I don't think you should merge. Brooke said it best; you should keep your personal post's out of your professional blog. I subscribe to both on google reader. A suggestion would be to remind your readers of your photography blog.
Tiki267 - 14 years ago
This is one of my favorite photography blogs. http://www.studio222photography.com/blog/
One ofnthe reasons I like them so much, besides the fact I love their photography style, is that they do add bits and pieces of their personal lives on their blog. Here is a recent post where they mention how they are breaking down their posts http://www.studio222photography.com/blog/2011/01/the-life-in-222-words-or-less/
They don't talk about controversial or too personal topics, but just enough of their lives through words and pictures.
Charmaine - 14 years ago
I'm against the merge as well. My wedding photographer invited me to be her friend on facebook where I learned a little too much about her personal life that it made me uncomfortable once the big day arrived. She kept her professional site Professional... and I knew enough about her personality there to want to hire her... but once I saw the full picture, it really made me uncomfortable. I think it's important to meet with your photog 1-on-1, get to know them on a casual basis...but I think given your strong stance on many issues (you said polarizing -- i think that's a bit strong), it might be best to merely give potential clients the option of learning more about you, rather than having it "in their face", as you put it. hope this helps and good luck on your decision!
Valerie - 14 years ago
I do not think this is a good idea. I feel like it might be oversharing with your clients. As you said, you still provide the link to each blog, and I know I hop over and look at the Jenna Cole site every now and then, but I would feel uncomfortable if a vendor I was thinking of hiring shared so much of themselves on their professional blog. I see nothing wrong with anything you post on That Wife, but if they were merged and you posted the same content on what is now not only your personal blog, but your business site, it seems to me like some of it would be inappropriate.
I really agree with Brooke who said both sites would lose the essence of what they are if you merge them.
Kellis - 14 years ago
I voted for yes, make changes... but that's not actually what I meant. (Sorry... mis-click). I'd keep them seperate. But perhaps re-post selected entries ON the Jenna Cole site. Like if you want to stay personal and intimate you can PICK which entries you repost on Jenna Cole. Yes, it's double the work, but your Con's are a lot stronger than your Pro's (in my humble opinion) I will admit I stopped reading Duet Letterpress because there is no personal connection with the author.
I seem to be in the minority, but I think merging would be a great idea! IMO, I would love to "get to know" a photographer before I met them in person. I think that photography is a personal thing. You're inviting a person into your special moments - your wedding day, into your home to meet your days old baby, etc. and I'd feel much more comfortable if I felt a connection with that person and knew about them. Honestly, if I were shopping around for photogs and read your blog (TW) I'd feel like I really wanted to reach out to you to meet in person and possibly invite you into the intimate moments of my life since you already shared some of your life with me.
I seem to be in the minority, but I think merging would be a great idea! IMO, I would love to "get to know" a photographer before I met them in person. I think that photography is a personal thing. You're inviting a person into your special moments - your wedding day, into your home to meet your days old baby, etc. and I'd feel much more comfortable if I felt a connection with that person and knew about them. Honestly, if I were shopping around for photogs and read your blog (TW) I'd feel like I really wanted to reach out to you to meet in person and possibly invite you into the intimate moments of my life.
Lewaletzko - 14 years ago
Against the merge....I lover your personal blog for you. Its not that I have no interest in your clients but I would like to maintain the option to choose when I view/interact with your business. The quick shout outs you do right now are perfect.
Furthermore, a client I would want my privacy and would not want my photos on your personal blog. I have concerns if they were mixed in with your personal opinions and hobbies when I send family members to view them.
I really don't think this would be a wise move. As a client, I would want to meet you as a professional before I hired you, not as someone that I read so many intimate details about first. I honestly don't think it's such a bad thing that you have two blogs, especially when they're two such different brands. Not everyone who reads That Wife is big on photography. Not all those who love reading your photography posts are interested in learning about the Mormon faith or parenting, you know? They're on such opposite ends of the spectrum that I think a merge would just be a hot mess.
I think everyone needs an outlet where they don't have to keep that professional barrier up around their lives. That Wife is yours. If you merge with Jenna Cole, then you'll feel pressured to constantly deliver pristine photos, avoid blogging about your more unusual subjects (like placenta printing!) and just diminish both brands in the process. They're great the way they are. Don't try to force them to fit them together, because they'll lose the essence of what they are.
I'd advise against merging them, but that's just me. I love reading That Wife, and although I'm aware of your photography business (and would probably consider using you if I needed a photog) I don't necessarily want to have to wade through the photo shoots to read the content I like to read on your blog. I would worry the merging would be trying to satisfy audiences that might be here for two different purposes, which could be problematic.
I was thinking, although this still means posting on two sites, maybe you could post some of your less personal (i.e. not talking about breastfeeding and vaginas) posts on your Jenna Cole site too? They'd be posted twice, but that way, you can have your clients see a little more of you on your photography blog, and if they want more of you, they can always seek out your That Wife Blog.
