Creating your own photography blog
This article discusses the what’s, how’s and why’s of running a photography blog.
You’re a photographer, you’ve got a camera – probably one of those flashy SLR jobbies – and you have a harem of groupies who follow you wherever you go, and you make a quarter of a million quid out of a moderately sized photo shoot. Yeah, baby, that’s what it feels like when you’re a shit-hot ‘tog. Or so I’ve been led to believe.
In reality – and especially now that digital SLRs have become relatively affordable – the vast bulk of people reading this blog will be amateur photographers. Really good amateurs – hell, fanatic amateurs, even.
The most fun thing about being an amateur is that when you learn something, you get massive results – if you imagine ‘photography skills’ to be a scale from 1 to 1000, where 1 is a tadpole in your fishpond without much photographic skills to speak of, and 1,000 is, well, the photographer mentioned above, it will take you a few years to get from 1 to 500, and it’ll take you a lifetime of dedication, practice and study to make it from 500 to 750. The last few hundred? Well, never mind.
The point is that you need to keep yourself busy in a constant learning loop: Reminding yourself what you are good at, and what you’re not, will increase the quality of your work across the board. I find that the best way to do that is to start a photography blog. It acts as a visual notepad which happens to be visible to others.
Setting up the blog
Photocritic runs on Wordpress, which I cannot recommend highly enough. It’s easy to use, easy to customise, doesn’t cost a penny, and can be made to look quite good.
Wordpress comes in two particular flavours – over on Wordpress.com, everything is taken care of for you: You create an account (for free!), and can start blogging right away. The downside of the dot-com version is that there are limits to how much you can customise your blog. The upside is that you need next to no technical skill, everything is very well documented, and if you can use the Internet, you can use Wordpress.com
The other flavour of Wordpress is just-the-software, which lives on Wordpress.org. This one is a little bit more complicated to install (I can set up a wordpress installation in about 20 seconds now, by SSH’ing into my slicehost server, wgetting the installation package, and setting up a database – but if none of that means anything to you, don’t worry, it sounds more complicated than it is).
The key difference with the .org version is that you need to download it and install it onto your web server. It gives you a lot more choices, and you can hack the code to suit your needs, if you know a little bit of PHP.
If you don’t have a web server, you can either choose a shared server (cheap – I have great experiences with Dataflame), a virtual server (cheaper, but more complex. slicehost is the platinum standard here), or a dedicated server (expensive, more complex, but much more powerful – Photocritic was hosted on Layered Tech for years, warmly recommended)
Whichever version of Wordpress you use, the community around this particular blogging platform is iron-clad, which means that a) most questions you come across have already been answered, so a quick Google search should sort you out, and b) if you have a question that has never been asked before, someone will answer it for you very quickly.
Finally, there are lots of free blogging solutions out there – Wordpress is my favourite, but Livejournal is pretty good, Google’s Blogger is pretty nifty, and there are scores of others – shop around if you aren’t quite convinced! If you’re only going to post images anyway, why not use Flickr?
Set up two blogs!
So, you’ve chosen which blog you’re going to use. Now, if you don’t have a website already, I would strongly recommend setting up two blogs right from the start – one for every blog entry you do, and one for photos you are particularly proud of.
The latter can act as your portfolio, and if you’re clever about how you categorise your photos (Just like on Photocritic: if you click ‘lens mods‘ in the sidebar, you get all the articles I’ve written about lens modifications. You could create categories such as ‘portraiture’, ‘nude’, ‘architectural’ and ‘concerts’), it can turn out pretty well.
The former is your notepad – where you write down all the ideas you have, photo shoots you did, and things you learned from them. Photos you like and why, photos you would love to have gotten right, but why they went wrong, etc.
Your portfolio is great to pass to people you want to impress. Your portfolio? You can either decide to keep it to yourself (in wordpress, you can hide all posts from non-logged-in users, and then just don’t give away any log-ins) just like a real note-book, or you might decide to open it up so others can benefit from your learnings, too.
