It's last month of 2014 and I think it's the right time to thank my blog (PHOTO JOURNEY) for offering me various opportunities to travel, photograph, explore, meet people, experience different things and lot more. I thought of starting this series called 'Thank you 'PHOTO JOURNEY'' and would share some of the experience which made feel proud about this blog, my photographs and passion for continuous exploration.
It feels really great when you receive an email with an invitation to visit vineyards in different parts of the country, or fly to a luxurious resort in hills southern India and the reason is that I am a blogger. And my blog is one of the top Travel Photography blogs in the country. Such mails really made a blogger feel proud and also encourages you to do things which you want to. This also proves that your passion is always good for you, it's just that you need to follow it with full commitment and joy.
7 Years back when I started this blog, I never thought that such things would start happening in my life. In 2014, I was offered to travel 9 times to different places in India and abroad. Unfortunately my other commitments didn't allow me to take all of these opportunities, but they are still in pipeline. I hope to make best of the pending proposals in 2015.
Apart from these travel opportunities and enjoy some of the luxurious resorts and hotels, many of the brands wrote to us for reviewing their products and services. Most of the times, these are pretty good experiences but at times you also come across brands which are not worth endorsing. It's not that they don't pay or deal well, but more because products/services they offer are not worth promoting. As a blogger the basic responsibility is to be true about these things and share right information. Your followers, viewers and readers are most important for any blogger and you can't cheat them. And the best part is that really good companies or brands approach you, who have full confidence in their products/services. Associating with companies like Lonely Planet, Nat Geo, Airbnb, Jabong, Google, Evernote, Microsoft, Fujifilm, Nikon, Canon, Tamron, Nokia, Tom Tom, Tata, Expedia, UB, Red Bull, Citi Bank, Berigner, JKTyre, Black Dog, Four Seasons, McDowell, Opera, Saffola, New Zealand High Commission, Te Aroha, Le Meridien, Milaap NGO has been a great experience.
The other day we were having this discussion about folks who are following their passion and doing things which they really want to do. Technology has brought a huge change wherein individuals with good skills are able to make best of those, which was not really possible in old days. With good skills, now you can get exposure with every good step you take and people start noticing you. It's just that you have do things in right way. And that automatically happens when you follow your passion(s).
It's great to see lot of bloggers getting noticed for their good work. There are some brilliant food bloggers who probably do better food photography as compared to a professional photographer and that's because of the simple fact that they understand the food better. There are some bloggers who are considered as better book reviewers as compared to old world critics. There are many bloggers from different niche areas, who are one of the top consultants in their areas of expertise - Travel, Interiors, fashion, health, personal care, literature, family and parenting, sports, technology, gadgets and what not. Isn't it amazing?
Many of the national and international newspapers, magazines and book publishers contacted us in last 4 years. Some of them published few of our photographs and some of them asked for photo essays. It was an amazing feeling when my first photograph and a full photo story was published in a newspaper. Without this blog I wouldn't have imagined all those things so easily.
Without PHOTO JOURNEY, it wouldn't have been possible to get exclusive access to many of the extra-ordinary events and places. I am really proud of my blog and would like to thank every friend, follower and family, who encouraged me to keep improving this blog through their suggestions, critics and ideas. For next few days, we would be sharing some of the unique experiences that amazed us during these years of blogging.