Enhance Your Blog with Photos

Why do we blog? For family bloggers, blogging may present itself as a journal of sorts to share with family and friends. There are also bloggers that promote their company through product information and product reviews. Whatever the reason you blog, pictures and photos are a surefire way to keep readers on your site, as well as enhancing your blog content.

There are numerous reasons to add pictures to your blog or website, but I am going to focus on three particular reasons I consider to be the most important factors in encouraging readers to return to your site.

1. Photos keep readers on your blog

Think about it this way, when you come across a new blog or website, if the site is all text, with very little imaging used, are you likely to stay on the site, or are you much more likely to send your mouse towards the back button? Personally, I find myself much less intrigued by a blog when I find it for the first time if it is all text. A picture grabs my attention immediately, enticing me to stay on the page and read the blog post.

Adding photos to your blog content will grab the reader's eye, creating a further curiosity for what you have to say on your blog. Remember, we are a society that loves visual gratification, so photos on your blog would only seem like the natural thing to do, right?

2. Photos on a blog allow readers to further connect to the blogger

This particularly holds true to family blogs, as well as informational and self-help blogs. Adding photos, be they personal or subject related, give the reader a personal connection to what the blogger has to offer through their blog content.

For example, this blog is a family blog. I may cover topics from parenting, to daddy specific subjects, as well as journaling my day-to-day life. I try to include photos with as many posts as I can. And I see the results in my comments. About half are directed at what I have written about, and the other half are commenting on my photos. That let's me know that the pictures on my site are having a positive effect on my blog.

What is great about enticing readers to enjoy your blog, is that you potentially create a relationship where your readers will continuously come back to your blog to see what new posts you have written. Photos add a visual connection that allow the reader to feel like they are connecting to a real person on the other side of the blog, creating a genuine and authentic interest that will keep them coming back!

3. Promotes creativity and generates ideas

One great thing about photos and pics on your blog is the ability to generate a creative interest in the style and artistry of your images. This is especially true for photos you take yourself. For instance, on family blogs, a particular blogger may have a certain style of photography that others love. The readers may inquire about the methods to shoot a photo like that, and have yet another reason to follow that particular blog. Photos give readers ideas and creative inspirations for their own blogs. Some actually are so appealing, they have a viral effect on the blogging community. You will start to see trends in photography and images from one blogging niche to the next. I often find myself drifing back to the same blogs over and over that continually put up new and creative photos.

Another good example of blog photo use is when a blogger uses humorous or creative pictures to sit alongside their posts. It may be pictures they take themselves, or may be other images they have acquired permission to use. But the entertainment of the photo will coincide with the blog topic, making it that much more intruiging.

A couple good examples are at MyCharmingKids.net, and zenhabits.net. MckMama, at My Charming Kids, is a photographer on the side, her full-time job being a stay-at-home mom. But what has captivated her thousands (and thousands) of loyal followers is her heart-felt blog content, enhanced by her own photos. She is just one of the many, many family bloggers out there sharing her life not only through her writing, but through her pictures as well.

At zenhabits, we see good use of photos from Flickr under the Creative Commons license. These blog posts actually drive people to view the photos on Flickr, as is evident by the many comments seen on their respective pages. Many of these images are professionally done, so they make great additions to any blog post. Make sure to abide by the Creative Commons rules though, as most require attribution to the photographer.

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If you are already using photos in your blog, that is excellent, so continue doing so! The combination of excellent blog content paired with photos makes for optimal blog potential.

Posting up my own photos has increased my own desire to take better pictures, so much so that I would love to take up photography as a side hobby. The only trick is to get the camera I want, which of course, is a wee bit out of my price range at the moment.

I love to read new blogs, and find out what each unique blogger has to offer, so leave me a comment so I can follow you back to your blog! Of course, you can always follow my blog, creating as easy way for me to head over to your site. It's exciting to see how people take their photos, and to see what moments they capture with a camera!

My School Photos

Once again, we have a theme for the week from Kelly's Korner, and this time it is favorite school photos. Since we definitely didn't have any digital cameras back then, I had to go to my parents' house to dig some up. Luckily, my mom has kept them all in perfect order!

I chose my school pics from pre-school to kindergarten. My wife and I actually went to the same private pre-school, Prince of Peace, only we went 4 years apart. She posted a pic on her blog for this event in her school uniform, so I decided to post some of mine from the same school.

As you can probably see, I was a bit shy ;)

Baby's First Zoo Trip!