If you’re worried about prospective clients seeing your work-in-progress or emo musings about ‘the rain’s so cold, I’m so sad, and I can’t figure out how to work my fucking flashgun’, then just do it under a pseudonym – that way, they can’t find you in Google, but you still get the benefits of helping others along who are stuck on the same things as you.
You don’t have to be a writer
I know I wank on about things at great length about all and sundry in this particular blog, but that’s because I’m fond of writing. I’m fond of photography, too, of course, but that’s not the point – the point is that even if you don’t write a single word, you can still create a photography blog that is useful to yourself.
Whenever you do a day’s shooting, post your 3 favourite, and your 3 least favourite photos from the shoot to your blog – I used to do this, and it was great on my ego seeing how my ‘least favourite’ photos today are better than my ‘zomg this is amazing’ photos from a few years ago…
Good luck!
Right, I think those were all the learnings I had to impart for now. I would love for you to tell me if you set up a photography blog, though – post a comment below with a link to your blog so I can have a look? Thanks!
The photos in this blog are from a photo shoot I did with the Bristol-based band Kortez last year
My day job, if it can be called that, is being a writer. I've got one book out there so far and it's awesome, so go ahead and buy a copy! It's available from 
In front of you, five hyperactive men with guitars, drums, and microphones. Behind you, five thousand fans. In your hands, a camera... You're going to need more than just a little bit of good luck to pull this one off. That's where this book comes in.
Take a Canon EOS 450D. Attach a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens. Hit the streets of London. See what happens.
Insights, suggestions and comments
It’s really funny / awesome that you posted this today because I just setup my blog about a week ago and I’ve been wondering/worrying over the direction in which I want it to go.
I did, however, combine your idea of “two blogs” what with posting my photo entries and regular posts in the same place.
This is the exact reason I started my blog. Really, it was a multitude of reasons;
I had just moved towns and was finding myself very uninspired.
My photography career was either on hold or in transition (you decide).
I’ve read in several publishings that teaching a craft/skill/hobby can actually make you better because of research/practice/accountability.
The best part? I’ve changed my photography career focus and have gotten in touch with a myraid of people to help me along the way.
Damien Franco
Great Article!
I started a photography blog a couple of months ago. I’ve put stuff on there to help other people learn but I hadn’t thought of putting up what I’M learning at the moment. Very good idea. Thanks!
Grazer.
lovely and nice
Thank for share
Thanks for good content
I just uploaded WordPress 2.6 to my other domain which had been sitting idle. However, it would be great if you had some suggestions for blog themes or templates especially for photography. I’m having difficulty finding some that I like. Perhaps you could address this in a future post? Thanks!
Thanks for that good article.
I created my photoblog to force myself to shoot more often and (hopefully) get better by what I’m doing.
I also would recommend Pixelpost – it does its job very well, even if you want to write a few words.
Cheers
Thomas
I have always been concerned about putting myself up there on the web do to the frequency with which clients google you. I never considered using a pseudonym, good thought.
Just found this site a few weeks ago and have been perusing through the articles little by little. Really super stuff here. In regards to a photography blog, I started one a month or two ago and have been updating it a bit with some photos I particularly like and mentioning some of the things I learned on that particular day of shooting. Its a bit funny to see that I’ve already “re-learned” a few of the same lessons :( Anyhow, I use Blogger and find that it is rather flexible and allows you to use your own domain name without hosting fees.
Hey – great article as always. Like you I love to write; and love to shoot at things with my picture catcher. I have a photo/writing blog which kind of acts like a portfolio and my personal growth-ometer. But lately I feel like I am stagnating. Stuck. Not moving forward.
Please have a look at http://www.capetownbites.blogspot.com when you have time: Some constructive ariticism will be hugely helpful.
