Whatever the subject of your blog is, you are putting your thoughts on that subject down in a form that others with the same interest will want to read. But to get the full effect of what you are saying, you need to include imagery with your message. This is where photography comes into play. My favourite thing to do. If you do not currently incorporate pictures with your words, here are some reasons why you should.
Subject-Enhancement
A beggar on a street corner can enhance your message of homelessness in your hometown. A horse in a field can further express your love of the beautiful animals as your words describe that love. A gnarled tree in the forest could coincide with a discussion of odd occurrences in nature; these can all make interesting images that will appeal to your audience and that fit the point you are trying to get across.
And do not focus only on the beauty of the world, share the ugly as well. If your message is of the pain and the sorrow and the struggles of life; the conflicts people face, the destruction caused by a storm, the aftermath of a forest fire; do not be afraid to show them. These darker subject matters can be just as fascinating as the pretty things in life, and the proper imagery will only support your viewpoint. You will also help remind your followers there is more to this world than the small sphere they inhabit and that, if change is needed or aid is required, they are the ones to make that change or help in those situations.
If your blog is based on travelling the world, then you most definitely need to include photography! No matter how great you are with describing the world around you, words can only go so far. Not only that but some people struggle to imagine what it is they have read and need a visual aid to see the place or people being described in your blog. Travelling not only gives you the opportunity to see sights and experience cultures you probably knew nothing about, you also have the opportunity to present those civilizations and environments to others; people who would otherwise have no ability to experience them in person. Everything from a marketplace full of locals to the flora and fauna of the region; photography can do what words alone may not.
Blogging about food MUST be accompanied by pictures of that food. Showing off the results of a new recipe will eye-catching and can encourage your readers to try that recipe. Include images of the restaurants you are reviewing to help visualize (or help locals recognize) where you are discussing. Talking about foods that are unhealthy for you, only a disturbingly gross picture of that food can truly express how horrible it is for you!
Photographs are great ways to enhance your blogs about nature. Panoramic views of a sandy beach at sunset or stunning pictures of the expansive arctic tundra can make for some great accents to your blog about your trip to the coast or your visit to the Canadian wilderness. A shot of the remnants of a battlefield, though not pleasant to look at, can be very impactful on your readership. Even though such an image can bring the reality of death to the forefront, the drama behind it will keep your readers interested.
Acquire Photographs
So where do you get these photographs to upload to your site? There are a variety of sources, the first of which would be from yourself. Almost everybody had a smartphone with a camera built in. Some of these installed devices can produce some terrific looking images under the right lighting (sometimes the wrong lighting can produce an unexpected, yet great result). Typically, the newer the phone the more powerful the camera on it is. Be your own photographer! Especially if you are blogging about an activity you participate in. If you can afford to, purchase a high-powered, professional camera to document your travels, events, or nature walks. These will give your images the clarity they need to be worthy of your website. Many will come with options to enhance the photos built into the camera, or you can use photo enhancing software to give them the final touches.
Another option would be to hire a professional photographer to follow you. You might be better at creating the words for your blog, but when it comes time to add the imagery to it, you know nothing about photography. If your blog is to the level where advertisers are dying to promote themselves on your site then you may want to fork out the money for an experienced person who knows the ins and outs of working the camera. If you cannot afford that path, which could be pricey (but well worth it), look into students taking photography classes or those who capture photographs as a hobby. This could give up and coming students the opportunity to gain some experience, or give the hobbyist another opportunity to do what they enjoy. The images they produce may not be on the professional level, but many of them will be of great quality and a benefit to your blog.
If you yourself are not very knowledgeable of photography techniques, or if you cannot afford to hire someone to take the pictures for you, a third option would be to use stock photos. There are many sites that provide a wide array of images that could suit your needs; some at a cost, some for free. This would be a very economical way of improving your posts.
More than just straight out images of a location or an animal, many of these would already be enhanced with color correction, manipulation, contrasting, and so on; saving you even more money by not having to purchase this software. There are monochromatic pictures, free black and white images, panoramic views, stock close-ups, and more available online that you can download and use in your blog.
Don’t let your blog go without imagery. It is a necessity to improve any message you send out to your readers, and will just make your blog look that much better.
