The oddity of online photo posting

[rexbobcat]

Do you know how hard it is to get external validation with prints, though? Ugh...You have go find someone, have them look at the prints, and then stare at them until they give you the gratification you crave. Soooo much work.

Online, I can just zap an image to Flickr and then get the sweet affirmation that keeps my self-esteem intact.

that's what I use instagram for. Put up a picture of a backlit dogwood? Bam 20 likes. Picture of my #coffee with steam rising off, boom, 30 likes. But then my girlfriend posts a bathroom mirror selfie and, welp, 200 likes, haha.

God, I can't stand Instagram...but I use it anyways...There are many nice feeds (I really like Nat Geo's photography account) but it's the most disingenuous app out there. It's basically 70% softcore porn. And then the people who are popular for just that act like they're not vain or shallow at all even though the people they hang out with in their photos are basically clones of themselves. lol

Plus, people always manufacturing moments for the photo app. I watched a documentary where some hipster dudes went around jumping off of sh*t for the perfect Instagram photo. I'm not all about that scene. I've never understood it.

I'm the Debbie Downer for not liking and complimenting people's selfies and inspirational quotes/Bible verses. I'll survive I suppose.

Thats funny, instagram is probably my favorite social media place. Admittedly, there is a LOT of nonsense on there. But I've been able to connect with a lot of photographers, worked with some awesome companies, sold prints, etc. through instagram. I do hate the square crop, even if you can just add white borders to be able to post 2x3 ratio photos

In my experience, most people get followers and opportunities through physical contacts. IE: Someone you know refers another person/company to Instagram. I think a company cold contacting a photographer solely because of Instagram is somewhat rare unless you're already well-known outside of Instagram.

It also depends on what genre of photography you work in as well.

 

[jsecordphoto]

In my experience, most people get followers and opportunities through physical contacts. IE: Someone you know refers another person/company to Instagram. I think a company cold contacting a photographer solely because of Instagram is somewhat rare unless you're already well-known outside of Instagram.

It also depends on what genre of photography you work in as well.

I'm primarily a landscape photographer, and I agree, I wouldn't see IG being as worthwhile for other fields of photographers. I love it though, works very well for me.

 

[f2bthere]

Getting a good photo printer had and continues to have a big impact on my photography.

It is much easier to make an image that looks good (enough) online than it is to make a good print. It is also much easier to make a good 4x6 than it is to make a good 16x20.

Looking critically at your own work printed will do more for you with one image taken seriously and cultivated to a fine print than will looking at a hundred images online.