Bob was one of the first people to comment on the blog, and I have always found his opinion to be thought provoking, this one included.  While I can see his point, I tend to disagree with his feeling that photoblogs are dead, and here’s why

100% control

Running your own photoblog gives you complete control on how your work is presented.  Sure, it takes time away from being behind the camera, but I feel in the end that a big part of how your work in interpreted depends on its display, and you just don’t get that type of flexibility in Flickr (or anywhere else)

Flickr in general

I’ve had a Flickr account for ages now, and it has always been an awesome source of inspiration and has busted me out of many creative ruts, but there’s something about running your own photoblog.  Sort of like printing your own work, that gives you a feeling of creative control that you don’t get from Flickr.

Photoblogs 2.0

I hate when something is termed as 2.0, but I think that in the case of photoblogs, it really does apply.  The days of simply posting a daily image are gone.  People want more – tutorials, text, a story – it takes time, but in the end it’s worth it.

Online brand building

I’ve always felt that photoblogs much like regular blogs are nothing more than a means to an end.  You shouldn’t for a minute expect to make any money (directly) from your photoblog, but I truly believe that if you keep at it, you can build a personal brand which in the end may translate to dollars.

Anyone care to share any thoughts?

Thanks for the support in 2009 and here’s to a great 2010!

I’ve started the process with a single image in a few sizes, so the implementation of the idea is slightly limited right now, but I always preach about just doing something so it’s a start. 

 I made my decision on which image to use and sizes to offer based on data from Google Analytics.  I added the iPhone and Blackberry sizes just because I thought it would be cool.

 Suggestions and comments are always welcome!

Before I even have a chance to open up the site, I get another e-mail saying that she thinks that spammers have hacked her WP site! To make a long story short, in the end her WP install had been compromised and there was actually a hidden admin user in the system!

Have a look at the attachment it shows 4 administrator users, but there are only three users total – something doesn’t jive.  I cleaned out the bogus admin user and patched up the install to 2.8.4, and now everything seems OK.

If you are running your photoblog on an older version of Wordpress, patch it right now!

I know that it’s not perfect, and that it still won’t stop anyone from just using your images willy-nilly, but every little tool helps, and besides it’s super simple to add the required tags to your photoblog.  I’ve already implemented a super simple version on my photoblog.  Check it out, you may find it useful.

Resources:

RDFa

Creative Commons

Just make sure you don’t spam the folks who have actually decided to give you some info.  Use a service like MailChimp to help manage your list…

Give it a shot and let me know how it goes.

BOPB: What drew you into photography in the first place, and at what point in time did it become a more serious hobby?
Jasper: I always wanted to take pictures and create stuff. The whole analog shooting thing never got to me though. I bought my first digital cam for way to much money back in 2002, A 2-megapixel Sony DSC-S50, and started to experiment with it. Mostly long exposure stuff. I was too lazy to carry it around all the time, but I often saw shots I wanted to make. I took part in a small shooting competition on a Dutch tech forum and enjoyed the search for the best photo to enter with. I decided I wanted to really get into photography and started looking for ways to really push myself to keep shooting. The result was ‘the birth’ of my photoblog in 2004! I pushed myself to post one new photo every day. This way I had to go out and shoot! Pretty soon after that I got into the whole DSLR-thang and started spending way too much money on this hobby

What is the one piece of equipment that’s currently in your bag that you couldn’t live without?
That would have to be my Canon 5D. Although it is pretty boring without any lenses. I try to work with all my lenses, so I usually choose one I will work with that day, so I have no real liker. You can find a Sigma 15mm fisheye, Canon 17-40L, Tamron 28-75, Canon 50mm 1.8 and Canon 70-200L f/4 in my bag. Oh yeah, and a modified Holga lens with Canon mount.

What platform does your photoblog currently run on? Why did you choose it over the other options?
I never really researched for off the shelve photoblog software, so I forced myself into building it myself. My blog is built upon a custom CMS built by the company I work for, so I only (mostly) had to worry about the way my blog looks. Later I started expanding the software with Google Maps, Tagclouds, CoolIris support, RSS feeds, etc. My colleague Maarten over at Talkin.nl took over all development and really made the software to what it is today. Thank him for that!

