"New" Photographer Seeking Feedback & Tips

[cfg]

Hi everyone!

I'm a photography enthusiast who just launched a website and Instagram page to share my work. I'm really excited to connect with the photography community and learn from others.
Links removed - can be added to user signature after further involvement in TP discussions

I'm particularly struggling to reach a wider audience on Instagram. My engagement rate is decent, but I'm having trouble getting my photos seen by new people.

I have a large collection of photographs that I'm choosing to release gradually.

Would love any feedback you might have on my photos, website design, or Instagram strategy. All tips and constructive criticism are welcome!

Thank you very much,
Camille

 

[gramps]

Welcome Camille, you have a nice B&W style, though not many to view at present ... might be why you are struggling to get many followers.
I don't really do Instagram, except for family, so I'm no help but I do enjoy visiting Oxford for street photography.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Hi Camille, and welcome to TP. Interesting to hear you're from Oxford, not far from me.

I'm really excited to connect with the photography community and learn from others.

We have a certain etiquette here, that users are expected to involve themselves with the community while showing their work on the site in the various sections for either critique or just viewing for pleasure. It would be nice to have you share a bit about yourself and post some of your photos directly on the site (there is a brief period and a certain number of posts before you can upload pictures for reasons that should be obvious). We'd love to see your shots.

I'm particularly struggling to reach a wider audience on Instagram. My engagement rate is decent, but I'm having trouble getting my photos seen by new people.

This is mildly problematic, because it *sounds like* your main reason for posting here is to spam the community for traffic. We will trust that's not the case, and look forward to you taking part on TP in the future. The membership of Talkphotography covers a very wide range of users, from hobbyists to full-time professionals with many years in the business, so I'm sure you could find a niche here. It's good to see that you're asking questions and listening to the answers.

*edit*

I don't do Instagram, but on https://camillefgay.com/ there's not really any content to draw people. IMO you need to develop the site, then look for ways to draw people. You also need to know WHY you want them to come & look at your pictures.

 

[Gav.]

Hi Camille
Welcome to TP, look forward to seeing your work on the forum.

 

[cfg]

Hi Camille, and welcome to TP. Interesting to hear you're from Oxford, not far from me.



We have a certain etiquette here, that users are expected to involve themselves with the community while showing their work on the site in the various sections for either critique or just viewing for pleasure. It would be nice to have you share a bit about yourself and post some of your photos directly on the site (there is a brief period and a certain number of posts before you can upload pictures for reasons that should be obvious). We'd love to see your shots.



This is mildly problematic, because it *sounds like* your main reason for posting here is to spam the community for traffic. We will trust that's not the case, and look forward to you taking part on TP in the future. The membership of Talkphotography covers a very wide range of users, from hobbyists to full-time professionals with many years in the business, so I'm sure you could find a niche here. It's good to see that you're asking questions and listening to the answers.

Hi @ancient_mariner Apologies if I have given the wrong impression. It is true that by posting, I am hoping to get some engagement I would not be able to get anywhere else. Traffic or followers are far less valuable to my eyes than actual feedback and advice from the community though.

 

[cfg]

Hi Camille, and welcome to TP. Interesting to hear you're from Oxford, not far from me.



We have a certain etiquette here, that users are expected to involve themselves with the community while showing their work on the site in the various sections for either critique or just viewing for pleasure. It would be nice to have you share a bit about yourself and post some of your photos directly on the site (there is a brief period and a certain number of posts before you can upload pictures for reasons that should be obvious). We'd love to see your shots.



This is mildly problematic, because it *sounds like* your main reason for posting here is to spam the community for traffic. We will trust that's not the case, and look forward to you taking part on TP in the future. The membership of Talkphotography covers a very wide range of users, from hobbyists to full-time professionals with many years in the business, so I'm sure you could find a niche here. It's good to see that you're asking questions and listening to the answers.

*edit*

I don't do Instagram, but on https://camillefgay.com/ there's not really any content to draw people. IMO you need to develop the site, then look for ways to draw people. You also need to know WHY you want them to come & look at your pictures.