It was a very pleasant 75 degrees or so outside when we went for our morning family walk, which ultimately led us to the donut shop, where Savi used her innocently precious looks to steal some free donut holes. We let her have about half of one, and then ate the rest ourselves. I mean after all, we are only looking out for her health, right? I'll take the sugar load so my baby doesn't have to! ;)

After our walk, we were hesitant on whether or not Savi would be up for a trip to the zoo. She still had a stuffy nose of sorts, but as the morning went along, her energy was up, and she seemed ready to go, and the stuffy nose subsided. So, we packed up our stuff and headed off to the zoo!

Overall it was a great trip. We got to see half the park, which was much more than I thought Savi would handle. We visited the monkeys, tigers, elephants, giraffes, and many other animals!

As the middle of the afternoon approached, I noticed it was getting hot, and our baby girl was wearing out as well. She slept all the way home, weary from her first adventure to the zoo!




Many of the animals were napping very much as this lemur was. It was definitely nap time at the zoo when we arrived!



Can you spot the crazy green lizard crawling among the electrical fence wires? I tried to get the fast little sucker before he got out of sight. Managed to snap his head peeking over the top.

In closing, before Savi was born, Brit and I took a trip to this vry same zoo, and since my beautiful wife has such a passion for butterflies, we took this picture of her on the butterfly bench.

On Savi's first trip to the zoo, we got a shot of Mommy and Savi on the very same bench!

Wordless Wednesday

Baby Girl has recently gotten sick again, this time with a runny nose. Pretty much the same thing Brit had last week, so it's a safe bet it came from her. We're still full of energy, and hungry as ever, but I'm having to chase her around with Kleenex in my hand.

Sneezes tend to blow everything out, and there was no lack of sneezes today. Hopefully, she'll kick this to the curb soon, and we'll start a nice, long healthy streak!

These quick pics are from her taking out her Baby Einstein video and putting it in the DVD player.

Ultrasound Preliminary Results

Coming back from the ultrasound appointment, I am pleased to say that they found no blood clots within my deep veins or within the varicose veins. The radiologist will review my ultrasound, then dictate his findings and send them to my doctor. At that point, we will decide where to go from there.

Personally, I am hoping that we find some way to remove or close them, because they still hurt. I am on orders not to workout, which is going to be very tough. He wants no additional pressure or stress on that leg in the short term, until we can determine what we are going to do to treat the veins.

Ultrasound for Me!

Normally, this would be an excellent post title, especially if it were on my wife's blog. However, not the case this time. In early January, when I started working out again, I started having a dull pain in my lower left leg. A swelling of sorts was there, and I just figured a pulled muscle or had a muscle spasm.

Over time, this has gotten worse, and I realized I was getting varicose veins in my left leg. Ugh! Luckily, it's really hard to see on me. It's not very common in guys my age, so I went to the doctor after I started feeling some burning and sharp pain, as well as some tingling feelings.

The doctor is sending me to get a vascular ultrasound today to check everything out. Should everything check out okay, and it is nothing more than varicose veins, then I will probably be sent to have the vein closed, so that the blood is routed to deeper veins (as it should be).

Varicose veins are basically the veins swelling, allowing blood to pool, restricting blood flow. This increases potential circulation complications. Normally, varicose veins are purely cosmetic blemishes, but since I was feeling some sharp pains, I decided to get them checked out. The doctor will have results on the ultrasound in a few days.

To close the vein, if that is what it comes to, they will insert a catheter of sorts that emits radio waves. When the vein shuts down, blood will be routed to deeper veins.

Will update when I find out what it is! Best to fix this early than have more serious complications later on in life!

Baby to Parent, My Journey

I am a 28-year old stay at home dad who works full-time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It's a delicate balancing act for sure, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Inspired by a post from MckMama, I decided to do a little history on Khordaddy.

In spring of 1981, I was the first born of an eventual 3 sons. Ronald Reagan is in his first year as President, and the first IBM PC is introduced.

In winter of 1983, my second brother is born. I meet him for the first time in the hospital and manage to poke him in the eye. I still remember this, it is one of my earliest memories. I can even still remember walking up to the side of my mom's hospital bed and having my dad lift me up there to sit with my mom and new baby brother.

We move into our new house in 1985, and live there for the next 12 years. The wreck of the R.M.S. Titanic is located this year.

My third and youngest brother was born in 1986. I am attending Kindergarten at a private Christian school.

In 1987 I start my heavy addiction to G.I Joes. Eventually I collect over 60 of the action figures. I also start first grade. I have my first crush, Carrie, and manage to chase her all across the playground until I catch her, pin her on the ground, and plant a big smooch on her back.

In the 4th grade, I start wearing glasses. I was one of the few that thought it was cool to wear glasses. Man, could I see the chalkboard now! I also learn the truth about the jolly red man from the north.

In 5th grade I am educated about the birds and the bees. A repulsive idea to me at the time.

