PPA Highlights Aperture and Light + 9 Others: Inspiring Blogs

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PPA named and saluted our very own Aperture and Light blog in their “10 Inspiring Photography Blogs by PPA Photographers.” Yes! Very thrilled and grateful. As a new blog on the scene, this feedback feels both satisfying and encouraging. See below for a brief overview of PPA and the links to their top 10.

Today there are over 500 million blogs. These authors and their writers produce 2 million posts daily of just about any topic. So why start yet another blog when there are so many out there?

Sure, blogging by its’ very nature brings opinions, knowledge and food for thought to readers. But if you’re blogging with the pure objective of reaching a big audience, you’ve missed the point. Don’t get me wrong, big audiences are a good thing. Let’s look at Light Stalking.

As a writer and contributor for Light Stalking, I appreciate the value of their writers, content and audience. They reach millions of photographers with detailed tips and techniques. Over the course of time, Rob Wood and his writing team remain true to their commitment to their followers of daily, educational and fun content. Which is why they are successful.

Today I’ll share my thoughts on blogging and it’s benefits for photographers of any size or any profession.

Blogging – Is it for you?

Writing blogs isn’t for everyone. Although, reading blogs should be! Blogs are like going back to school and picking your favorite subjects to learn more. And for those of us who thought recess was a fun subject – you’re in luck, blogs are also like recess.

They offer an escape to play and try new things.

Additionally, blogging (or engaging with bloggers) brings value. Blogging:

1. Builds Your Brand – Blogging helps your brand when you help, entertain and engage with others. As a photographer, your brand is personal. It’s about connecting to others with your work, sharing what you know and offering encouragement.
2. Grows Your Network – Instagram, Facebook and other social medial platforms fill our feeds to the rim with images from photographers. When you offer a blog, you’re connecting in a different place and space. While there’s a ton of blogs out there, only one has your stamp, your personality.
3. Expands Learning and Skills – For me, this one has been huge. The more I write, the more I photograph, the less I know. Content is studied, researched and validated, many times over. I don’t write about a topic unless I’ve done it. Plus, it’s always rewarding to find ways of connecting with others so they want to come back. Blogging encourages personal growth, forces you to learn and pushes you outside of your comfort zone.
4. Must be Your Voice – When I first started blogging personally (an old site), it was so boring. The reason? It felt robotic, stale and too long. The context accuracy was present, but that content exists everywhere. It’s how you deliver the content, how you message and engage that sets you apart.
5. Needs to be Steady – Frequency matters, but it doesn’t have to be daily. Your audience would rather have 1 or 2 solid reads from you weekly versus several in a week that don’t provide the same level of impact. Set personal goals and schedules that keep your work thriving and your audience growing.

Reality check: Posting blogs is not always easy. And as a blogger, you don’t know when your work connects with someone. That’s the hard part of putting your blog out there.

PPA – Their Top 10

PPA’s mission supports our vast network of photographers. From services, legal intel, insurance, member benefits and an active group of members they are within reach when help is needed. The leadership and community engages daily offering ideas, tips, news alerts and sounding board advice. PPA represents friendship, support and advocacy for photographers.

The list of PPA’s top 10 is below. Their article celebrates these photographers and provides insight into the blog owners. Before clicking on the list below, take a moment and review PPA’s article of: “10 Inspiring Photography Blogs by PPA Photographers.”

You’ll feel the inspiration and passion!

Every one of these bloggers has insights and stories. They just might inspire you to try something new! Here they are:

• Noble Soul Pet Photography by pet photographer and advocate Tiffany Kelly.
• Professor’s Choice from street photographer and gear expert Kenneth Hines
• Miguel Quiles, a beauty and portrait photographer communicates via blogging and video blogging
• Stephen Silverberg hear first hand about how he leverages social media to reach his audience.
• Capturing the Art of Living by Rick Cooper offers fun, diverse perspectives on photography and lifestyle.
• Turner Photographics by portrait and nature photographer Mark Turner places emphasis on positivity
• Lisa Hahn Photography offers a combo of insight into the shoot in addition creative writing
• Jeff Daum a photojournalist brings colorful artistry to his work and words
• Ryan Angel Studios combines his commercial and editorial work with portraiture.
• Aperture and Light is about speed of learning and enjoying the journey by Sheen Watkins

What is Our Blog Brand at Aperture and Light?

The objectives behind our blog here are simple. It’s to provide useable information in a fast read approach. We have segments from how-to’s, travels, post processing and gear.

On occasions, readers want blogs with fast tips and fast reads so they can take and use that technique right away. We’re not going to tell you how to build the watch. We are going to help you spend more time doing and less time reading.

We also want to offer fun, encouragement and motivation that stems from our work. We’ve recently added a positive week starter with our Monday Motivation Series. Does the work here reflect our brand? You decide.