If you were able to give one single piece of advice to another photographer who was considering setting up a photoblog of their own, what would it be?
Do it for yourself! I think that is the most important thing. Every once in a while I take some time and browse through my images and enjoy the whole documentation of my life there! I tend not to include people in my shots, but they are there when I shoot! This brings back good memories.

What do you think has been the biggest benefit associated with running your own photoblog?
The ability to test out new features is nice. Although you have to be a bit into coding and tweaking. I introduced my photomap some years ago after Google released their Maps API. Nowadays I don’t add much new functions, I just tweak the layout once in a while. I think this is my 6th of 7th makeover Oh yeah, I just redesigned my archive page.

While browsing your site for questions I noticed on one of your posts, that you have posted 1750 entries, if you have stuck to the “one a day” that’s roughly 5 years, first congratulations and second what would be your advice to other photographers who are struggling with “staying inspired”?
Yup, I started about 5 years ago, so I missed a few days unfortunately. I think my main advice is to not post what you think will work and score a lot of replies, but just post the images you like. As I said earlier, run the blog for yourself. I just celebrated my 5th birthday, which makes for 1840 photos already!

I really love the polariod style shots on your site, what was your inspiration behind creating those?
Thanks! Most of the shots are taking with the Polarize iPhone app. I don’t carry around my 5D where ever I go, but I do carry my phone around. The Polarize app processes the photo Polaroid style and puts the border around it. There are some amazing photo apps on the iPhone which I tend to use like Polarize and ColorTaste. You can also find a time lapse movie on my blog which was also done using an iPhone app. It is a very enjoyable app that me and my girlfriend use a lot when walking around somewhere

You seem to have a real passion for landscape photography, what was it that drew you into this type of photography?
I have no idea really. I think it is mainly because those are the photos I really liked to watch on forums and blogs. Maybe I was inspired by my dad who makes etchings of landscapes. Shooting a beautiful landscape in beautiful light appeals more to me than setting up lights to shoot a portrait series. I enjoy portraits in a way, but am to scared to approach people on the streets. I am pretty jealous of Jessyel at Dailysnap.com and Benoit Paille for their amazing portraits. My goal is to do portraits of strangers in the street. So keep checking my blog for that (and kick my ass if you don’t see any of them over the next couple of weeks ).

Would you mind telling us about two other photoblogs who you really enjoy and why?
Of course DDOI was a real inspiration for me as this is one of the longest running photoblogs around (I think) and one I have been following since I learned about those things called photoblogs. Nowadays his shots are less appealing somehow. I do follow Jessyel at Dailysnap.com and many other blogs through my RSS reader. I also follow a lot of wonderful artists on Flickr, which also show up in my reader. If there are two blogs I visit daily, it is my girlfriend’s and my dad’s. My dad started blogging about 6 months after I started. He was taking shots everyday and collecting them in a book. Publishing them online has been very enjoyable for both of us.

Since I talk about monetizing your photoblog I need to ask the Blurb book you have self published.  How successful has it been?
Well, not very much I sold one copy, which was bought by my father. I still haven’t ordered it myself The problem with trying to make money of your blog is that your group of visitors is simply too small. I think many amateur bloggers do shoot work that has commercial value and I do have some ideas on helping these people sell the images. I can’t tell much about it, but I will definitely keep you posted!

(ED: Don’t let Jasper’s experience be a deterrent. I still feel that self-publishing is going to become even more important in the not-so-distant future!)

Would you recommend self-publishing a photo book as a way to help with offline promotion?
I don’t think so. I think if you want to succeed as a photographer, so have to do a lot more than that. Getting featured in the local paper, try to get a little exhibition in the local coffee joint, etc. etc. If you see how many photobooks are already being promoted in bookshops, it would be hard to get yours noticed.