In the 7th grade, at age 13, I get braces. I also get some mega contraption that resembles a retainer on steroids to help bring back my overbite. It works wonders, but makes me feel like a pro football player 24/7 with that giant mouthpiece.

At 14, I start high school and also start attending youth group at my church for the first time. I also get contacts.

Age 16 brings a handful of events. I am baptised and devote my life to Christ, I get my driver's license, and my dad gets a job promotion, in which we must move across state. Two years of high school left.

I spent the better half of my junior year of high school grounded, because I pretty much am fed up with parental authority. I count my blessings my parents loved me enough to keep me from heading further down a rebellious path.

Senior year comes, 12th grade, and I already have enough credits to graduate. I elect to stay in my senior year. I get my first girlfriend, and the relationship lasts 9 months until I have to go to college. I was a senior, she was a freshman. Dating younger women is a trend that would continue. We move back to our hometown after another job transfer for my dad.

First year of college I accumulate a whopping GPA of 0.9. Poor study habits in high school and staying up late with friends left me ill-prepared for the dedication college studyiung takes. I did not party, drink or do anything of the sort, but I just half-assed my way through that first semester. After finals, I come home and spend the next semester there.

The year 2000 starts and I meet my second girlfriend, who I date for a year and a half. During this time we share the same classes and go to the same church. Both still immature in terms of relationships, we eventually go our separate ways. A very difficult break-up that would forever change my perception on how I should act in a relationship. More maturity eventually evolves from this.

Late 2000, I head back to college to continue my education. I manage to bring my GPA up to a 1.1. I again come home after the semester and do not return. On academic probation, I do not attend this college again.

2001 comes and I am attending community college working towards a networking degree. 9/11 happens and we are sent home, classes are cancelled. My cousin was in relative proximity to the World Trade Center, but was safe and unharmed.

In late 2002 I start working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the hospital my mom works at. She is an NICU nurse. So yes, I work with my mom. I change my degree from networking to nursing. I work hard at school and raise my GPA to a 3.2.

In 2004, fed up with the dating scene, I try online dating, with great results. Meet my third girlfriend, a teacher. We mutually agree to split up after 6 months realizing we had grown as far as we could together. We stay in contact as friends until we are both married, at which point we both agree to continue our separate journeys out of touch.

In October of 2005, I meet the woman of my dreams, Brittany, via match.com. Yes, it works. As with most girls it seems, her friends put her on match after a nasty break-up, and I of course, luckily found her. On the last day before my account expired, I figured I'd try one last time to see if there were any perfect girls out there. To my amazement, I found Brittany, and sent her an email. Being so beautiful, I was sure she wouldn't even give me a second look. I was wrong. When I received her email in reply, I was so excited. We eventually went out on a date and I knew it was meant to be from the moment I saw her.

Strangely enough, the medical director (a neonatologist) of my unit has a daughter who is best friends with my wife's sister. Strange how small the world can be.

In early 2006 we moved in together after only 3 months of dating. Just before our 1 year anniversary, I asked Brittany to marry me. She, of course, said yes! School is still a struggle for me, though I have all my pre-requisites for nursing school nearly completed. Just a few more labs to go.

June 2007, at the age of 26, I marry my beautiful wife, Brittany, age 22. We honeymoon in the Caribbean on a cruise.

In December of 2007, we find out we are pregnant. Brittany surprises me with the info by taking me to the restaurant we ate at on our first date, Friday's. She presents me with a glasses case, which I have no idea what to expect. I open it up and inside is a digital thermometer. Only it's not a thermometer (such is my now-medical way of thinking). It's actually a positive pregnancy test with a note telling me how I will be just as great of a father as I am a husband. I am speechless and shocked. I keep asking Brit if she is joking. I want to jump and shout and cheer with joy, but being in a restaurant, I control myself. I am ecstatic.

Late February 2008 we purchase our first home. An absolute steal during the housing recession, we snatch up a 2700 sq. foot, 4-bedroom, 2.5 bath house built in 2004 for dirt cheap. Having gone past foreclosure, we purchased the house as a HUD home (US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development owned).

September 2008 our baby girl is born at 6 pounds 15.2 ounces. 40 weeks and full-term, she is a beautiful baby! Both sets of grandparents are at the hospital when Brit delivers. They are allowed to come in to see mom and baby about 30 minutes after delivery.

With a good job in the NICU, but now not attending school, I am at a crossroads on where to go from here. Finish with nursing, or take another medical related job such as billing and coding, or medical transcription in order to stay at home with our baby girl. Tough choices.

Brit works full-time during the week, and I stay home to watch the baby, still working my full-time NICU job. I couldn't imagine a more perfect life right now!

Keep this going and post how YOU got to where you are now!