Blog help

FUDGEY · #1 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 06:29 AM

Hi all, after looking at Toms blog i wouldnt mind doing one myself as I am out most days in the field. Is there a simple one that is easy to set up that any one could recommend me to use? Im not the greatest on computers so the simpler the better

tom00_uk · #2 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 03:53 PM

WordPress.com — Get a Free Blog Here is as simple as they come, nicer user interface than blogger in my opinion

to minimise the amount of free space you use up on the blogging site its often best to host your images with one of the many free photo storage sites

TomMason · #3 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 05:03 PM

Hey for my site i used blogger , as you can see of late i have just updated the whole look of my blog with a new template. in my mind i have found blogger very easy to use and take me no time at all to update and publish a new post to my blog.
Hope that helps and please check out my new layout and tell us what you think !!

Tom Mason Photography

FUDGEY · #4 (**permalink**) 27-04-2011, 08:56 AM

Thanks guys Ill look into that

Alan Hewitt · #5 (**permalink**) 28-04-2011, 03:33 PM

I would vouch for Wordpress too. Try the free version first and see how you get on.

Many people like to download the wordpress 'engine' to their own arranged web host. This way you have access and ability to use thousands of superb plugins. You can also use a more professional theme. I chose to buy a 'theme' from ProPhoto but decided to use their add on system to actually design my own site from a blank piece of paper and use it more like a content management system and a portfolio as well as a blog.

I really cannot recommend ProPhoto Blogs enough. Yes it is initially expensive but the ability to choose so many ways of making your site do and look how you want it to is staggering.

Alan

Latest Alan Hewitt Photography
Twitter: @alanhewittphoto

FUDGEY · #6 (**permalink**) 29-04-2011, 04:55 AM

Thanks again guys, I have decided to go for word press. I have started one, but it is all pretty basic at the moment. Any tips on things I could add to improve things? Here it is at present. alanswildlife

TomMason · #7 (**permalink**) 30-04-2011, 08:20 PM

FUDGEY i really like the badger pictures , thats one species I would really love to and hopefully get some photos like yours!
I have just added a new reviews page to my blog and have kicked it off with a review of some of the wildlife watching supplies equipment

Tom Mason Photography: Reviews

Tricia · #8 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 09:47 AM

I like your blog Tom, I am thinking of doing a blog just to keep in touch with family and friends and post my photos for them to see (I take so many!). Did you design your own template or is the one you are using a blogger template? I love the photo of the little Robin

I like your blog also Fudgey although (and it might just be the monitor I am using) the dark background seems to overwhelm the typeface a little? I particularly like your photos of the hare :-). I notice you do not watermark your photos and I wonder what people think about posting photos on the net?

Should you watermark in an attempt to prevent them from being stolen or do you think it's something not to worry about?

Sorry if I am hijacking the thread but as it is about blogs I thought it connects to what you are discussing here and I just read on another photography forum about a Flicker account which was created using hundreds of stolen images.

Back to the main thread topic: I like both the blogs and shall be visiting again

Words · #9 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 12:35 PM

It's easy to get paranoid about photos being stolen on the web. It happens, and even with watermarks it will still happen and unless you obscure the image anyone determined will be able to crop/edit around a watermark. So don't upload anything you really wouldn't want appearing anywhere else, and also upload at relatively lo-res (72-90 dpi) which will make it useless for print use but it will still be fine on the web.

In practice commercial users won't steal, but will ask (legitimate ones anyway) so make it easy for them to get in touch with you. I've put a creative commons licence and a contact link in the side bar and I do ge asked about usage so some people out there do play fair!