Thanks for the feedback. I agree, the main reason is that I am truly terrible at writing and I have found AI to be kind of disappointing with that. I am planning on working on that soon… but time is a scarce resource at the moment.
But surely that should not be discouraging people to follow me on instagram. I had not advertised and shared the website until today.
Whatever I do, I guess in the end it would all come down to the quality of the photographs I share, and it is probably the hardest thing to get honest feedback on.

 

[ancient_mariner]

But surely that should not be discouraging people to follow me on instagram? I had not advertised and shared the website until today.

Instagram seems to be its' own world, and to acquire followers does not seem especially related to the quality of the pictures you post. I have only limited knowledge of this, so perhaps others who use the site may comment.

 

[Gav.]

I'm not on Instagram but I'd imagine it is going to be hard to gain followers with a place that is already flooded with images and peoples connections, do it for the love of the craft, I'm sure the following will happen naturally, don't chase it.

 

[benc98]

If you're just starting out with photography, you don't need a website/Instagram strategy... these things are a distraction from photography

 

[imattersuk]

Instagram aren't interested in photographers these days, they want "content creators', it's all about reels, or as I describe them, pointless crappy video clips, instead of distancing themselves from TikTok, they have made a complete balls up by trying to compete. They should have played to their strength which was attracting posters of high quality visual material instead of swimming in the cess pool of chav central. Of course there are still great photographers on Insta but the new algorithm means that exposure is now a fraction of what it used to be.

 

[Sangoma]

Instagram aren't interested in photographers these days, they want "content creators', it's all about reels, or as I describe them, pointless crappy video clips, instead of distancing themselves from TikTok, they have made a complete balls up by trying to compete. They should have played to their strength which was attracting posters of high quality visual material instead of swimming in the cess pool of chav central. Of course there are still great photographers on Insta but the new algorithm means that exposure is now a fraction of what it used to be.

Yes, true.
It's now just another farcebook, artists gave up on it quite some time ago, it's not a place worth anything any more.

Previously potential employers used to look at it to get an idea of some one they were considering employing, not any more.

 

[f/1.2]

Hi everyone!

I'm a photography enthusiast who just launched a website and Instagram page to share my work. I'm really excited to connect with the photography community and learn from others.
Links removed - can be added to user signature after further involvement in TP discussions

I'm particularly struggling to reach a wider audience on Instagram. My engagement rate is decent, but I'm having trouble getting my photos seen by new people.

I have a large collection of photographs that I'm choosing to release gradually.

Would love any feedback you might have on my photos, website design, or Instagram strategy. All tips and constructive criticism are welcome!

Thank you very much,
Camille

The type of photography you post won’t get a lot of traction on Instagram.

Maybe 5/6 years ago you would have had a better chance. Instagram is now dying a slow death.

Best hone your reel skills and jump on TikTok

 

[lindsay]

I have removed the links in your first post here, because it isn't really permitted to promote your websites on TP without being a paying advertiser. However the discussion above has hopefully helped in your enquiry. You are welcome to put links to your website and Instagram in your signature block though.

 

[StephenM]

I've looked at your Instaglam (sic) and web site and was impressed. Your black and white work has a good tonal range, and this isn't the case (in my view) on some of the black and whites shown on here by others. I can't comment on Instagram - I have an account there, suspended because their algorithms determined I was a spammer, and to get back in I have to give them my telephone number - which is a step too far, given that they say in their terms and conditions that they'll share my details with every man and his dog. If you'd like my comments, I'm happy to go through the contact form on your web site.

@lindsay Sorry, I hadn't noticed that rule about mentioning your web site if not an advertiser, except in your signature line, and I can think of at least two occasions when I've broken this rule to give a quick pointer to save my typing in a long(er) reply to a query. Would you like me to "seek and destroy" - or at least edit the offending posts?

 

[StephenM]

P.S. Welcome to the forum - I live in Hove on the south coast.

 

[lindsay]

@lindsay Sorry, I hadn't noticed that rule about mentioning your web site if not an advertiser, except in your signature line, and I can think of at least two occasions when I've broken this rule to give a quick pointer to save my typing in a long(er) reply to a query. Would you like me to "seek and destroy" - or at least edit the offending posts?

