If you, like me, are a stay at home parent that manages a blog online, then you know how much fun it can be. Being able to share information with people and connect with them gives you a really warm feeling, especially if it is information that can help in daily life. One of the constant challenges you may face as a blog owner though is attracting and keeping readers.
By far one of the most effective ways to do this is by including eye-catching images in your blog posts. Doing this will help pull more readers in, but also ensure they stay engaged with your blog in the future.
How to get the most amazing blog photos
If you need some tips on how to design awesome blog photos, then you may find the below useful:
Use the right equipment
Before we point out a couple of pieces of equipment that will instantly improve the photos you take, it is important to note that you don’t need to spend a great deal of money on extremely high-end cameras and lenses. Indeed, many of the best blog photos have been taken on smartphone cameras.
Having said that, it would be wise to pick up a tripod and remote control if you have a camera that is compatible with them. This will avoid the dreaded situation of having to set your timer and frantically dash into place when taking solo photos. If you want an even cheaper option, pick up a selfie stick for your smartphone!
Get inspired
Before you even get your camera out, take the time to find some inspiration first. Browse through magazines or online for photos that appeal to you. When you find some, make a few notes on what makes them look so good and what you like about them the most. Doing this will provide you with lots of inspiration on what kind of photos to take for your blog.
Location
When you know what kind of photo you will be taking, then you need to choose your location wisely. The best advice here is to always shoot in natural light if you can. Naturally, this involves shooting photos when the sun is up, but also means you need to think about where you will take your blog photos. It is fine to do it at the kitchen table for example, just make sure you have the light coming into frame from outside to make it jump off the screen.
Learn some technical stuff
If you are running a blog in your spare time, then you probably won’t have a lot of time to start devoting to learning about the finer details of photography. However, it is worth obtaining an understanding of the basics, as this will definitely improve the design of any photos you do take. Photo composition is a worthwhile area to investigate, as are shutter speeds and ISO settings.
Don’t forget your readers!
When you start to dig into the methods for obtaining the most fantastic blog photos, you can start to forget about the why. You must always remember that you are shooting photos for your readers to enhance the article you are inserting them into or simply as images on their own:
- DO – make any blog photos you take relevant to the subject and appropriate. Make sure that they are sharp, interesting, and eye-catching. Try to use objects or subjects that fit your blog’s own color scheme or image.
- DON’T – rush when taking blog photos – instead take your time (if possible!) to set up and take the shot properly. Avoid using any blurry or badly focused photos on your blog as this will simply turn readers off.
What if I don’t want to take my own blog photos?
You may just not enjoy photography or want to spend the time needed to get the best quality shots to use. It may also be that you have images that you could use but don’t want to as they are of family members like your children. If so, then there is an answer out there!
Stock photography websites carry thousands of professional quality images that you can use, often for free! Dreamstime is a great stock photography site that you could use for finding the best photos to include on your blog. Just double check before you use any that they are royalty free and don’t have any restrictions regarding their use.
Designing blog photos is not rocket science
When you are looking to take good quality photos for your blog, it can seem a little daunting. When you strip it back to the basics of inspiration, location, and composition though, it suddenly becomes a lot easier. Even better for home bloggers is that you can achieve fantastic results without spending a lot of money on expensive gear!