goldengod

Sara by Andrew Ferguson

Today’s guest post is written by my lovely girlfriend and secret blog editor:

Hello, my name is Sara, and I am not a photographer. Instead of trying to ad lib about cameras, I’m going to hold forth on writing about photography, based on observations I’ve made as goldengod’s resident grammar geek. The following suggestions are basic, but should be a good starting point for anyone who wants to become an internet-famous photography blogger.

1. Teach your readers

If you want a readership larger than your circle of friends, you have to write work that appeals to strangers. Luckily, photography is a popular hobby and many people will be intrigued by the possibility of improving their own photos. Instead of writing only personal interest, include information that could be of use to your audience.

For example, don’t just talk about the great pictures you took last weekend, describe the lighting setup you used to get that effect. Don’t say your new camera is the greatest, explain why it’s better than the other models. If your readers learn something from everything you write, they’ll keep coming back for more.

2. Tailor jargon to your audience

Photography comes with a vast lexicon of technical terms, but cameras do not come with vocabulary tests. Keep your intended audience in mind when choosing your words. Many photographers are self-taught, and there is no guarantee that your readers will know all the terminology.

This does not mean you need to talk down to everyone, but tailor your language to the expected audience. If you’re writing about advanced lighting techniques, feel free to mention matrix metering*. If your article is titled “What does ISO mean?” you’re better off sticking to simpler terms unless you want to include a long explanation.

3. Check your facts

Now that you have people reading your tips on photography, try to ensure you give the right tips. Your reputation as an photography guru will be ruined if your information is bogus. If you’re not sure about the definition of a term or how a technique works, look it up. You have the internet; this is not hard.

Sometimes you will be wrong, even (perhaps especially?) if you double-checked with Wikipedia. Try not to be a jerk when someone corrects you, unless being a jerk is your schtick. Being right most of the time and accepting corrections when you’re not will make you sound intelligent–like someone worth listening to.

4. Edit, edit, edit

Speaking of sounding intelligent: make sure to edit for spelling and grammar. Yes, this is the internet, and blogging is meant to sound casual. There is, however, a difference between casual and incoherent. Spend a little time choosing your words, and proofread before you publish. If English was never your strong point, enlist a literary-minded friend to look over your work.

There are resources both online and off that can help you with everything from the proper use of a semicolon to writing catchy headlines. Even if your command of language is lacking, you will improve with practice so long as you keep looking for ways to improve.

5. A picture’s worth

When you’re writing about photography, it only makes sense to include some photos. Use them to illustrate techniques you’re talking about, equipment you use, photographers you’ve met. If you don’t have any appropriate photos of your own, Andrew has a post about finding Creative Commons pictures.

These are all basic hints, but keeping them in mind can help if you’re just getting started writing about photography. Perhaps someday Andrew will let me write another guest post, in which I shall expound on the wonders of the thesaurus. Until then, get out there and take some pictures!

* I looked through previous goldengod posts and picked the first piece of jargon I didn’t understand. Andrew assures me it does relate to lighting. Now you know why I didn’t write about cameras.