Don't worry Stephen, the rule is much more relaxed when someone has been contributing across the site for a while, and in a case like yours for a long while across many topics, and not with the intention of self-promotion which I know would be anathema to you.

 

[harpistic]

P.S. Welcome to the forum - I live in Hove on the south coast.

Cool! My mother’s in Kemptown, I travel back and forth quite a lot (and never cease bragging that my beach - Portobello, Edinburgh - is better than her beach).

 

[harpistic]

I'm particularly struggling to reach a wider audience on Instagram. My engagement rate is decent, but I'm having trouble getting my photos seen by new people.

Would love any feedback you might have on my photos, website design, or Instagram strategy.

Funnily, I offered marketing strategic advice this afternoon, and now this!

I’ve had a quick look at your Instagram and website, but it’s not clear to me who your target audience is, who you want to notice your work and why, and what you’re doing to try and make that happen. What are you doing to try and expand your reach, are you part of any photography groups or collectives? I note that although you don’t have many followers, you’ve got a good engagement reach, which is great.

Instagram isn’t going to be easy, for the nature of your photography, which makes it all the more important to concentrate on why you’re using it, and what you want to get from using it.

 

[Phil V]

@cfg
Hi Camille and welcome to TP, it’s a great source of knowledge and advice and we really are a friendly bunch who get along with very few rules.

First the question:
What’s your aim? Why do you take photos? Why do you feel the need to have a ‘wider audience’?
Is there an end game? Do you want to build an audience in order to make money? Sell services? What?
Or is it purely for likes and feedback?

If it’s the former; then you need laser like precision, what you’re looking for is a business strategy, and that’ll almost certainly involve investment.

If the latter, then neither your own website or Insta are the best sources of that. The best engagement you’ll get for your work will be other photographers, we’re a disparate weird bunch of communities. And forums, Facebook groups, Flickr are all places you can check into pre existing networks of people who have an interest in good photography.

You really should delete the duplicate post though. Having received friendly guidance that your post breached a rule. Repeating that error for whatever reason isn’t going to land well.

And if the only reason you came here was to share your sites in order that it’ll boost your SEO, then I’m afraid it was a doomed strategy, and you’ve wasted yours and everyone else’s time.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Duplicate post removed.

 

[benc98]

The thing about engaging with the photography community, here, or elsewhere.. you generally have to give more than you take

 

[Adam-G]

Instagram has been an algorithm lottery for years. Unless you want to play the Reels Roulette table, you're not going to get "engagement" to the levels you desire on the platform and to be honest, I'd be asking myself why that's an aim?

I have a specialist interest account (photos of animals, but not photography focused) that has a modest 5000 followers built organically from an interest in talking about the animals with other owners. Since Reels came in, I haven't gained a single follower. In fact, I've probably lost around 300. Luckily it doesn't bother me from that superficial aspect but it does bother me from another angle.

What I see as engagement is not the Instagram/Social media definition of "engagement". I see engagement as discussion, sharing ideas and forming bonds with others in the community. Meta and their ilk see engagement as rapid fire, transient, non-attentive likes and shares which are the polar opposite of what photographers in general enjoy.

In general, photographers are considered, process driven, artistic intent kinda people. They're thinking about their composition, their technique and their subject and how the story of the frame comes together to varying levels. This isn't conducive to a platform that needs its users to become hooked on a dopamine algorithm that requires multiple hits to distribute this addiction mechanic as efficiently as possible. Instagram needs your photo liked and scrolled past in 10 seconds max to be effective in its aims.

If your aim is legitimate engagement rather than shortened attention span engagement, there are going to be other mediums that will help you connect and improve your photography in a more valuable way.

If your aim is to become Insta Famous - throw all your individuality out of the window, post a Reel on one of the trending topics or formats to a schedule more regimented than an actual 9-5 job and make sure you include the song that the algorithm likes that everyone else is using rather than one you like yourself. On top of that, the majority of "viral" engagement comes from falling into the lap of the algorithm Gods. I've seen amazingly talented people in various fields with a few hundred followers, I've seen content thieves with millions, all from recycling others' material and applying the trending songs and topic templates. It's not something that would give me any satisfaction.

