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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
How photogs do their websites
Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 12:25 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> Scanning different photographer's websites looking at the weekend action, and several things come to mind. Perhaps I have something to learn, but why is it captions and blogs are written in the first-person, and then the bio is written in the third person?!?! What am I missing? Why do so many photogs do that?
Also, when I see PBase, or Flickr, or other public web gallery provider serving as a photographers main website, I hear "AMATEUR!" Dedicated web domains and websites are so inexpensive these days it just makes me wonder how serious these people are about their business.
Am I the only one with these reactions? May be, seeing as how so many people do this stuff. |
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Osamu Chiba, Photographer
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 1:23 PM on 11.04.08 |
| ->> That was hilarious! |
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Mike Janes, Photographer
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Attica | NY | USA | Posted: 1:27 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> I've seen bio's written both ways, and it's usually pretty easy to tell when a photog writes there own using third person. My guess is it's perceived as "professional" to have it written about you instead of by you. However, a blog is meant to be more personal and direct connection with those viewing your site. This is how we used to do it back in the good ol' day working in music with bands & labels. All the bios were third person, usually written by someone else, while the blogs/announcements were direct from the band/label to show a more personal feel (even if it wasn't the band actually writing it).
As for the sites, two level theory. First you have too many people picking up a camera, feeling the power of capturing an image come over them and thus becoming a pro photographer. But alas, with that power they don't realize what a good site can actually do for you or how important it is. The power of taking the image didn’t come with any business sense, so they just jump right in. I probably roll my eyes every time I hit a photogs link and am sent to myspace, flickr, etc. because it’s just a total lack of trying. It takes ten minutes to set up a main page saying “Site coming soon, until then please visit my (insert free service) page”. After that building a site is easy with templates available through most services.
So all in all, you’re not the only one thinking this stuff Phil.
Osamu - great link, never seen that one before! |
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 1:40 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> "Also, when I see PBase, or Flickr, or other public web gallery provider serving as a photographers main website, I hear "AMATEUR!" Dedicated web domains and websites are so inexpensive these days it just makes me wonder how serious these people are about their business."
I've never seen a PROFESSIONAL photographer use PBase or Flickr for their website. ;-) |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 3:46 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> Mike said: "After that building a site is easy with templates available through most services."--- And free when you do it with Lightroom. These days there's no excuse not to have a dedicated website.
Strange, someone will spend in some cases several thousand dollars in equipment and then won't spring for $10 a month in web hosting fees. Go figure. |
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Luke Trottier, Photographer
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Bath | ME | US | Posted: 4:43 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> Here is my 2c..
Why does every photographer feel they need a blog on their website. Nobody cares what you did last weekend. NOBODY.
Thank you,
-Luke |
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Stew Milne, Photographer
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Providence | RI | USA | Posted: 5:00 PM on 11.04.08 |
| ->> Luke, AMEN! |
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Lane Hickenbottom, Photographer
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Grand Island | NE | usa | Posted: 5:03 PM on 11.04.08 |
| ->> My mom cares. |
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Stew Milne, Photographer
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Providence | RI | USA | Posted: 5:06 PM on 11.04.08 |
| ->> Yes, read that and laughed. And fully agree. I personally don't have time to waste reading blogs, let alone making one. |
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Thomas Boydston, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Conroe | Tx | United States | Posted: 5:11 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> Maybe I'm the crazy one, but historically artist profiles are written in the third person. Ideally another person would write them, perhaps a gallery employee, for a particular exhibition etc. So this to me seems to be a hangover from that.
Keepin' it old school! |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 5:27 PM on 11.04.08 |
| ->> I have never understood the 3rd person as well. It's almost as funny as when an athlete refers to himself in 3rd person while doing an interview. |
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 5:32 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> If you're happy with the work you're getting, then there's no need to waste your time on a blog. However, if you're looking to increase your exposure, its a simple (and cheap/free) way to move up the ranks in searches. It's some of the cheapest advertising you can get.
As the article points out, search engines do care about what you did last weekend, *IF* it relates to photography, your location, etc. as those are key words that people use to search.
My rankings improved dramatically after I started my blogs and connecting my websites (I have about 8 links to my work on the first 3 pages of Google, depending on what you search for). And I don't spend much time with my blogs...a few hours a month.
BTW, I don't write in 3rd person on my blogs or on my website...it seems odd to me. |
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Stew Milne, Photographer
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Providence | RI | USA | Posted: 5:43 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> Well Stew wants to know from Landon if he as seen an increase in sales/work due to his blog.
Stew doesn't have problems with exposure, and his websites are at the top of any searches regarding his name.
Stew thinks, not even his Mom would read his blog, if he had one.
