler to set up and has more built-in tools to help you grow an audience. WordPress is harder to set up but is infinitely more customizable and gives you a custom domain name.

Connect Your Social Media

This is easier with Photoblog, but still entirely possible with WordPress. Start or connect social media accounts to your website. Link between the two and advertise your blog on your social media accounts. Blogging is becoming less prevalent these days, so you need social media to grow your audience.

Set Small, Achievable Goals

Don’t expect your photo blog to be a huge success from the moment you start—or even a year later. Blogging is a long-term strategy. It’s best to set a posting schedule for yourself that is regular, but not so demanding that you’ll suffer from burnout. That way, you’ll keep actively blogging.

Join Us to Up Your Photo Blogging Game

Now that you have a photo blog, you need to get out there and start taking more pictures to fill it! If you’re looking for a unique experience, where you can get professional photography guidance and have unusual subject, join us on a Workshop or Photo Tour!

There’s one destructive hobby that many photographers share: comparing the quality of their work or income to their peers. Have you ever mentally roughed yourself up because you were convinced you didn’t measure up to another photographer? Ever tell yourself that you’re not talented enough or creative enough to hack it?

You are not alone. In fact, you’re in a popular club with booming membership.

Peer comparison is an enticing trap to fall into because it may appear to be a positive habit at first. After all, learning from those more experienced than you and taking inspiration from great works is an important part of getting better at almost any profession. Comparing yourself to other photographers starts doing more harm than good as soon as it becomes excessive or you use it as an excuse to put yourself down.

At their worst, excessive comparisons will lead to intense frustration and drive you to the point of wanting to give up. Even if the problem never gets out of hand, it will at least take some of the passion and excitement out of photography.
Are you caught in the comparison game? Here are a few thoughts to keep in mind the next time you get the urge to fall into a self-doubt spiral.

Remind Yourself that Success Takes Time

It’s easy to look at a successful photographer and assume that they got where they are overnight. The reality is that, in many cases, someone has more skill only because they have been practicing their trade longer than you have. They may have slaved away countless hours trying and failing to perfect a signature style before they hit on the breakthrough that changed everything.

Accept that you need to build your business from the ground up. Don’t assume that others found a shortcut, and don’t think one is in waiting for you around the bend. Success will come with time, dedication, practice, and a little bit of luck.

Give Yourself Some Credit

If you feel yourself getting too drawn into someone else’s work, in a negative way, it may be time for you to stop and cherish some of your achievements. Look back at your work, not to criticize, but to remember the milestones you’ve passed and the progress you’ve made. This process can be rejuvenating, and it just might inspire you to set some new goals and milestones that keep you looking ahead to the future.

Be proud of what you’ve already accomplished, and think about where you plan to take your career. That’s always a better way to spend a day than getting sucked into the comparison game on social media.

Photography Workshops with Landscape Photographer Jim Steinberg

For aspiring and experienced photographers, nothing is more valuable than spending time with your peers to learn about and improve your craft. If you’re interested in joining fellow photographers for a workshop or guided photography tour with Jim Steinberg, visit our homepage or contact us today!

Tag Archives: photography business

How to Start Your First Photo Blog

Why Photographers Should Stay Away from the Comparison Game