I still enjoy Instagram for what it is, it's an easy spot where I can share photos with my friends and family without the excessive layers of Facebook drivel and the continued annoyance of finding out which of my school friends are colossal racists. It is however not a place for photographers any more.

 

[Phil V]

The thing about engaging with life, here, or elsewhere.. you generally have to give more than you take

Whilst measuring immediate effects this is true, as a philosophical old fella, I’d argue that the universe has a natural equilibrium and that there’s reward in helping others even if it’s not obvious what it is.

 

[swanseamale47]

I'm another who doesnt do antisocial media But I do look at a lot of pictures on here and comment on some.

 

[cfg]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your messages and for helping me understand the community guidelines.

First, apologies about the links. I reviewed the terms and conditions, but I clearly missed the part about not sharing them. I won't be posting any links again in the future.

Regarding the duplicate post, I believe that was actually the original post. As it was crossed, I figured that something went wrong and tried again. I guess it got automatically published later. This resulted in a duplicate post, which wasn't ideal timing for someone trying to avoid being seen as spammy.

Just to clarify, I wasn't sharing the links for SEO purposes. I don't actually have a formal SEO strategy yet. In fact, I've only written one meta description for the homepage, and the website itself has limited content, as some of you have observed. Getting clicks without a proper strategy wouldn't be very effective for me. I still have a lot to do, I haven't quite reach this stage yet. It's still very much a work in progress.

Thank you again for your patience and understanding, I appreciate your help!
I will try to reply to the messages individually.

 

[lindsay]

@cfg Just for clarity, if you create a signature for your userid (click on your userid at the top of the screen, then signature option), you can put links to your site and Insta and anything else there, that's ok. I think it became quickly obvious that you weren't spamming, so the rest was about keeping it tidy.
Please stay involved here on TP, we'd live to see your images and your photography develop, everyone here likes to help people who genuinely seek to improve their skills.

 

[cfg]

@benc98 I've been taking photos for about five years now. Since I have a full-time job, a family, and a baby, I haven't spent thousands of hours on it, so I still consider myself relatively new. Until very recently, I hadn't shared any of my photos, so I'm also new to exposure. But I haven't started yesterday either.

@harpistic @Phil V @Adam-G My goal isn't set in stone yet, but it's not necessarily to make money from photography. It's hard to make a living from photography without selling services or being a full-time influencer anyway. I'm not interested in spending my time on social networks, making reels, or selling services, which I wouldn't enjoy. I love taking pictures and might be interested in selling a few prints here and there as supplementary income or for retirement if there is demand and an opportunity arises, but I don't aim to make a living from it.

I want to keep sharing the kind of photos I am sharing at the moment (architecture, technology, etc.) while also developing series and art photography. I'm working on a few projects currently. I guess if my work were good enough, it would end up in a book or a gallery rather than on Instagram. Whatever I decide to do in the future, I feel I need to build a small community, show my photos to the world, and get some exposure and feedback. This will also help validate my work and build credibility. Since I have quite a few photos in stock, I thought I could start there.

Another goal I have is for my professional career; I believe this will be a great way to showcase some of my skills, whether directly related to my job title or not.

 

[Gav.]

show my photos to the world, and get some exposure and feedback.

With regards to feedback, I think forums are probably the only place online for that, I don't think followers or 'likes' on Insta' & Facebook will mean much in the end.

Real feedback can be harsh, but it's all part of the fun.

 

[cfg]

With regards to feedback, I think forums are probably the only place online for that, I don't think followers or 'likes' on Insta' & Facebook will mean much in the end.

Real feedback can be harsh, but it's all part of the fun.

I believe both types of feedback are valuable. I came to the forum to get genuine, constructive feedback, but Instagram can provide useful data as well. For example, if 10 people see a photograph and 8 of them like it, that's a good indicator of its impact/quality imo, or at least that people like it. Both sources can offer different type of insights.

