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Sure, I visit some of my favorite blogs for the writing that may or may not inspire me or make me laugh on any given day, but I often go back to some just for the photos.
Many women who blog create a true "image" of themselves by regularly combining words and photos in posts. What results isn't exactly a photoblog, because words still play a major role, but the photos are a critical element.
Arguably the most well-known female blogger in whatever sphere you're referencing, Heather Armstrong, often works photos of her family, friends, travels, and daily surroundings into her posts, and has a daily photo feature. I read Heather's site regularly, but I find that I'm as apt to click on the daily photo first as I am to see if there's a new text post. This might be because I'm a photographer, or because her dog is exceptionally cute, but I wouldn't go back if the pictures weren't so good - bottom line.
I can't even remember how I found Patia Stephens, but I'm so glad I did. Writing and taking photos in Montana, Patia shares stories and posts beautiful pictures that often show me something interesting about a state I've never visited and know very little about.
Ms. Jen Hanen is another prolific blogger who mixes text with a steady stream of cool photographs (many of them moblogged with her trusty Nokia N80). Links to her photos elsewhere online are prominently displayed on her site.
Some bloggers who don't post photos frequently on their sites still provide links to their flickr photostreams or other photo hosting sites. Wendy McClure, who blogs at Pound, (and is also the author of "I'm Not the New Me" as well as a regular assortment of articles and columns for print and online media) gives a link to her photostream at the top of her site. She was one of the first bloggers I read on a regular basis, and also one of my first Flickr contacts, so I could keep up with her photographs as well as her words. Check out her Candyboots site to see how important photography has been to her books.
Sarah Brown of queserasera is another blogger who is a regular poster to flickr, and she includes links to her latest photos in the sidebar of her blog. Sarah is one of the most gifted writers I've come across in my online travels, and also one of the funniest ladies I've yet read. Her photos are fun, and often interesting views of life in NYC. And although I obviously don't know her or her friends, it's easy to feel fond of the whole lot of them, as most of her shots emanate warmth in some way. (You should also check out her forays into print and television with her "Cringe" concept. Links are on her site.)
The use of photography, particularly images of bloggers themselves, gives readers an opportunity to "see" the story as they read it. Many bloggers only give bits and pieces of their lives, but the photos fill in some of the blanks. When I attended the Blogher conference last year, it was strange to see so many people in the flesh - strangers, actually - whose photos I'd seen on many times online. These weren't, for the most part, women that I corresponded with on a regular basis, or would even end up having conversations with, but I knew what their kitchens and their kids looked like, because they'd shown me.
I've only given links to a few of the many women who often work photography into their posts, or who'll gladly show you to their flickr photos if they don't. Feel free to tell me about your favorites - even if it's you.
Laurie White blogs at LaurieWrites and is Rubyshoes on Flickr. Drop by and chat - and leave a comment if you're in the mood. It's much appreciated.
