Blog Categories or Static Pages

[5225Marketing]

Background: We're creating a site that for a service provider on a wordpress platform, and it will include a blog with a page for each service category. Let's say the client is a wedding photographer we'd create a page for studio portraits, events, wedding, newborns, family etc.

Question: Should each category page be a stand-alone page or a blog category? As a blog category it will be updated with new content continually and automatically. However, it could cause duplicate content issues as well as keyword dilution.

Research: I've done research and obviously there are conflicting opinions - skip categories altogether, categories bring traffic, problems & solutions. I'm hoping for your opinion on the matter, or direction to content on the issue that will be helpful.

Blog categories yay or nay?

[philipbuuck]

I've never used blog categories as I've never had a use for a page that just automatically lists all the posts in a topic. Typically I use a plugin to make my category pages noindex, and then I roll my own category page. So I at least say nay.