Just reading through all of your good stuff. I really like these critiques. They really help me see view things as a “master” blogger like yourself would. Now if I only could get the techie part down…

Like the turtle, slow and sure wins the race.

Thanks.

Just reading through all of your good stuff. I really like these critiques. They really help me see view things as a “master” blogger like yourself would. Now if I only could get the techie part down…

Like the turtle, slow and sure wins the race.

Thanks.

@Sheamus – I had my photos done by a married couple who is trying to get a small business going. They have great equipment and were fun to work with without charging a lot. I’d recommend finding someone like that (through Craig’s list, other local contacts, etc.) as a compromise between paying $400 and “getting the wife to hold the camera.”

Of course, if your wife is a good photographer, you may end up with great photos and money saved– a nice solution all-around.

@Sheamus – I had my photos done by a married couple who is trying to get a small business going. They have great equipment and were fun to work with without charging a lot. I’d recommend finding someone like that (through Craig’s list, other local contacts, etc.) as a compromise between paying $400 and “getting the wife to hold the camera.”

Of course, if your wife is a good photographer, you may end up with great photos and money saved– a nice solution all-around.

Anyway, there’s some great advice here. I’ve been meaning to get a photo up on my own blog now but I can’t find any advice on something that seems so simple but is actually quite daunting if you’re not a camera geek – how do you go about taking a great photograph of yourself? I mean, a lot of the ‘A-list’ blogs clearly have professional or near-professional quality photos of themselves on their sites.

I agree with you Chris that it helps new readers feel comfortable and, more importantly, lets them know you’re a real person and not one of a dozen representing some evil corporation, or worse, some kind of spam site.

I’ve enquired with local photo agencies and stuff but shelling out £150-200 ($300-400) seems excessive in the early days of one’s blog. There must be a better way. A middle ground between ‘asking the wife’ and ‘pay the big bucks’.

Anyone have any useful tips?

Anyway, there’s some great advice here. I’ve been meaning to get a photo up on my own blog now but I can’t find any advice on something that seems so simple but is actually quite daunting if you’re not a camera geek – how do you go about taking a great photograph of yourself? I mean, a lot of the ‘A-list’ blogs clearly have professional or near-professional quality photos of themselves on their sites.

I agree with you Chris that it helps new readers feel comfortable and, more importantly, lets them know you’re a real person and not one of a dozen representing some evil corporation, or worse, some kind of spam site.

I’ve enquired with local photo agencies and stuff but shelling out £150-200 ($300-400) seems excessive in the early days of one’s blog. There must be a better way. A middle ground between ‘asking the wife’ and ‘pay the big bucks’.

Anyone have any useful tips?

Thanks for commenting on Chris Garrett’s review of my site. I am traveling today and tomorrow but will post more comments on Wednesday… and that will also allow you all to continue the conversation without my interference.

In short, I really appreciate the review (from the first Chris G) and I welcome any other feedback from other readers.

Thanks for commenting on Chris Garrett’s review of my site. I am traveling today and tomorrow but will post more comments on Wednesday… and that will also allow you all to continue the conversation without my interference.

In short, I really appreciate the review (from the first Chris G) and I welcome any other feedback from other readers.

Maria Reyes-McDavis

Maria Reyes-McDavis

I think your 10 Tips for Improvement could be written as a ‘checklist’ for everyone to apply, like as in; “have I done this right on my blog?”

It is all ‘common sense’ I know, but we can get distracted with matters of style and ‘pretty’ layout and miss the essentials.

So thanks for the ‘heads up’……….

I think your 10 Tips for Improvement could be written as a ‘checklist’ for everyone to apply, like as in; “have I done this right on my blog?”

It is all ‘common sense’ I know, but we can get distracted with matters of style and ‘pretty’ layout and miss the essentials.

So thanks for the ‘heads up’……….

@Adam – You might not want your face up there, just as not all novels show the authors face either, and that is fine, but I think it is one of those things that helps build a connection between the writer and the reader. With the number of splogs around it is nice to know there is a real three dimensional human being behind the words. Remember also I come from the angle of promoting the blogger through content, where the bloggers success is part of the deal. In the end though it is a personal choice.

@Adam – You might not want your face up there, just as not all novels show the authors face either, and that is fine, but I think it is one of those things that helps build a connection between the writer and the reader. With the number of splogs around it is nice to know there is a real three dimensional human being behind the words. Remember also I come from the angle of promoting the blogger through content, where the bloggers success is part of the deal. In the end though it is a personal choice.

“Rather than a closeup picture of Chris there is quite a long shot. Perhaps replace with a more intimate picture showing head and shoulders? Right now we feel at waving distance, let’s see what you actually look like so we can feel more connected to you?”

Do you think people should have images at all? I actually don’t include an image of myself because I want people focusing on my words, not me. I also think many web users have the feeling that it is sometimes pretentious to put your face on your site (?) Maybe I’m wrong.

Any thoughts on this? Am I way off base?

“Rather than a closeup picture of Chris there is quite a long shot. Perhaps replace with a more intimate picture showing head and shoulders? Right now we feel at waving distance, let’s see what you actually look like so we can feel more connected to you?”

Do you think people should have images at all? I actually don’t include an image of myself because I want people focusing on my words, not me. I also think many web users have the feeling that it is sometimes pretentious to put your face on your site (?) Maybe I’m wrong.

Any thoughts on this? Am I way off base?