(ED: I love the local coffee shop idea, if you’ve had any experience with this type of promotion why not let us know how it went)

What have you found to be the most effective method of attracting new visitors to your photoblog?
When I first started blogging, I tend to reply a lot on other blogs just to get people to visit mine. For the last three or so years I simply do not have the time to do that. If a shot is really special I tend to comment though Sites like VFXY do help to promote your blog.

How do you see photoblogs evolving over the next few years?
Pfew, that is a good one. I haven’t thought about that one yet. I do think that running your own blog has its advantages, so I think people will continue to blog on their own sites.

Finally, where do you see your photoblog in the next 3-5 years?
I hope it is still running 10 years of photoblogging would be very special, wouldn’t it? On the short term, I hope to post more portraits as mentioned earlier. But on the long run I simply want to keep it running and keep posting everyday

Submitting work to a gallery

Getting your work into a gallery is always the hardest when you are doing it for the first time.  Many galleries do not take unsolicited applications, thus you must choose where you send your work wisely.
You will want to find a gallery that is more focused on representing emerging artists or Artist Run Centers as they are more likely to a) have a “Call to Artists” currently open b) willing to look at unsolicited applications.
There are two types of gallery Call to Artists.  The first, is for a gallery’s exhibit roster (both group and solo) – they will be looking for work that will fit in a specific curatorial theme or interested in exhibiting work of artists who have a body of work that falls within a specific curatorial theme and can stand alone.  This may or may not include you permanently in their artist roster but it will get your work promoted if only on a temporary basis.  The second is for a permanent artist roster position which may or may not dictate your participation in an exhibit.   The best bet is always to start with Call to Artists as the intention to look at applications are clearly stated.  Most cities have art community publications that have a specific section for Call to Artists.

When applying here are a few tips to make your portfolio as clear and sellable to a gallery.  Most galleries have a guideline but if not here is a good standard format

1. Do not just send them your website, pick a selection of work (usually between 10-15) that is consistent with each other.  If you have more than one series of work (i.e. landscapes, portraits, still life paintings etc), stick with the one or two you most likely wish to show and clearly split them up (your artist statement should relate to both).  Do not select really old work, as this may lead the gallery to believe that you are either not producing new work or the new work your producing isn’t as good as your older work. Artists who do not continually produce new work and work that develops over time are risky as there sales will become stagnant because their work becomes stagnant.
2. Write a good artist statement.  If you don’t’ have an artist CV this is going to be the most important way to market your work to a gallery outside of your photos and it helps explain your intention with the work and where you would like it to go.
3. Clearly label your work, if its electronic or slide, make sure that it is easy for the reviewer to understand what they are seeing.  Title, Medium (if its mixed media list all mediums used), size, number in edition (if it’s photography or print), and (if asked for) sale price.  If your work has texture or details that do not come across in the photo include a ‘detail shot’ or better explain the make up of the work.
4. Artist CV – if you have professional artist exhibition experience make sure to include your CV.

A good bet for most young artists is to include themselves in applications for outdoor art shows and email galleries to come see your booth or if outdoor shows or ‘artist fairs’ aren’t your bag – apply to show in a rental gallery where it will cost you to rent it but again invite galleries to see the exhibit.  If you have access to a non-gallery space such as a studio – have a show there instead.

As a gallery director  I look for three major things when deciding if they can sell your work and would wish to represent it

1. Is the quality of work there (i.e. is there clear intent, is the artist developed technically, is it artistically comparable to other artists I represent)
2. Is the work consistent, does the artist have the potential to develop the work further.
3. Do I have the clients for this work (that you really can’t answer but you can get a sense by looking at the other artists a gallery has).

Lastly, develop a very thick skin – most galleries just won’t reply but be prepared to be turned down many times and if you can take it, ask for feedback – sometimes it will be harsh but if you can handle it, it will help you get better.

Cole Thompson – Cole built his online business with a ton of hardwork and some SEO!

Thomas D. Mangelsen – A little bit of a stretch when you’re just getting started, but it’s something to shoot for!