We all want to improve our photography and get recognition for our work. However, there are two major distractions that we need to put aside in order to be successful in our art. The first obstacle is the biggest one. Often hailed as the key to photography’s success, it has more downsides than useful attributes.
When I first started my photography business, I took courses where instructors emphasized that having a good Instagram following is important for the business to succeed. That can be good advice for businesses looking to promote themselves. But is that good advice for photographers who need to improve their skills?
Most experienced photographers will advise against consulting friends or family as they won’t want to offend you. The same applies to Instagram followers. There are some exceptions, but most people in this world are friendly, and they like a photo and compliment the photographer no matter how good or bad it is. Furthermore, most watchers don’t even have the skill to spot simple mistakes, such as an unstable horizon or an oversaturated development. This compliment gives the photographer a false sense of their skill. I’ve come across a few photography business startups that failed because the photographers over-hyped their skills. As a result, their reputation was quickly ruined.
It seems that getting a huge following is, for many, the be-all and end-all of photography. But I think that’s the wrong way to do it. Gaining more followers on whichever platform they choose to use will be the result of success. Working to get a lot of followers by any method means a person has a lot of followers, nothing more. It’s not automatically considered a great photographer.
Since 2007 onwards, numerous research papers have shown that the number one desire of newborns is to be famous. Before that time, young people considered acceptance to be part of the most important group. Before, reputation was a long list. Fifteen years later, celebrity aspirants are now adults, and the deeply ingrained idea of fame still fuels their ambitions. So they look for a large following on Instagram, Twitter, etc. to fill that whimsical need. Whenever there is a demand, the business will create a supply to meet that demand. As a result, major social media platforms have brought in popularity. But it’s shallow and pointless, and those who crave recognition are only playing for fools.
Followers and likes have become a currency. People yearn for people to click those little hearts and follow buttons. It’s like winning a bonus when it happens. Of course, Meta knows this, and their algorithms work, so the more posts, the wider the visibility of the photo and the more “likes” we get. But, other than that brief endorphin hit, it has no real value whatsoever. Those posted pictures were quickly forgotten, lost in a sea of dripping water. Furthermore, it’s worthless to be followed by people who waste every day scrolling through their IG feeds.
Social media owners want you to crave a large following because they know it will bring in ad revenue. They want your viewers to click on the ads they see when viewing your images. They are so successful that promoting the idea that having more followers is important leads to people buying up audiences ridiculously. That is deception. There was a time when audiences paid to see art.
There is nothing sinister in their motives. Like every other company, Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is solely for the purpose of making money. Our photos are nothing more than a free asset to them and a means to generate revenue.
The second distraction that makes us unable to ignore is the idea of a new camera.
Over the past year, I have written a series of well-received articles on composition and using the principles of art and design in photography. I have learned a lot from studying them, and I wish that the reader would gain something from that knowledge. Judging by the comments and high readership, they succeeded. I also get a lot of satisfaction, more than ever, from Instagram likes.
However, when I write a camera review, the readership is twice or three times that of an educational paper. Similarly, I have had the honor of interviewing some amazing photographers willing to share their knowledge. But they get even fewer readers.
What can I infer from that? Possibly, there are a lot of people who want to buy a camera. Perhaps, readers already know all there is to know about Itten’s contrast or the use of armature in composition, or what successful photographers have to say. But I doubt it. I think it’s more likely that many people get caught up in the idea that equipment is everything in photography. The manufacturer’s marketing departments have access to the same psychologists as Meta, and they know how to press our buttons.
There’s nothing wrong with being excited about the latest advancements in camera technology. The new technologies that have emerged over the past few years are astounding. However, learning about it won’t make someone a great photographer. It may give them expertise in the new jiggery-pokery that comes with the latest cameras, but that knowledge won’t do much to improve their photography.
Albert Einstein famously said, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know”. That holds true for every walk of life, including photography.
Every great photographer has gone on a journey of discovery. The earliest pioneers figured out what kind of silver salt they should use, Cartier-Bresson discovered the gold part and decisive moment, and Ansel Adams’ worked with Fred Archer in devising the zone system their. They all learned as they went along. Furthermore, they also encourage and help others by generously sharing what they know.
We have never had such a great opportunity to learn to become better photographers. Besides the huge stock of books available, there are countless articles and videos online, along with clubs and organizations where we can share knowledge. Real, Fstoppers has a lot of educational materials.
The opportunity to learn is never ending. But just like those IG scrollers, many photographers don’t focus their time in the right places. Instead of studying, they waste hours worshiping in the temple of the camera: All Hail the Canikony! Just like the false belief that Instagram will bring them fame and wealth, they believe that following the scriptures of camera marketers will help them fulfill that ambition.
Do you agree or disagree with what I say? Do you think Instagram followers are the pinnacle of achievement? Is learning about the latest camera more important than knowing how to compose a shot? Which articles do you click on first? Do you think there are other barriers preventing the advancement of photographers? Most importantly, where would you advise photography novices to spend their time?
Would be happy to hear your comments below.