I'm just thinking there might be other things on your That Wife site your customers might not care about. The book club is the first thing I think of, but maybe I'm wrong.
I don't think you should merge. Brooke said it best; you should keep your personal post's out of your professional blog. I subscribe to both on google reader. A suggestion would be to remind your readers of your photography blog.
This is one of my favorite photography blogs. http://www.studio222photography.com/blog/
One ofnthe reasons I like them so much, besides the fact I love their photography style, is that they do add bits and pieces of their personal lives on their blog. Here is a recent post where they mention how they are breaking down their posts http://www.studio222photography.com/blog/2011/01/the-life-in-222-words-or-less/
They don't talk about controversial or too personal topics, but just enough of their lives through words and pictures.
I'm against the merge as well. My wedding photographer invited me to be her friend on facebook where I learned a little too much about her personal life that it made me uncomfortable once the big day arrived. She kept her professional site Professional... and I knew enough about her personality there to want to hire her... but once I saw the full picture, it really made me uncomfortable. I think it's important to meet with your photog 1-on-1, get to know them on a casual basis...but I think given your strong stance on many issues (you said polarizing -- i think that's a bit strong), it might be best to merely give potential clients the option of learning more about you, rather than having it "in their face", as you put it. hope this helps and good luck on your decision!
I do not think this is a good idea. I feel like it might be oversharing with your clients. As you said, you still provide the link to each blog, and I know I hop over and look at the Jenna Cole site every now and then, but I would feel uncomfortable if a vendor I was thinking of hiring shared so much of themselves on their professional blog. I see nothing wrong with anything you post on That Wife, but if they were merged and you posted the same content on what is now not only your personal blog, but your business site, it seems to me like some of it would be inappropriate.
I really agree with Brooke who said both sites would lose the essence of what they are if you merge them.
I voted for yes, make changes... but that's not actually what I meant. (Sorry... mis-click). I'd keep them seperate. But perhaps re-post selected entries ON the Jenna Cole site. Like if you want to stay personal and intimate you can PICK which entries you repost on Jenna Cole. Yes, it's double the work, but your Con's are a lot stronger than your Pro's (in my humble opinion) I will admit I stopped reading Duet Letterpress because there is no personal connection with the author.
I seem to be in the minority, but I think merging would be a great idea! IMO, I would love to "get to know" a photographer before I met them in person. I think that photography is a personal thing. You're inviting a person into your special moments - your wedding day, into your home to meet your days old baby, etc. and I'd feel much more comfortable if I felt a connection with that person and knew about them. Honestly, if I were shopping around for photogs and read your blog (TW) I'd feel like I really wanted to reach out to you to meet in person and possibly invite you into the intimate moments of my life since you already shared some of your life with me.
I seem to be in the minority, but I think merging would be a great idea! IMO, I would love to "get to know" a photographer before I met them in person. I think that photography is a personal thing. You're inviting a person into your special moments - your wedding day, into your home to meet your days old baby, etc. and I'd feel much more comfortable if I felt a connection with that person and knew about them. Honestly, if I were shopping around for photogs and read your blog (TW) I'd feel like I really wanted to reach out to you to meet in person and possibly invite you into the intimate moments of my life.
Against the merge....I lover your personal blog for you. Its not that I have no interest in your clients but I would like to maintain the option to choose when I view/interact with your business. The quick shout outs you do right now are perfect.
Furthermore, a client I would want my privacy and would not want my photos on your personal blog. I have concerns if they were mixed in with your personal opinions and hobbies when I send family members to view them.
I really don't think this would be a wise move. As a client, I would want to meet you as a professional before I hired you, not as someone that I read so many intimate details about first. I honestly don't think it's such a bad thing that you have two blogs, especially when they're two such different brands. Not everyone who reads That Wife is big on photography. Not all those who love reading your photography posts are interested in learning about the Mormon faith or parenting, you know? They're on such opposite ends of the spectrum that I think a merge would just be a hot mess.
I think everyone needs an outlet where they don't have to keep that professional barrier up around their lives. That Wife is yours. If you merge with Jenna Cole, then you'll feel pressured to constantly deliver pristine photos, avoid blogging about your more unusual subjects (like placenta printing!) and just diminish both brands in the process. They're great the way they are. Don't try to force them to fit them together, because they'll lose the essence of what they are.
I'd advise against merging them, but that's just me. I love reading That Wife, and although I'm aware of your photography business (and would probably consider using you if I needed a photog) I don't necessarily want to have to wade through the photo shoots to read the content I like to read on your blog. I would worry the merging would be trying to satisfy audiences that might be here for two different purposes, which could be problematic.
I was thinking, although this still means posting on two sites, maybe you could post some of your less personal (i.e. not talking about breastfeeding and vaginas) posts on your Jenna Cole site too? They'd be posted twice, but that way, you can have your clients see a little more of you on your photography blog, and if they want more of you, they can always seek out your That Wife Blog.
I'm just thinking there might be other things on your That Wife site your customers might not care about. The book club is the first thing I think of, but maybe I'm wrong.