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