Why as a photographer you need your own website
A few days ago marked one year since I created this website and started writing a blog.
At first, it was meant to be just a portfolio with my photos, but I quickly decided to share my thoughts from the process, some gear reviews, but most of all, all tips and knowledge I gain with every outing with the camera and every return home, when I work on editing and selecting images.
Let’s start with a few numbers.
On August 25th, 2024, I published my first post. This one will be the 82nd. That makes 1.5 posts per week.
Not a bad result at all, especially considering that this blog has been growing alongside my full-time job, family life, travels, regular photo walks and trips, and a few smaller projects I’ve been working on in the background.
Also my portfolio has recently gone through a major transformation. As I began to accumulate more photos from my projects, it was time to organize them and make a curated selection. Now I can say that it is finally starting to take proper shape - something I’m really happy about.
But looking back - did launching a website and starting a photography blog even make sense?
Below are a few thoughts on what it has given me, what has changed, and the direction I think I’d like to take.
Is having your own online space a must?
On social media, where attention, clicks, views, and likes are the currency, it’s very easy to fall victim to the demands of the algorithm.
The temptation to publish only the kind of content that performs is one of the darker sides of social media - one that very few manage to resist.
Social media platforms are monsters that feed on constant publishing. The more you post, the more reach you get. Let’s be honest - publishing often inevitably affects the quality of the photos you share.
Having your own online space, where you can publish literally what, when, and how you want, gives you a sense of freedom that shifts your perspective - and in the long run, has a huge impact on your growth as a photographer.
A personal website is a place to share your work on your own terms, and that freedom of creation is the foundation to create meaningful and valuable things.
Why have a portfolio if you’re just a hobbyist?
Having your own website gives you the chance to build a portfolio in exactly the form you want.
Most platforms that let you create a site with just a few clicks also give you the freedom to design a portfolio visually in any way you like. The format you choose, how you present your work, the process of selecting images and curating series - all of that is a skill in itself.
Being your own curator is a crucial ability.
Without it, you can’t create a coherent portfolio that reflects your style, the main ideas behind your work, and its purpose.
Owning a portfolio doesn’t mean you need to aspire to be a famous artist, sell your work, or monetize your hobby.
Even if you’re doing this solely for yourself, think of the process as a way to grow as a photographer.
Your website becomes a tool that helps you elevate your work - and maybe even gives it direction in a long term.
Why share the experience and knowledge you gain in the process?
“They say, if you want to learn something, teach it.” Or, as the other quote goes: “If you can’t explain it to others, it means you don’t understand it yourself.”
To share knowledge, you first have to dive into it, then truly understand it, and finally present it in a way that makes sense to others. By breaking down complex ideas into simple explanations, you confront your own gaps - pushing yourself to study more deeply and to practice your craft so that you can share it and inspire others.
In this sense, writing a blog about photography - or any other passion, whether you treat it purely as a hobby or as something more - is a great way to structure your own learning and accelerate your growth.
Also, keeping knowledge and experience only to yourself feels almost like a crime - and not sharing them should be treated as a sin.
What’s next?
At the moment, I don’t have a specific vision or a clear end point I want to reach, besides holding on to the one I started from.
I want to continue my mission of inspiring others to create - anything really - as a form of escape from life, from consumption, from 9-5 work, and from all the other things we sometimes just need a break from.
Writing, in itself, is a therapeutic act for me, and I intend to keep doing it. The steady growing number of readers only adds more meaning to it all.
And if you’re reading this - I just want to say that I’m really glad you’re here, and thank you for your time.
See you in the next one!
I created a guide (well, a mini-course is a better word), which will help you make more compelling, clean pictures.
It includes a little bit of theory, example images and practical tips/exercises.
Do you want to start making minimalistic, clean images that stand out? That guide is for you. And yes, it’s FREE.