There are a trillion and one reasons to become a photography blogger. Let me outline some of my personal reasons why become a photography blogger:
1. Control
For myself, control is essential. Control over what I create, control over what I distribute, control of importing/exporting my information, control of sharing my knowledge, and the control to NOT get censored.
I liken control and freedom as one. If you don’t got control, you don’t got freedom. And to me, freedom is happiness. A man who is a billionaire who has no control over their life is a miserable man. A person with far less money (who has 100% control over their life) is the happiest person.
2. Long-term success
For myself, I liken success as a longevity thing. The only way to measure success is to see how many years you can stay relevant and influential in the game.
I’ve been here for almost a decade now, so I think I know a thing or two.
Social media platforms come and go. In my short life I’ve already seen the rise (and fall) of MySpace, LiveJournal, Tumblr, Flickr, Digg, StumbleUpon and other platforms.
Now anyone who built their following or kingdom on these platforms got screwed over in the long term. This is why I’m suspicious of focusing your efforts on building up a following on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or Medium. These platforms may be around a decade or two from now — but why take that chance?
Isn’t it better to invest in yourself and your own platform, instead of becoming a digital sharecropper on some foreign soil?
3. Fun
I also think that photography blogging (especially on your own WordPress.org) platform is fun.
I don’t think you should ever blog you don’t want to.
This is a personal productivity tip:
To blog more, don’t set any “blogging goals”
The best way to be more productive is to have more fun!
4. What should I blog about?
A blog is nothing but a “web log”, which means that your blog is a public internet repository of your online (and offline) activities.
Blog about your food, your day, your travels, your photos; blog your life! Don’t worry whether it is “interesting” or “boring”; anything you do will be of interest to at least another 1 human being on planet earth!
Tip for blogging:
When in doubt, just publish it.
5. Better to blog more than less
Personally speaking, the more I blog, the more I publish, the more fun I have, the more productive I am, and the more confident I become!
Don’t blog about a specific genre. Allow yourself to share your multi-variegated thoughts on anything and everything which interests you! This is the secret to never running out of inspiration and motivation in your blogging.
6. You’re already blogging
If you upload photos to Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat, you’re already a photography blogger (plogger).
Better than being a digital share cropper, own your own blog and platform. I personally use 1and1.com and WordPress.org with the “Genesis theme” (paid). This has helped me gain complete control over my artistic production, and it is great; you can publish yourself (no gate keepers).
7. Never stop blogging
For myself the goal of photography and blogging is to remain productive until you die.
Don’t desire perfection or even “good”. Just keep creating and express your gratitude towards life!
ERIC