From blog to awesome blog
A couple of weeks ago, we did a guide on how to set up your own photo blog (and, of course, how to make Google love your photography site from a few months back). What struck me, however, is that while having a photo blog is a good start – what should you do to take it from a merely funky collection of photos to a fantastic, highly successful blog?
I decided to have a chat to my friend John Cassimatis, who runs a very popular, very successful, and a near-award-winning blog over at johncassimatis.com…
On getting into photography
John has had an interest in photography ever since he was a kid. Like so many of us, his passion was ignited by being given a camera for Christmas. Dabbling off and on, he became more serious about photography when he was at university, and started using a Canon EOS 500, following a photo journalism course. Of course, this degenerated into doing darkroom work, and he has been hooked ever since.
“Every day, I’m looking at photography sites from around the world”, says John, explaining where he gets inspiration to delve deeper into the murky world of photography. “My most recent discovery was christophbangert.com, and I have a lot of respect for this type of photography, and the impact it can have. I’m also inspired by photographers like James Nachtwey”, he says – and encourages everyone to have a look at his talk at the TED’s Prize Wish.
Other cool projects John and I have a common love for is Just what I see – wicked photos taken with a very limited medium; a photoblog taken entirely with the Apple iPhone. And a bit of Photoshop, of course.
On photo blogging
John originally started off using the Serendipity blogging photography software, but ended up having a change of heart. “I switched to Wordpress, because it’s more widely supported, and it’s available as a one-click install ISP”
“I originally set up my photo blog as a way to be proactive with my photographs and show my family what I was doing.”, John explains. “I was taking hundreds of photos and leaving them on my hard drive”. Which, to be honest, is not a particularly useful thing to do with your photos. Interestingly, it turned out that more people than just his family started paying attention “I’ve been receiving more and more comments lately and I really enjoy that people are returning to look at my images”. The first tastes of internet success aren’t enough yet though, grins John, and lets the cat out of the bag; “I’d like to hold a real exhibition in the future but I think I’d be too indecisive of which images to include.”
As with anything, turns out that blogging is a very gradual process: “I’m still learning”, John admits “I need to be more disciplined with my posts, but I’m very particular in what I show. I’ve prepared countless images for upload, only to change my mind in the last minute.”
On equipment and processing
Seeing some of John’s photos, you’d think he uses full-on professional equipment – but not-at-all: “I have a variety of cameras that I like to use. My primary camera is a Nikon D70, but I always have my Holga 120 with me. I have a few lenses for my Nikon, a 50mm 1.4, the standard 18-70 3.5, and a 80-300 zoom lens. Recently I’ve been using a Mamiya 645j with a 80mm prime lens, as I’m trying to get back into film. I have a small tripod I use and multiple memory cards and batteries.”
Of course, taking the photos is only part of the story… “Everything I shoot with the Nikon I shoot in RAW format, and edit it using the Nikon software and Photoshop. I try to stay true to what was shot as much as possible, only adjusting the colours and sharpness etc. With the film cameras, I scan the negatives and only resize them. I try to have them as close as possible to how I shot them in the first place.”
Tips for future photo bloggers
So John – any top tips?
“Make it for yourself, create something that you like and don’t worry about what others think. The focus should always be on the work. I created a very minimalist-looking site so the focus would remain on the photographs.”
Great advice – the only thing I’d add – plug ‘photo blog’ into Google and get some inspiration; and of course, check out John’s photo blog, to see how it can be done!
All photos in this post are © John Cassimatis
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
I find a lot of his reasons behind the blog are the same for mine. I just wanted to have a central location to display everything, no matter who was interested. :)
i really admire your ethics behind your work! its nice to see people creating art simply for the basis of art!
not for commercial or personal gain….just art!
your work is awesome and i love the fact you dont heavily photoshop all your images, i feel there is no need to spoil something which is beautiful in the first place…shows you have real talent :)
You have a habit of posting right when I need you to. my photoblog is up and running, and now I’m just trying to build a base of viewers. I’ll be sure to take a look at this guy, and if nothing else his photos are inspirational.
Another thing I’ve found is that if you start it with your friend, it gives you twice the output, and lets you keep a better schedule because you can fill in for each other when you’re busy. Just my two cents.
-alittlenegative.wordpress.com
Today I discovered your great blog (came by accident/good luck from google :)
You share plenty of tips useful for the new but also useful to experienced photographers so thank you so much for making this great site.
BTW: if you want to see my photoblog (blogspot) feel free to click on my name. :)
Greetings from Argentina,
Javier
Great post! I’ll subscribe right now wth my feedreader software!
Thank you for sharing your insight.
Share your wisdom