If you scour my blog, you might find one photo of me. That’s pretty much it.
I was having a conversation with a few blogging friends the other day, and it turns out that I’m not alone on that front.
As bloggers – particularly pet bloggers – we spend a lot of time behind the camera, but not that much in front of it. We post countless photos of our furballs and share all sorts of personal stories, but – for some of us, at least – it’s pretty rare that our faces grace the hallowed HTML of our own blogs.
I found this conversation especially interesting, as I recently (by which I mean two months ago) read a post entitled “Lessons Learned from a Year of Staying in the Picture.” This post is a follow-up to a post the author posted in 2012 called “The Mom Stays in the Picture,” in which she talked about the reasons women avoid photos and why she wanted to change that in her own life.
The blogging conversation reminded me of those posts and my own desire to start staying in the picture. Although I have taken approximately thirteen trillion photos of my dogs (give or take), some of my favorites are the rare ones that I’m in too. In spite of that, I never post photos of myself on this blog. For all you know, I have green skin and go around singing about defying gravity a lot. (Hint: one of those tidbits is true.)
This seems to be a fairly common pet blogging phenomenon. I’m pretty sure that I could pick most of your pets out of a lineup, but wouldn’t know you if I stumbled over you on the sidewalk. We should change that. I’d like to know it’s you, should I accidentally stumble over you one day.
With that in mind, I have an invitation for you. Join us as we step out from behind the camera – it’s time to meet the bloggers! The Meet the Bloggers blog hop on December 18 is co-hosted by I Still Want More Puppies, Go Pet Friendly, Kol’s Notes, Life With Desmond, No Dog About It Blog, The Daily Dog Blog, My Brown Newfies, CindyLu’s Muse, Bringing Up Bella, Heart Like A Dog, Rescued Insanity, Peggy’s Pet Place, and NEPA Pets. (With that many co-hosts, you know it’s going to be good. We want you!)
So, that’s the why. Here’s the how:
- Join us for the hop on December 18. (A Linky list will go live that day, so make sure to add your post. If you want to add the Linky code to your post, you can find it at the end of this one.)
- Grab the badge that best describes you (options and code below).
- Your post must include a current photo of you (with or without a furry friend).
- Answer at least five (or more, if you’d like!) of the questions below:
- What’s your favorite non-animal related book?
- What’s your favorite non-animal related movie?
- What’s your favorite non-animal related food?
- Who’s your favorite actor?
- What’s one thing you have to do every day?
- What makes you feel fabulous?
- What do you wish you were more skilled at?
- What’s your favorite holiday?
- Favorite meal?
- What do you like to do in your free time?
- What one word would people who know you use to describe you?
- If your pets could talk, what one word would THEY use to describe you?
- What is one thing you’ve done that you’re most proud of?
- How is your pet most like you?
- What can your body do for you that makes you most proud?
- If you could change one thing about your life what would it be?
- Other than blogging, what are three things you do that bring you joy?
- What’s one thing you could do to be more kind to yourself?
- What drives you nuts about your pets?
- What melts your heart?
- If you didn’t have your current pets, what pets would you choose to have?
Will you join us? I’m looking forward to seeing your smiling (or scowling, if you decide to channel Grumpy Cat) face!
The Badges:
The Linky Code:
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What a great idea although I hate being in a photograph! I’ll try to find a fairly recent shot that won’t mortify me too badly! Cameras don’t like me much.
Taryn recently posted..What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger, Right?
I think we all feel that way at times – but I think I’m always harder on myself than anyone else ever would be. Hope you’ll join us! 🙂
We can’t wait to see all those bright smiling faces!
Peggy Frezon recently posted..Hello! My Name is Dog Crazy. Announcing the Meet the Bloggers Hop!
Great idea, can’t wait to participate 🙂
Rachael recently posted..Rottweiler Christmas Vids!
Love this idea! It’s brilliant. I cannot wait! I’m excited to see what everyone looks like 🙂
Princess the Puppy recently posted..Doggie Wake-Up Call
Love this idea. (Not for myself, personally cuz I feel like my face is on my blog a lot, but for those bloggers whom I’ve wondered what they look like!)
Love that idea of “staying in the picture”. I swear, some bloggers seem to so purposely avoid the camera that I want to quote misquote Princess Bride to them: how come you never show your face on your blog? Were you burned by acid or something?
I definitely want to know what you gals look like so I’ll recognize you if I trip over you! 🙂
Jackie Bouchard recently posted..Monday Mischief: What Rita is Reading
True… your face even popped up next to this comment! You are an inspiration to the rest of us – I hope you’ll join us anyway and answer some questions. 🙂
Rooooo pawsome idea. I hope this means I will get to hold the camera – I promise not to chew it! *Waggy tail*
Alfie – Alfie’s Blog recently posted..Does this look like the Face of a Ball Thief to You?
absolutely LOVE the idea but unfortunately my face IS on Cat Chat With Caren and Cody. It’s also on Dakota’s blog, somewhere! Looking forward to reading what everyone posts!
Caren Gittleman recently posted..Book Review:My Life With Snoopy by Joey Camen and a World-Wide Give-Away!
You can join anyway! 🙂
I’d like to know it’s you, should I accidentally stumble over you one day.
