Take a beginners look at how photographers
can get the best from social media resources
As a photographer, one of the most
important things that we all need are clients, or at least a way of getting our
work out into the public domain. Gone are the days when you could place an
advert in the local newspaper or in a shop window advertising your services.
Times have changed immeasurably and everything has migrated to online
solutions.
Times
have changed immeasurably and everything has migrated to online solutions
The use of social media and having an
online presence has replaces many traditional methods of advertising and
attracting business such as printed adverts, postcards and posters. Many
photographers, both amateur and pro, are using various social networking
websites to share, promote, teach and learn from those to whom they’re
connected. Nowadays, potential clients can quickly learn about your photo
adventures, see your images and learn about what services you offer. Many of
these sites can provide a sense of community, much like a modern day version of
the traditional camera club.
Self promotion
The idea of self-promotion might seem a
little strange to some people but it is becoming increasingly important for
photographers, in order to make them stand out from the crowd. Over the years I
have added Flickr, Twitter, Facebook and a WordPress blog to my social
networking habits. They offer an easy and very quick way to expand any interest
I have in my website and, ultimately, me as a photographer. It’s a two-way
street though – I follow other photographers whose images and content I like to
look at, and likewise for those that follow me. Every day, I get to see new
photographs and learn of new photographers whom I would not have known about
otherwise. These connections help to make me a better photographer, as through
tem I learn new techniques and become inspired by others.
The
idea of self-promotion might seem a little strange to some people but it is
becoming increasingly important for photographers, in order to make them stand
out from the crowd
Get connected
Although social networking is a very slick
way of getting your name out into the big wide world and generating interest in
your work, it also provides a great opportunity for you to communicate with
potential customers or people who would like to work with you. It is a great
way of helping you find more work, getting feedback and, in particular, for testing
out new ideas that you may have, as social networking makes it very easy to
reach out to fellow photographers for advice and support. I find it
indispensable when it comes to asking for advice before investing in any new
equipment.
The whole thing can backfire though if all
you do is talk about yourself – it is best to share news stories relating to
general photography too, so that your followers will find your pages to be more
of a resource than a self-run trophy page.
There is a wide range of various social
networking options out there, depending on what you want to do. Some sites
offer more business-orientated features, while others are more suited to simply
uploading images and commenting on the work of others. Whatever your level,
there is something out there for you – so get connected now!
Flickr
Flickr is ideal for photographers as its
primary function is to host images and videos online. Image storage is not it’s
only function though, because its most useful feature is that it is also an
online community where you can join various photography groups that interest
you, which means you are only subscribing to content that interest you. No
matter what your interest or skill level happens to be, there’s a Flickr Group
for it. Groups range from being very serious to completely fun. Flickr also
gives you the ability to comment on the work of others and to have your work
critiqued by other like-minded photographers with similar interests. When I
first began in photography I found these comments invaluable, as it is good to
take in the opinion of others and helped to set me on the right track. Flickr
is a free service, but they also offer a pro version for which you pay an
annual fee of $24.95.
Flickr
is ideal for photographers as its primary function is to host images and videos
online
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Flickr tips
