I’m a hobbyist who enjoys street and landscape photography, and after getting diminishing returns and burn out by posting on Instagram, my photos started amassing in my lightroom library - never to be seen by anyone! I have a website (Adobe Portfolio), but I rarely use it, and it doesn’t bring me that much joy.
I recently came across Substack, which is a newsletter/blog type website where you can create long form content, and in my case, photo essays and commentary. This has been a really satisfying alternative to posting on social media - I enjoy writing and it feels like I’m putting more intention behind my work. I think Substack will take off, and I enjoy the niche community of photographers on it.
How are you sharing your photos these days? And, if you’re not, why not? What do you think the future is for sharing photography?
And if you’re a Substacker already - I’d love to follow you! If this subreddit allows it, drop your Substack below :)
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When I was taking pictures during a family visit, nothing fancy, but I was using an old point and shoot because it’s more reliable than my phone. My cousin asked if I’m going to print the pictures… maybe 5% or fewer get printed but I definitely see where she’s coming from. Social media posts are seen once and forgotten, but something on your wall is seen every time someone visits your house.
Flickr.
I used to be a promember back when it was 25 dolars/year. Then they got greedy. But it was the golden days of internet photography, beautiful community, I still miss it.
flickr still around with the cap of 1,000 photos? I haven’t used flicker in like 10 years or so.
and after getting diminishing returns and burn out by posting on Instagram
Diminishing returns? Are you sure you are a hobby photographer… because it sounds more like you are trying to build a brand.
Moms everywhere getting their dopamine fix posting cell phone pics of their kids on facebook… and this guy over talking about diminishing returns on IG posts. What does that even mean? You set yourself a monthly “like” quota or something?
Post on FB and IG like everyone else. Literally foundational tools for building a brand/sharing a photography hobby. If you cant make it there… you cant make it anywhere.
The same way I have since 2007, on flickr.
Interesting to hear about this Substack thing becuase I was just about to start my own newsletter! I will have to look into this after finally officially getting off of Instagram as someone who vary rarely posted to start. Hah! But I’m excited to start writing deeper dives on my photos on my own email newsletter. Can you make Substack be private or request people pay $5 a month to see your posts?
Hey! I have mine set to free because I don’t want to make it paid, but yes you can absolutely set how much people pay to subscribe to you. I’m @beyondthegrain, I’ll give you a follow :)
Thank you so much for posting about Substack… It’s the first time I’m this excited for an app in a long time!!
I really just post on Instagram and which automatically posts on Facebook. For context, I usually post travel pics. I find that people interact with my pictures on FB more, especially the locals from where the pictures were taken. But I still post primarily on IG because it retains the quality of the pictures better.
For friends, prints! Always fun to hand them out
I share my recreational photography on social media.
I have a website for my professional work, but it’s mostly for client photo access. I don’t typically share my professional work anymore on social media, because I do it part-time for fun and don’t necessarily want more business.
I used to share my professional work more often when I really needed the cash, but I was getting burned out and started to not enjoy it anymore. I quit photographing weddings, and now stick with smaller gigs. I mostly photograph dance concerts, plays, musicals, and also some marketing shoots for local Universities. Now I’m just happy with my part-time passion funding itself.
FB mainly, share in local pages for local events, car clubs for local meets.
Insta for my favourites
Made a subreddit for ones I think make good desktop wallpapers 😅
You maybe interested in this google spreadsheet of photographers on substack, from Neil Milton.
Yeah I’m on this one!
enjoy writing and it feels like I’m putting more intention behind my work.
This is where I struggle. I can never put into words when I post a photo on IG or reddit.I sometimes find quotes that relate to how the photo makes me feel but I find it a bit weird to put a quote.
Sharing? You mean like… exporting and putting a copy on different storage methods to not lose them and never looking at them again?
FB friends. Make calendars for family and friends.
I’m new to photography and have been searching for a thread like this. What are the best places to continuously post my work? I don’t gain any traction on Instagram. Is this and app?
I sell them on the stock agencies, for me, it’s a great side hustle and I love seeing my photos being used. I also use Flickr - still love Flickr after all these years & I pay for pro