Many thanks
I agree, Wordpress is a fantastic platform to discuss and show off your photography. It’s a great way to discuss a location where I took pictures, what worked well and what I would like to avoid the next time. I usually add several “highlight” pictures to the post and then link to the full photo gallery which I make in Jalbum. It’s every easy and take very little “web skills” to make it work.
Wordpress. &heart;
Great post! I set up my photoblog just a little less than a month ago, also on Wordpress. I actually have three Wordpress blogs – one for photograpyh and other two for astronomy. I use NextGEN gallery to show my photos. I set up my photoblog with a static page where visitors can see a few galleries with my “best of” photos – and on my front page I can put all the photos I like and not include them in my galleries page :) Oh and I also have a Photocritic RSS feed in my sidebar ;)
Not quite as good as some of your other post seemed kinda half done. But helpful none the less, good tips.
After reading this article, I am rather inspired to start a photography blog. My website’s been sitting around gathering dust for the last couple of months. A blog might just kick-start it. Especially if I could gather a following of commenters. It’s gathering a following of reviewers, commenters and subscribers which seems to be the most difficult part. For me, the more the merrier, and the more committed I’d be in keeping up a blog.
Hey I just did this a week ago – set up a blog where I have what I think are my best photos. I just started though, so have a lot to learn. Tried wordpress.org but they didn’t have any templates I liked. Blogger templates I have lots of experience with so I set it up there.
I have run a blog for about 5 years or so and being able to display your photography in a blog format has so many benefits and it is not hard for even the most novice of computer users. Just start one, worry about the details of making it better as you go, don’t try to make it perfect from the start.
great article I have just recently set up my blog in anticipation of my website which is under contract through live books Id love to hear your thoughts ideas
Earlier this year I set up my first photoblog for a 52 week project. I’ve really enjoyed it and it has broadened my skills and found some new found friends and other photographers which was a very nice bonus. Your article suggesting two blogs has got me thinking though. :-)
I liked the Wordpress.com version as I was able to set up my blog in less than an hour and tweak it enough for my tastes.
Scott
http://stphoto.wordpress.com/
I like the article… I guess I will try the “3 favourite, and your 3 least favourite photos”
thanks
Hello,
I’ve been following your blog for some time, a couple of years at least. I enjoy reading your texts and I’ve learned alot (or so I tell myself… :-) by doing so.
Anyway, just set up my first photoblog, and it’d be fun to hear what you think! I’m going for a nische, scenery photos, but probably I’ll divert from this sooner or later.
Only a few photos online now, but I’m working on the site design also. Don’t mind the background color, it has to change.. lol
Thanks for a super blog and sharing so much insights about photography!!
Best regards,
P-C
http://www.sceneryphotostory.com
Great article! I really like your writing style. I have a blog, which I have had for some time, but I find that I don’t post nearly as often as I would like to. I’m always concerned that my photo isn’t good enough or that I don’t have the right things to say.
I think I’ve decided that I will take your advice and treat the blog as my personal “notebook” and if anyone else finds anything useful, that’s great.
I also have a flickr account, which I post to much more frequently. It’s very easy to post and I can link to my photos from my blog. One of these days, I’ll get it all together.
http://www.acreestudios.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bacr33
Hey, great post. I’d already started when I read this, but it’s a handy post and I like you’re writing style. The blog I’m working on is at:
http://www.test.erlandhowden.com
Wordpress all the way – any tips for a good theme for photoblogging that also has halfway decent text formatting? The theme I’m using now is nice & simple but there’s no code to speak of for nice-looking text/headings, etc…
there’s a few other routes for a photoblog which i prefer, especially if your photoblog is dedicated more to images, and few ramblings.
if you have your own webspace, check out http://www.pixelpost.org/ for a highly customizable blog app. visit my blog (shameless plug) to see why it’s more ideal for a photo blog.
if you don’t have your own webspace, head to http://www.aminus3.com/ and sign up for their blogging service, which is almost identical to pixelpost, but hosted by them.
there’s always a few great photoblog communities, starting with http://www.vfxy.com and http://www.photoblogs.org
I’ve just recently set up my own photoblog/portfolio blog on Wordpress. Lots of good tips here. Thanks. :)
http://www.digitalpharaoh.wordpress.com
I have been running a photoblog for nearly two years;
http://www.print-digital.info/photo-blogging/
The most fun you can have with your trousers on!
