Don't Let Social Media Stifle Your Creativity

Social media sites like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, 500px.com and others can be a great way to share you work as a photographer, but they are not the end all be all. Many times photographers get discouraged with the results they find on these sites, especially if they don't receive a large amount of "Likes" or "Shares" or "Favorites".

These responses are not an accurate gauge of your creativity or ability as a photographer, they are more the results of Social Media popularity contests. I have talked to and see so many photographers become discouraged with these platforms because they don't gets tons of "Likes" or "Shares", they think their work is not good enough or that no one likes they creative flare.

When it comes to your art and your work, you have to be the one true judge of your creativity and always strive to try new things and think outside the box. I can personally tell you from experience that I have posted photos on 500px.com and even on Facebook that got very little attention, but that same photo on EyeEm.com and Getty Images is selling like hotcakes.

Tybee Island Sunrise - Not liked at all of Social Media, sold 50 copies on Getty Images

 On the other hand, images I have posted that got scored really high or gotten lots of "Likes" and "Shares" didn't sell at all even though they were fantastic images and very creative and visually pleasing. The point is you are the best one to determine your best work and you can also get a more professional, objective opinion from your professors while you are still in college or from other professionals you are friends with or network with in the real world.

Social Media sites and platforms can be great for getting your work out there and noticed by a wider audience of people and perspective clients, but if you go into Social Media with the wrong mind-set, it can also suck the life out of you creatively. I find that a good way aside from the ones I mentioned a moment ago to have your photos honestly critiqued is to join some of the larger photography groups on Facebook that have been around for a while and have a large number of pros and seasoned hobbyists that are very active on there.

I personally created a Photography Twitter account that is totally separate from my personal one and have picked up quite a few professional photographers as followers and some of them are even nice enough to talk to me on there via Direct Message on a regular basis and are even kind enough to give me honest feedback on my work that I post there all the time. Some of your more famous photographers like Chase Jarvis and Zack Arias won't give you the time of day on there and most of them won't even answer emails either but there are still some pros out there that are more than happy to talk to you and even critique your work, such as Jared Polin from FroKnowsPhoto.com, Josh Schmidt from PhotoTipsHQ.com, Ken Rockwell from www.kenrockwell.com and Leigh from www.snapchick.com.

Wall of Light - Got tons of Likes and Shares, was used by AI for publications, never sold a copy

 I have also had personal exchanges by email with David Hobby and Scott Kelby as well, but they are a bit harder to catch up with as they are always so busy and get so much email, and I have never felt like bother either one of them for a photo or portfolio review/critique.

The point I am trying to make is you cannot let these sites pull you down and make you second guess your abilities or creative abilities as a photographer or artist. Take most of the response you get on Social Media with a grain of salt, I don't even let myself get overly excited when people gush over my work posted on there, but I do make sure I always thank them for their comments.

Comments/Questions

Hip to be Square

When you're planning a capture, it's vital to keep in mind what your final use of the image will be. Setting the correct aspect ratio will help you avoid cropping out essential portions of an image when you and your clients print them out, and changing up your aspect ratio can help challenge you as a photographer to come up with new compositions and keep you on your toes creatively!

Platforms like Instagram have helped change the way we look at and think about the dimensions of images. While the square composition is by no means a new idea, modern cameras are usually set to the 2:3 ratio (resulting, for example, in a 4x6" image). Framing images with a square result in mind (by adjusting your DSLR settings, shifting your camera phone to square mode, or simply planning to crop in post-production) can refresh your eye. For some examples of DSLR 1:1 aspect ratio images, see a few of the images in my Tanzania gallery. My camera settings stayed in the 2:3 aspect ratio for the trip, but a few scenes just screamed square!

Are you a fan of the square image? How about panoramas? Maybe you stick with the classic 8x10"? Leave a comment with a link to your favorite image that strays from the 2:3 ratio!

The images in this post are from my Instagram account.

-Friday Ambassador

Top 10 Photographers to Follow: Wedding Photographers

1: Chrisman Studios

Why to follow them: Ben and Erin Chrisman, along with their colleagues, revel in the unexpected and aim to surprise. With multiple awards from organizations like the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA), they bring a great deal of creativity and ingenuity to the table.

