I believe books are probably one of the most under-utilized tools/resources that ANY photographer can use to get their business to the next level.  This is especially true when we consider YOU.

Yes…I’m talking to you Mr./Mrs./Ms. photographer who is bouncing all around the web looking for content to read and ponder.

Yes this is a blog.  Yes we talk about social media and the internet and all information can be found online…but books…books, I think, are still special for a number of reasons.

• Sitting down with a book offers more undivided attention to what it is you are actually reading.  Not being attached to your computer is a good thing.  This means you’re most likely to actually absorb what the author has written and not get distracted by the pinging of your email.
• Books can take you from the beginning to the end of a subject matter in a more cohesive and concise manner.  Blogs and websites (including every single one I own and run) tend to jump around due to topic changes and newness of subject or topical shifts in niche.
• Reading books will increase your own vocabulary and make you a better writer.  News Flash: Being a social media photographer will require you to write more than ever before as you add content to your blog/forum/facebook/twitter etc.
• Reading multiple books by varying authors on the same subject will help you gain a better grasp of the knowledge in that niche.  This is true because every writer has his/her own style and every reader learns in different ways.

Here’s the part where I suggest some books for you to read and why.  I believe that every single one of these books will help you, in one way or another, become more successful in your photography business online as well as off-line.

Think and Grow Rich – If I were to give you just one book to read ever…it would be this one. It’s the foundation of every self help, success, business, leadership, etc book that has come out since 1937. Napoleon Hill, with an introductory letter from Andrew Carnegie, set out to interview over five hundred successful people including Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, John D. Rockefeller, George Eastman, William Wrigley Jr. and Charles M. Schwab.  Two decades of interviews reveal several commonalities amongst all of these people.  You’ll have to pick up the book to find out what they are and how you can implement them.

Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion – From social media guru Gary Vaynerchuck it’s a quick read with tons of insight sure to get you off your butt and back on the computer or behind your camera. It’s current, it’s quick, and it will specifically deal with what a photographer, in today’s marketing online world, can do to increase exposure and broaden your brand.

Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable – It was really hard to pick just one Seth Godin book. I’ve read almost every one of his books and could easily recommend them all but I’m going with Purple Cow because Seth really delves into the whys of being remarkable and how that can really set you apart. In the online world where noise is only getting louder we need to do our best to set ourselves apart form the herd.

Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur – Those of you not familiar with Sir Richard Branson may not know that Virgin is actually a group of small businesses. Photographers would do well to know how one of the most, if not THE most successful “small businessman” in the world, thinks about business, life, and everything else.

Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity – Hugh MacLeod is an artist living in West Texas who’s been killing it online since blogging was a baby. His success and ideas are brash, concise, and will make you think about who you are as an artist. Hugh’s blog gets over 1.5 million views a month and Seth Godin gives him 5 stars while stating “Hugh will change you (for the better)”. I can honestly say that Seth is 100% correct.

Sometimes we have to reach outside our own realms to get fresh ideas.  None of these books are about photography yet I would argue that every photographer would do well to read them all.

What are your favorite books on success, business, marketing, leadership, etc?

So you took a break from blogging.  Okay…maybe you didn’t, I did.

Maybe it was planned for just a week or two off and then…life happens.  Life, you know…the real world, gets in the way from all of this online marketing stuff.

It probably happens to you in art and photography as well.

Artist’s block.

Writer’s block.

Whatever.

It’s a block and you have to overcome this hurdle because while you’re not online, marketing your photography, others are and they’re gonna pass you by.

It’s similar to working out.  Mondays are the hardest days to work out for most folks.  If you get your week started in the gym on Monday then chances are you’ll finish off the week in the gym as well.

Excuses come easy.

Sometimes you just need to start typing.  You can always edit it before you hit publish.  It’s like photography…sometimes you just have to get your camera out and start clicking away at something, anything, just to get those creative juices flowing.

