Photography is Social.
I have a question…
Would you still photograph if there was no social media to share those photographs?
I’m sure you’ve come across this question on several different platforms.
I know I have:
Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
It feels like to me it’s always asked with this undertone of:
Some of you wouldn’t be photographers without social media
I want to say, “Yes, I would,” but I know that yes comes from where I am in my present photographic journey.
I feel I have a defined vision and goal for my work, and although I’m nowhere near that goal at the moment, I at least have something that I’m reaching and striving for.
I’m confident that I understand the fundamental technical aspects of photography, such as the exposure triangle, the rule of thirds, etc..…
I spend a lot of time (and because I’m an analog [aka film] photographer*, quite a bit of money) striving for photographs that make me feel fulfilled.
*The fact that I photograph with film does not make my photography any better or more special than that of the next photographer.
I make tons of shitty photographs; we all do.
At least half of my photographic journey was spent without the influence of social media.
Flickr (remember Flickr?) was the first site I joined to share my photography, at least as far as I can remember.
I was a decent photographer, just not focused (not a pun).
I was all over the place, trying to grow and develop (again, no pun intended) as a photographer while also trying to share my photographs.
Many people have positive memories of Flickr, but I remember it being a very cliquey community, and that’s probably more on my end.
I wasn’t very social on social back in those days.
From there, it was Tumblr (several Tumblrs, in fact)
then:
EyeEm
Instagram
Ello (I think this one had tons of potential)
Vero (this one had tons of potential, too…)
A short stint on Glass
Foto (my latest sign-up)
I had so many profiles…and haven’t followed through on any of them, except Instagram.
I know some of you have gone through more than I have: 500px, VSCO, PixelFed…
I know I’m forgetting some, probably forgetting quite a few.
So many platforms have come and gone.
What are we all searching for?
Community? Connection? Business leads? Gigs?
I might be in the minority here, but Instagram is the only social media app for photographers that’s gotten it right.
I know, video!, Reels!
Bots, so many bots
Ads all day, errday
But unlike all other photo-sharing apps, you can still grow community and connections because everyone is on there, not just other photographers and visual artists.
It doesn’t feel echo chamber-y.
Maybe it’s just my longevity there:
Maybe it is because I put more time and energy into my feed.
I experimented a lot: iPhone photos, digital photos, instant film photos, toy camera photos, color, black and white.
There was no consistency; it was just whatever method I felt photographing with.
Unfortunately, I have managed to get myself locked out of that old IG account.
So, I’ve started over.
A fresh start on Instagram feels weird in 2024.
I’m trying new things, like posting more stories.
I even posted my first reel!
It was fun, to be honest, and I can see myself doing it more often.
I’ve also been active on IG’s conversational platform Threads.
Threads might be the best social network I’ve been a part of. The people I’ve met and conversations I’ve had—fantastic community there!
I’m also slowly talking myself into saying I have things for sale.
Like prints and zines (I don’t have prints and zines for sale).
A little self-promotion never hurt anyone. I even posted about this newsletter (with four measly posts) recently.
Encouragement on my end to start writing more.
Encouragement to be more social.
Until next time,
Laidric
Also, you can find me here: