The art of blogging?

I am currently doing a blogging course here  and it has highlighted what I have suspected for a very long time and that is that I am not very good at blogging. I have written three posts in four years that have been very personal and other than that I have posted pretty pictures and not said very much! I think the course is more for those people who want to make a lot of money and promote their work, I am of the attitude that someone out there will ask to use my picture and I will be so excited that it will be enough to make my year! I am terrible at self promotion, I have to date sold 3 pictures on redbubble and made a profit of 60p. I do think I should try and make a bit more effort with my blog whilst I am doing this course so today I am posting a picture of the delicious smoothie I just made


























I blended spinach, lime, apple, cucumber and mint and feel very virtuous and healthy and a bit like I imagine Gwyneth Paltrow feels everyday.....
I have also been doing a lot of reading lately as our lives are all about quiet days and recovery - I would really recommend The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri I read it in two days, so beautifully written and I couldn't put it down. I have just started the new book Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas, he wrote the Slap. I think I will post a bit more and try and talk a bit more, what do you think? all kind suggestions gratefully received.

17 comments:

  1. This looks so good and sounds so good. I too have been reading alot in the past few days and have a few books on the go.

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  2. I follow so many different types of blogs. And I believe people blog for different reasons. Some blogs I follow tell you everything that's going on in there life's. And others just like to show off there crafts. Other I believe just like to get lots of followers to prove they are good. That is what makes them feel good. But I believe your blog should be what you want it to be. If you are comfortable putting your personal feelings out there and it makes you happy I say do it. But your photos are amazing and they tell a a lovely story my friend. And I do believe you can make money with them.

    I really need to take a peek at that class...

    Hugs~

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  3. I feel the pretty much the same as Linda above, I go to blogs to see pretty images because that is what I am about not about someone else's day to day routine. Everyone is different in what they like, me if I want to read I will read a good book not a blog so for me it is all about the images. I get really excited about images even if I have seen the same hydrangea before, flowers just make me happy as well as photography in general of any type. I know with your Two Takes blog series, and the Pink yesterday, I have seen Pink before but the way it was put together with the bubbles of the smoothie and the dried roses spoke to me so that is why I go to a blog and gush over the images even if I could do the same thing and I may have seen it before. KWIM?
    So I am not good at blogging to a blogging class standard but that is ok with me, I am not out to sell my work, I am out to please myself and make myself happy with pretty images.
    Do what makes you happy Justine, life is way too short to do otherwise. Now that is the kind of green juice that looks yummy and so well presented. That is worth a Million dollars in my blogging book. :)

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  4. I have to say that I am quite surprised that you have not sold more of your work, but I totally get the lack of self-promotion ability. I guess I always just hope the right people will find me when the time is right. Occasionally I am brave enough to send a related blog post to a company or organization, and I still always surprised when they repost it on their Facebook page. Since I write three different blogs, I have kind of been do a study of what gets the most views/interest. Paisley Rain Boots, which is a mix of images and story gets the most view. Becoming a Finisher where I write from my heart, gets less views but more in-depth comments from people. Field Notes and Photos is mostly picture based and is still gaining ground. So the balance between LOTS of images and a story seems to have the best response. But I do all three of them for me, and it helps me to continue to push myself in my photography and still be able to write that one great story once in a while.

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  5. Justine, I am exactly the same. Can never think of anything of interest (to others) to write about although I know this must not be true. I tend to rely on photos as I'm not good with words. Must give it some thought. Hope M is progressing well.

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  6. I like looking at your blog! Maybe if you want to sell more photos- get some printed & framed & do a market! I think the problem with on line selling is that there are so many options!

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  7. I love seeing your blog pop up on my Bloglovin' list. It's a sure sign that I'm going to be treated to some beautiful and inspirational photography. While I love hearing about your life when you wish to share it, I'm not a voyeur. Blog what feels right for you. All the blogs I follow {and there are many} are photography based. I go there for inspiration, to study, to grow as a photographer. I've made friends, too, and that's a bonus. Your photography is first-rate. Sometimes I think the worst thing we can do is listen to the 'experts'. My advice ... blog what is right for Justine.

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  8. Oh Justine... I literally just finished having this very conversation with my husband. I was half way through listening to Holly's podcast on getting paid and was feeling so overwhelmed I had to stop. I have never been asked to write or blog for free and I was wondering what was wrong with me and my little blog. I know a woman who writes a super successful children's literature blog and hers grew completely organically because she just wrote about what she loved. No ads, no business plans. Just passion. And now she is writing for multiple publications, speaking at conferences and will have a book published by a major publishing house in the spring. So I say, we should not worry and just do what we love. Not sure I will be able to follow my own advice but those are my thoughts. And I also agree with all the other commenters here. Your photos are gorgeous. I smile each time I visit here.

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  9. I agree with the comments above -- your blog should be about what you want to express and share. My blog has evolved over the last few years, and I do focus on photography more than anything else. That said, I like to share a bit of my life and ideas. I think a blog with just images is a bit sterile, but that's just me. As far as selling your art, I have had a few opportunities to show my work in a coffee shop nearby and that led to a number of sales. Also I've sold photo cards at arts and crafts fairs. If you put your work out there, I'm sure you will find some buyers.

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  10. totally echoing what everyone else has said...blogging (whatever that means to you) should make you happy. and just a couple of thoughts on content...i do so love your beautiful photography. whether you decide to make this space a photo-journal or more personal reflective...either way the blogging world is a better place for it.

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  11. Hello Justine, that smoothie looks very Gwyneth/Goop! I'm not sure really why I blog, sometimes it's creative impulse, other times it's to share something. Just do what is right for you, it seems life throws us enough challenges without us creating more of our own.

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  12. I took a blogging course a year or so ago. I learned a lot but also got caught up in getting followers, changing the look of the blog and content to gain followers, etc, and then felt so much pressure. My blog has been many things, changing as I do. I did discover I am not out to make money or promote my photos. I like you am bad at self promotion and do it for me. I am grateful for everyone who comes along. I feel I have a lovely circle of online blogging friends whose blogs I follow. You are one of them. Your photos are amazing and the simplicity of your blog is beautiful.

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  13. Good on you for doing this course for starters. I love your blog as is....and your images are more than just "pretty pictures", but I do know where you're coming from. That whole "self promotion " thing, I'm not good at it either. I think there is a definite art to "how" you do it. To talk about your self, your life and your work or what you create with out coming across as smug, self absorbed or boastful is definitely difficult to do, as well as making the simplest of things or topics appear fresh, new and interesting. I always think "who wants to know what I did today or what I think about something, why would I be more interesting than any one else?" I love this post. I love how you have presented it and I love what you've said and how you've said it.........maybe the course is doing good. I'm going now to look it up.........xx

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  14. I think it depends entirely on what it is you want out of your blogging...I started my Daily Photo blog because I moved to a beautiful area and thought it would be fun to share it...I enjoy photography and like having the blog to share it...

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  15. First of all, this is such a great photo, Justine - the colours are amazing!
    As to blogging I can so relate to what you are saying! And I can only echo what has already been said above. I always love to come to your blog and I love reading whatever you want to share with us, and if it's "only" photos, that's just as interesting for me, as I admire your photos so much.

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  16. I completely agree with everything you are saying about blogging. That said, that green smoothie is gorgeous!

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  17. My mom does lime, kale, and honey. It is tasty! But yours sounds better. I will try.
    Justine, I guess you don't need the photo lessons! Your pics are gorgeous. As a fellow classmate, I feel about the same. Actually, I now repeat what Holly said in one of her responses: blogging is a global conversation. It is a nice place to meet likeminded people.

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