By the way.  That’s how I started this particular post.  Only…I’m not going to edit it for you because I think it’s good for you to see that a free flow of ideas can actually lead to something.  It’s possible this could be the WORST blog post in the history of blog posts.  It won’t be though.  Because this blog post will get me back to blogging about marketing photography online again.

So expect that because I broke the cycle this week I should have no problems getting a new post out to you next week.  More focused.  Ideas in hand.  Ready.

Only…you’ll have to come back next week to see if this “Monday” workout will lead to an easier time getting to the gym on “Tuesday”.

What do you do when you hit a creativity or productivity block?

Last week we talked about why it’s a good idea for photographers to guest post.

This week I’ve searched high and low looking for photography blogs that currently accept or have accepted guest bloggers in the past.

You’ll want to bookmark this page.  It’ll get updated.

Here you go.

17 Photography Blogs Accepting Guest Posts

Your Photo Tips – Your Photo Tips is a blog dedicated to helping new and advanced photographers learn how to take better pictures.  Always accepting guest bloggers.

Digital Photography School – A community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography.  Tons of guest bloggers find success from this very popular blog on photography.

Beyond Megapixels – “A digital photography guide for the rest of us.”

Photocritic – Have you got a passion for photography? Do you like to browse about and find quirky things to do with photography? In that case, you’ve got what it takes to be a guest blogger on Photocritic?

Epic Edits – Do you know something about photography? Would you like to share that knowledge with others? Or maybe you have your own photography website or blog and you’d like to promote it to other photographers and get your name out there? Then how about a guest-post on the Epic Edits Weblog?

Towner Jones Photography – Photos, features, and commentary from the photographers.

All Day I Dream About Photography (ADIDAP) – Your daily dose of photography.

Weekly Photo Tips – dedicated to all photographers with the purpose of exposing you to cool and informative resources that could help make you a better photographer.

Jason D. Moore – Have some thoughts about a certain topic, program, or service? Put together an article and email me! I am always welcoming of guest bloggers with interesting perspectives to offer.

DIYPhotography.net – If you are interested, have links to share, concerns to raise, questions, comment, tips, or if you are just up at 1am looking for something fun to do DIYPhotography.net is interested in your guest post.

MCP Actions This one’s for all you Photoshop masters.

Shutter Sisters – Shutter Sisters is one of the top photography blogs on the Internet.  This one’s for the ladies.  I’m not sure if they would accept a guest post from a male photographer.  I suppose it would not hurt to ask?

The Online Photographer – TOP will continue to publish a variety of divergent viewpoints from a variety of guest authors and readers.

Photodoto – Photodoto wants you to send in your photography tips.

Mark S. Johnson Photography – While you’re there, you have the opportunity to teach Photoshop and photography in an uncommonly fun, encouraging, and creative environment.

Light Stalking – “We appreciate beautiful photography and our intent is to spread the word about the awesome photographers who produce it.”

Kim Pace Photography – Kim does a “What the heck?” post every Friday.  She would welcome photography tutorials I’m betting.  I did one.

I’ll update the list as needed in order to keep it fresh.

Social Photo Talk – Aaron has invited photographers interested in guest posts that relate to photography and social media or online marketing.

Michael Palmer Photographer – Just informed that Michael Palmer is accepting guest bloggers as well.

Michelle Rago – “In order to bring a broad range of fresh voices to the blog, we will periodically feature a variety of guest bloggers to share thier unique perspectives on weddings, destinations, venues, and just life in general.”

Digital Photo Buzz – Would love any guest bloggers!

Fuel Your Photography – Fuel Your Photography is always on the lookout for great guest writers who also happen to be kick-butt photographers.

If you have a photography blog and you accept, or want to accept, guest posts from photographers let me know.  Use the contact form or leave a comment.

Your homework is the same as your promotional opportunity this week.  Put contact these blogs and put in a guest post.  There’s nothing more powerful than building relationships on the Internet with some of the biggest movers and shakers in your industry.

Truthfully almost any blog on photography would accept a guest post.  All you have to do is ask.  What’s it gonna hurt?