LOL AJ, this was exactly how I felt when I met Dawn and Sugar’s mom at BlogPaws, I was like, “who are you?”
This will be so fun!!
Jodi recently posted..Meet The Bloggers and Advent Calendar for Dog Lovers Day 9
Seriously… maybe people can refer back to these posts at BlogPaws next time. LOL.
On the other hand, when I first took a picture of you at BlogPaws, I enjoyed telling people you were so secretive because you were really Batgirl. 🙂
Pamela recently posted..When You Feel Like Dancing, Dance – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Now I want to take my photo for the 18th wearing a mask, but that would violate the spirit of the hop. 🙂
Those are great questions. Posting my face online? Scary. (Although, Silas is a very distinctive dog, and anybody who knows me would surely recognize him even without my picture on the blog.) We’ll see.
Jessica recently posted..Day One: Start Now
I totally understand – I was extremely secretive the first few years I was blogging. I’m still hesitant at times!
I’m in! This comes as a good time. My blog turned 3 a couple of weeks ago. As I do every year, I am reflecting on what direction I want my blog to take. Over the years (and past year especially) I have started to include more “I”s into my posts instead of just the ambiguous “we” (as in the dogs, me and maybe my hubby). I want to continue to grow a stronger voice on my blog and this will be a good launching point for people to get to know me.
Jessica @YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner recently posted..10 Most Popular Posts of 2013
Yay! I can’t wait to see where your blog goes from here.
Such a great idea! I do occasionally post a photo of myself but it is rare. My dog is oh so much more photogenic than I am!
Ryker recently posted..Gingerbread Village with Assistant Chef Ryker
Reading everyone’s posts about his blog hop makes me smile and also makes my stomach churn… I love the idea but I don’t think I can do it. I’m too much of a paranoid person about online privacy, irrationally so, I know. If you tripped over me in the street my dogs would bark at you so you’d figure out it was me! 🙂
Bethany recently posted..Black & White Sunday Perched Trio
LOL… that’s true. Guilt by association. 😉
I am looking forward to this event. I can’t wait to finally ‘meet’ everybody.
This was a good post. I loved the inclusion of the mommy blog link. Made me think…
Leslie recently posted..It’s time to come out of the closet: Announcing the “Meet the Bloggers” Blog Hop
Can I take a pictures of the back of my head? 😉
one person’s view recently posted..What I’m Grateful For
Hey, I’m not the blog police… 😉
This sounds fun! You can count us in!
Poodle at Play recently posted..Winter weather and more cards
I was rushing off to catch the bus this morning so I didn’t get a chance to tell you what a great post you wrote for the hop. Love the links too AJ.
melf recently posted..No more hiding behind the words – “Meet the Bloggers” blog hop
Fantastic post, AJ. I love the “staying in the picture” link. It’s easy for us to step over ourselves focusing on our pets and this is a great reminder that WE are the people that make these blogs engaging, interesting, and compelling.
Amy@GoPetFriendly recently posted..“Meet the Bloggers” Blog Hop Coming December 18th
Hear, hear!
Great post, I completely agree! So many of us hide behind our pets because it’s easier. I know I take most of the photos that are in my blog and so I rarely even think about putting myself in them. But I’d love to get to know people a little better and you are right, wouldn’t it be a shame if I had run into my fellow bloggers and never even knew it?
Kristine recently posted..The Grand Unmasking: Meet the Bloggers 2013
What a great post! I’m looking forward to it!! I remember reading that article and the funny thing is – when we look back at pictures (if we have been in any) we tend to be much easier on ourselves than we were at the time. I have looked back at pictures where I thought I looked fat and wondered why the hell I spent so much of my life worrying about the way I looked instead of enjoying the moment. I hope we can all start to love ourselves a little more. I think any picture of someone smiling and enjoying life is a good one 🙂
I hope EVERYONE participates!!!
Julie recently posted..Meet the Bloggers!
Same here, Julie. I look at photos and wonder why I thought I was so [insert disparaging adjective here]… when I’m looking back, I just see the joy and the good times.
I love this, and I’m definitely going to take part. This comes at a perfect time, actually. My sister-in-law emailed and asked for a recent pic of me and John for a photo album she’s making for Christmas… I toggled through nearly 400 pics on my hard drive, and I wasn’t in a single one of them! But it never would’ve occurred to me without that request or this prompt. I’m excited to see everyone “face to face.”
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So excited to see so many people interested in participating!
This is a fun idea! Do you have to be a pet blogger to join in? I’m rarely in any pics on my blog because I haven’t trained Nico to take photos yet, ha!
Michelle recently posted..Free Printable: Holiday Gift Tags
You don’t have to be a pet blogger to join – all are welcome! (And I know you’re dog crazy… 🙂 )
Post is written and I am ready to go 🙂
Jessica @YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner recently posted..Calling All Outdoorsy Dogs: Join the #STPLive Twitter Chat
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I wish I would have found out about this in time! Will you be hosting it again any time soon?
Playful Kitty recently posted..Christmas Songs from Manna Part 2 & Blog Hop
There’s still time! The linky is open for a few more days. Not sure about future hops, but keep an eye out. 🙂
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