Where to follow them: Their images are best viewed on the Chrisman Studios blog, but you can also find Ben Chrisman on Google+. Be inspired by how they find interesting ways to shoot a scene, and soak up the amazing locations they get to visit!

2: Kevin Weinstein

Why to follow him: Maybe I’m a bit biased since I chose Weinstein to shoot my own wedding, but his vivid color images are so full of life and his wry sense of humor comes through in his posts. His mobile captures are equally as bold as his DSLR images.

Where to follow him: See his vibrant style on Instagram or follow him on Facebook.

Source: Weinstein, Kevin. "Chicago Wedding at The Ivy Room : Jeannie & Chris." Jeannie Kao and Christopher Zuehlke Chicago Wedding at The Ivy Room by Kevin Weinstein Photography. Kevin Weinstein Photography, 12 Nov. 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.

3: Mike Olbinski

Why to follow him: Olbinski’s posts are not exclusive to wedding photography. His storm chasing posts are just as intriguing as his beautifully lit portraits.

Where to follow him: Add him to your Google+ photography circle to keep up with his latest posts.

4: Morgan Lynn Razi (Morgan Lynn Photography)

Why to follow her: Razi beautifully combines color and black and white images into her portfolio. See how she maintains a consistent feeling across both styles with candids as well as formal portraits.

Where to follow her: Razi’s blog and Facebook page are consistently updated.

5: Katie Stoops

Why to follow her: Stoops’s branding and consistent photographic style may inspire you to work on defining your own.  

Where to follow her: Her Instagram feed is full of bright, playful images that give a great sense of who she is as a photographer. She shares both DSLR and iPhone images on her feed. Check out her blog to see how she tells stories with her images.

6: Salvatore Cincotta

Why to follow him: Those of you who follow the wedding industry at all have likely heard of Sal Cincotta. With too many photographers trying to make a buck off of others by holding talks just to hock their products, Cincotta actually has a ton of worthwhile information to share.

Where to follow him: His Behind the Shutter blog and magazine are free (though there is an option for a paid membership that comes with various privileges) and bring together pros sharing business tips in addition to photographic techniques. You can also follow his Facebook page to see his work as well as industry news.

7: Pradeep Sanyal

Why to follow him: The Indian weddings in which Sanyal specializes are full of color and liveliness. He is also a talented street photographer!

Where to follow him: His active Google+ stream shows off people and places from his point of view.

8: Matt Miller (Diamond Eyes)

Why to follow him: Miller’s time spent in a punk rock band managed to translate into a quirky and fun photographic style. Watch as his new business gains traction and you might get some great business lessons for your own studio!

Where to follow him: While much of his recent work was with a larger wedding photography team called Our Labor of Love, he’s branched off on his own and will be posting on his studio’s Facebook page.

9: Roberto Valenzuela

Why to follow him: Valenzuela’s posing techniques could fill a book. In fact, they do! Posing is something that takes practice and understanding of various body types, so studying the images of people who know what they are doing is quite helpful.

Where to follow him: Follow his Twitter feed and read his blog to see how he makes posed couples and groups look natural.

10: Andy Brown

Why to follow him: Based in New Zealand, Brown’s images are filled with lush landscapes while his work showcases a multitude of different lenses. His images don’t stop with the weddings, though. He also shares images of his finished albums, giving glimpses of contemporary layouts that will get you thinking of how to help clients tell their stories.

Where to follow him: His website has a blog-like feel, and his Instagram feed features recent work.

Have anyone to add to my list? Leave a comment with a link for us all to check out! You can also feel free to see some of my work on my blog or keep in touch with me on Facebook.

-Friday Ambassador

Work Cited:

Weinstein, Kevin. "Chicago Wedding at The Ivy Room : Jeannie & Chris." Jeannie Kao and Christopher Zuehlke Chicago Wedding at The Ivy Room by Kevin Weinstein Photography. Kevin Weinstein Photography, 12 Nov. 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.

*Please note that I am out of the country with limited Internet access, so I may not be able to respond to comments today. However, I really want to hear your thoughts or questions and will get back to you as soon as I am able.