The Documentary Photographer

I was chatting to a colleague photographer during the week. He has seen the light. He’s starting a blog.

I know what you’re thinking – how has he survived so far without one?

Everyone should blog, surely?

Maybe. Maybe not.

It depends on why you’re blogging. This is my fourth go at a blog, and by far the most personal.

Previously, my most successful blog was Altar Narrative, about documentary wedding photography. It was aimed mainly at brides and had a nice clear focus. I stopped it when I started this one.

The swap was part of a rethink of where I was going as a photographer. I’m on a journey and this blog chronicles that, and I have an agreement with a friend that I’ll be as honest as I dare. The life of a professional photographer isn’t just ups. There are downs too, sometimes they can be quite deep. That’s the nature of the business. No use pretending otherwise.

This blog also meanders more than Altar Narrative. It is a much wilder animal, roaming where it wants to – or more accurately where my career takes it.

Interestingly, on average this blog gets four to fives times as many daily readers as Altar Narrative ever did. That’s nice. Somebody’s tuning in and walking the journey with me.

Some of those at my side seem to be quite influential too. They have judged the blog worthy of inclusion in the Irish Blog Awards expanded shortlist of best photoblogs.

Thrilled.

I have a Facebook page.

Who doesn’t?

Mine is specifically geared towards my wedding clients, and is designed to encourage interaction between couples and the business.

Thing is, I don’t get on with Facebook at all. Having moved from PC to Mac just over a year ago, I can best describe my feelings towards Facebook as follows: It was surely designed by a PC guy.

Fortunately, I have help. My wife runs the page for me in her role as the business’s marketing angel. I have to say, she does a pretty fab job too: Roger’s Facebook Page.