Very, very interesting article, my compliments!
BTW I have a photoblog (http://www.maxbelloni.com), which -incidentally- runs on Wordpress (.org). Of course it works flawlessy and the WP world is fantastic. What, IMHO, is a bit weak is the availability of themes for photoblogs running on WP. I based mine on the “middleware” support of YAPB, but the themes are few (and without YAPB even less).
On the contrary Pixelpost is much easier to manage and personalize in terms of presntation (theme).
What about to dig furherly about the specific use of WP with photoblogs, specific themes and plugins?
Regards
Useful and informative article for those newcomers to wordpress. Personally wordpress is the best thing i ever did for building a website, flexible, powerful and after a while down right easy.
Thank you so much for photocritic.org. I just recently found it and have been reading it like a novel I can’t put down. I have never blogged, but do enjoy writing and photography. I have spent the summer visiting sites or travel destinations surrounding the area of Denver, Colorado, that a person could drive to, enjoy, and return from in a day. With the economy/recession what it is, I hoped to find economical to free day trips people/families could take.
I have documented my travels with photographs and travel/map information and costs. I am not looking for financial gain, only to share the information and hope to continue on year around.
Could you suggest a “server” (if that is the right term) where my blog would be likely to be read by those who could find it useful? I know the readership would be limited, but I have many photographs from wildlife to sculpture parks that might encourage people to put new batteries in their P&S’s and take off for a day with literally a picnic lunch and less than half a tank of gas. I am not expecting you to do my internet “leg work” for me. I will be looking/googling Denver area travel websites. I was just hoping you might have a suggestion. Thank you so much and I will keep reading photocritic.org regardless.
Hey there Judy – I might like to suggest http://www.blogger.com or http://wordpress.com – both offer free blogging software, and you don’t have to worry too much about the technical sides of things.
Good luck with your blog!
I use Wordpress.s hosted blog and the back end administration is the best I’ve seen out there, staggeringly it’s free!
I have to say, blogging for me is hard at the moment as I’ve found I have got cought up trying to sort out WIP instead of getting outthere and clicking
I have a photoblog up at http://superflashphoto.blogspot.com … I have it embedded in my site (superflash.org) but not built right in…
I’m trying to find a better template for blogger though, because I don’t like how small my columns are, and I’m too lazy to figure out the html to customize it ;) Any advice?
Very useful and inspiring post. I’ve been uploading my images to Flickr for about a year now and love the community feeling to the website but I decided to publish a wordpress blog to post the story behind some of the images.
Can’t believe that it’s all free to set up. The next stage will to build up a decent online portfolio and maybe link to an retail site like Red Bubble.
Interesting post! I have recently picked up blogging again and have taken to including a “Photo of the Day” feature that showcases either a topical/recent photo I’ve taken, or a random one from my online portfolio.
I recently started a photo blog and it’s just as you describe it…a notepad for me to share my ideas and thoughts in learning photography. I don’t post too often but think I need to post more. I do feel sometimes like a tadpole like you mention. Check it out http://feekner.blogspot.com or my flickr name is feekner. Let me know what you think! have a good one!
i became interested in photography and i came upon your site in my search for knowledge. i took your advice and started a photography blog. would like you to take a look if you have time.
http://www.completelyphotos.com any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
You can not believe how long ive been searching for something like this. Scrolled through 7 pages of Yahoo results and couldnt find anything. One search on Bing. There was this…. Really have to start using it more often!
I just started my blog last month. Yours is one the blogs I’ve followed for some time now. Any feedback on my start would be appreciated.
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