Stew does believe that he may start a photo blog as it relates to his gymnastics photography. It's one of his niches in the business and he is often complimented by people he doesn't know when covering big gym meets on his photos by complete strangers. The strangers read his credential and say "Hey you take great gymnastics photos Stew." |
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Robert Scheer, Photographer
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Indianapolis | IN | USA | Posted: 6:07 PM on 11.04.08 |
| ->> I do mine using Iweb, and do a first person bio. It's not beautiful, but it's clean and easy to navigate, so no worries. I'm not blogging now, but have in the past. Who cares? My friends and family, that's who. |
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John Scarpa, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Bedminster | NJ | United States | Posted: 6:18 PM on 11.04.08 |
| ->> I have mine through zenfolio.com. It works for my clients and me, so I am happy. |
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Codie McLachlan, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Edmonton | AB | Canada | Posted: 7:57 PM on 11.04.08 |
| ->> That's funny... often when I go to a photographer's website and am impressed by what I see, I'll go check out the blog section for giggles. I think it's interesting... sometimes. |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 10:00 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> One more time to post a link to my iWeb designed web site:
http://www.walterpcalahan.com/Cheers/Home.html
I let Aristotle do my talking. HA!
I know, I know I haven't updated my blog in a while. |
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Keith Mokris, Student/Intern
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St. Louis | MO | USA | Posted: 11:10 PM on 11.04.08 |
->> One thing I will say, there are an amazing amount of full-time professionals who utilize outlets like Flickr.
I am certainly NOT saying its their sole website, but it IS one way to build relationships, foster hits, and gain notice.
I'm not talking about "this is what I did last weekend" but more of a source for professional discussion and interaction. Just something to think about. |
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Jared Dort, Photographer
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Yuma | AZ | usa | Posted: 12:28 AM on 11.05.08 |
| ->> Jared Dort does his in first person. |
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Daniel Putz, Photographer
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Jefferson | MD | USA | Posted: 12:32 AM on 11.05.08 |
->> More the the frivolity of blogging:
I don't even care what I did last weekend. Why would anyone else? This is the question everyone considering blogging should answer. Pleaassseee. |
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Steven Ickes, Photographer
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Mechanicsburg | PA | USA | Posted: 11:23 AM on 11.05.08 |
->> First of all I have to agree that with the proliferation and affordability of DSLR's it's simply too easy for anyone to start selling images and call themselves professionals. No "professional" photographer I know would ever think about using SmugMug, Kodak Gallery, Flickr, etc. to sell images to clients. However, depending upon their specific market it may just not matter. Many of the so-called professional youth sports shooters in my area use one of the aforementioned web sites and I just don't think parents care or even notice. I cannot even tell you how many of those photographers reference their SmugMug accounts as their homepage. I do think though that your credibility would be seriously questioned if you were working in the higher end commercial or editorial markets.
I'm not a professional web designer but know enough HTML to have been able to put together a clean, simple and easy to navigate web site. I just think that it's further proof how fragmented and watered-down this industry is becoming.
I was always of the belief that as with all industries that undergo radical transformations, ours would eventually shake out. However, I'm now concerned that dropping price points and ease of use will just keep filling the system with newcomers as other lose interest and drop out. |
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 11:35 AM on 11.05.08 |
->> "Well Stew wants to know from Landon if he as seen an increase in sales/work due to his blog."
I am mainly a portrait/wedding guy (mainly HS seniors/family portraits) and I estimate that 90%+ of my clients find me via the web. My business has increased dramatically over the last 2 years that I've been using my blogs and websites to increase my online presence/exposure and to improve my rankings.
"Stew doesn't have problems with exposure..."
As I stated above, if you're happy with the clients/business/work you're getting, then blogging may not be worth it for you (although I would argue that blogging takes a minimal amount of time and, therefore, it's hardly worth it to NOT have a blog).
"and his websites are at the top of any searches regarding his name."
You missed the entire point of the article I linked to. If people search for your name, they already know of you. You're only helping those that already know you find your site. I searched for "Providence Rhode Photographer" and didn't see your site on the first 10 pages of Google (I may have missed it, but I don't think its there). The point of getting your site high up in the results is so that people that DON'T know your name can find you.
The increase in demand for my services has allowed me to raise my prices, allowing me to work the same or even less to make even more money.
Is this all because of my blogs? Probably not. However, I do know that my business is better off because of my blogs.
You can look at my blogs and you'll see that I don't update very often (b/c you're right, most people don't care what I did last weekend). But when I do blog, I carefully choose the words I use so that those words are associated with my blogs/websites. That's the key to making key words improve your rankings. |
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 11:40 AM on 11.05.08 |
| ->> make that "Providence Rhode Island Photographer" |
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Richard Uhlhorn, Photographer
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Luke Trottier, Photographer
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Bath | ME | US | Posted: 4:02 PM on 11.05.08 |
->> Richard, really successful photographers might have something worth blogging about. The rest, probably not....
-Luke |
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Kai-Huei Yau, Photographer
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Kennewick | WA | USA | Posted: 5:21 PM on 11.05.08 |
->> I love pointless discussions arguing about how pointless something is.
Do a blog, or don't. Who cares. I keep a personal blog for family and friends to see what I'm up to and started one at my paper as another creative outlet - http://www.tri-cityherald.com/behindthefold
Neither gets much traffic, unlike http://flyingwithfish.blogspot.com/ (which is long overdue for a plug on this site), but I don't care. |
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Stew Milne, Photographer
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Providence | RI | USA | Posted: 5:31 PM on 11.05.08 |
->> Landon >> "The point of getting your site high up in the results is so that people that DON'T know your name can find you."
Point well taken. However, the second google search listing for "Rhode Island Photographer" brings up a photographer directory, where I AM listed.
Richard, I agree. There are a few interesting/educational blogs out there, yet I still don't visit them. I've actually spent way too much time on this thread talking about them anyway.
Lucky for me, SS.com has been a good marketing tool. I've actually had several clients find me through this website. Thank you sportsshooter.com . I think if your clients are the general public I could see how a blog could get you better rankings on search engines, and lead more clients to your websites. However, if your clients are magazines, newspapers, wire services, etc, I think not so much. I've never had one of these clients say "I found you via google search."
I've seen many photogs who've become "famous" because of their blogs, not b/c they are good. But this is not new to any industry, as being a good plumber or good photographer doesn't mean you'll have tons of high paying clients. Adverting and marketing of the product are key. Blogs can allow photographers to make themselves look important, like what they have to say is important and needs to be on a blog. Which isn't a blog just a website anyway, just more lengthy, and wordy. Yes, it stemmed from web log.
Just to finish, Stew would like to say he's forgotten what he was going to say. He may think of it later and get back to you. However, I don't think he will.
-sM |
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 8:34 AM on 11.06.08 |
->> "Point well taken. However, the second google search listing for "Rhode Island Photographer" brings up a photographer directory, where I AM listed."
So they're taken to another site that lists you among all your competitors.... |
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Colin Lenton, Photographer, Assistant
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Philadelphia | PA | United States | Posted: 8:47 AM on 11.06.08 |
->> wow... a lot of blog hate.
I have to wonder if this negative response to something "newish" isn't similar to Newspaper's original response to the "internet"
I personally have to wonder why so many photographers feel the need to post in forums. Nobody cares what you think. NOBODY ;-) |
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Dave Doonan, Photographer
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Kingston | TN | USA | Posted: 9:35 AM on 11.06.08 |
->> "really successful photographers might have something worth blogging about. The rest, probably not....
How does one measure success?
Is one's success failure to another?
some things to ponder.
PS I have a blog, I use it to share insights to what I do.
I think I am successful.
maybe not Sports Illustrated successful. But I am happy.
Is THAT success?? |
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Stew Milne, Photographer
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Providence | RI | USA | Posted: 10:32 AM on 11.06.08 |
->> My dislike for blogs has absolutely nothing to do with the "new" factor of them. I don't think a blog is new anyway. It's just another website, really. I compare blogging to when flash websites first came out. Everyone jumped on the bandwagon to have the latest flash enhanced website. I found most of those to be incredibly annoying too. I bet you can all remember visiting someone's site that had every animated gif or fancy flash stuff. It drove me away from
many a site.
Landon, yes, that RI photog site does list my competitors, but so does the yellow pages. And yes it would be great if my website was on the first page of google search. I'll see what I can do about that. I'm not arguing that blogs are useful tools, I just think there are way too many of them out there, just like there are we to many people calling themselves professional photographers. The internet provides some amazing tools to help grow a business.
I haven't ruled out having a blog, but it won't be for my own EGO that I have one. It would be for the marketing aspect.
And to answer Phil's original question; it's already been mentioned, b/c originally artists bios were written be another person. I do find it odd though now when I see that on photog's website. I'd bet 90% of the time, the photographer wrote it about himself.
And true, if you want to be considered "professional" get yourself a domain name.
Dave, very true, what is SUCCESS?
I don't think you need to be a success, to have a successful blog. If the point of the blog is to educate, and you do just that AND people are visiting you blog, then it's successful. If people don't visit, it's not a success. With all the blogs out there, how do people find the good from the bad in all the clutter. It's much like the WWW in general, for the 1% of good stuff, there's 99% crap. |
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