 

[Ed Sutton]

I believe both types of feedback are valuable. I came to the forum to get genuine, constructive feedback, but Instagram can provide useful data as well. For example, if 10 people see a photograph and 8 of them like it, that's a good indicator of its impact/quality imo, or at least that people like it. Both sources can offer different type of insights.

You posted this while I was typing.

The only problem I have with sharing pictures with photographers is...

...sharing pictures with photographers!

It runs the risk of making photographs that appeal to photographers. Fine if that's your goal but, speaking personally, while it's nice to be complimented by photographers using their kind of judgement I'd like my pictures to be seen and (hopefully) appreciated by 'normal people'!

 

[Phil V]

For example, if 10 people see a photograph and 8 of them like it, that's a good indicator of its impact/quality imo, or at least that people like it.

Sorry but this isn’t a v scientific view.

I’d suggest that if 10 people see a photo and 8 of them like it, they either ‘like the subject’ or they believe their friend needs an ego massage.

If 100,000 see it and 80,000 like it, then it’s probably a remarkable image.

I don’t want to turn into a bore on the subject, but there’s literally millions of new photographers who produce ‘ok’ work and dream of ‘recognition’. The reality is that it’s easier to make money selling commissioned work than it is to become a ‘recognised’ photographer.

I’m not trying to dash your dreams, but it’s true that every town has a camera club with ‘very good’ images produced every week. Good is easy, very good takes some work, awesome requires something special and is possible for maybe 0.01% of us.

 

[benc98]

I believe both types of feedback are valuable. I came to the forum to get genuine, constructive feedback, but Instagram can provide useful data as well. For example, if 10 people see a photograph and 8 of them like it, that's a good indicator of its impact/quality imo, or at least that people like it. Both sources can offer different type of insights.

On instagram A photo of a cat that looks like a French baguette has 100,000+ likes.. David Hurn's most recent post received just over one thousand - what does that data tell you?

 

[ancient_mariner]

Good observations and comments so far.

When I prepare a photo for a public competition I'll often pump the colour, contrast and clarity to make it pop. The smaller the image, the more pop it needs to stand out in a crowd.

When I prepare a picture for me it's often monochrome, and I'll back off clarity and contrast, often crush the blacks a little, try to make it soft and glowing. It won't usually stand out in a crowd, but I will look much nicer on the wall.

In general, the public know little about photos, but they like bright and exciting. If the public are your market then learn to make pictures jump off the screen.

 

[cfg]

Sorry but this isn’t a v scientific view.

I’d suggest that if 10 people see a photo and 8 of them like it, they either ‘like the subject’ or they believe their friend needs an ego massage.

If 100,000 see it and 80,000 like it, then it’s probably a remarkable image.

I don’t want to turn into a bore on the subject, but there’s literally millions of new photographers who produce ‘ok’ work and dream of ‘recognition’. The reality is that it’s easier to make money selling commissioned work than it is to become a ‘recognised’ photographer.

I’m not trying to dash your dreams, but it’s true that every town has a camera club with ‘very good’ images produced every week. Good is easy, very good takes some work, awesome requires something special and is possible for maybe 0.01% of us.

What I meant was more like a ratio « 8 out of 10 » and while I agree with you, I will never even come close to these numbers. So what should I do. Sometimes you have to do with what you’ve got. I mean the feedback I am gonna get from this forum is gonna be subjective as well.
There are different level of recognition too. I am not so delusional or arrogant to believe I am going to revolutionise photography. I know that just on this forum, there are probably hundreds people more talented or more knowledgeable that I am. But how many basketball players became even close to be as good as Michael Jordan?

 

[lindsay]

It seems to me that as a human, I like "likes", and as a photographer, I like positive critique (still aiming for that one day!). There's nothing wrong in aiming for both, so long as you understand what they mean and the weight (or lack of) that they carry. I'm guessing that Camille is no fool in regard to this, but is sensibly aiming to do market research using Insta likes and develop skill using peer feedback.

 

[benc98]

. So what should I do. Sometimes you have to do with what you’ve got. I mean the feedback I am gonna get from this forum is gonna be subjective as well.

In my view to get the best possible feedback, you have to start by asking specific questions on the relevant forums. A specific business question on the business forum, a photo for critique with some background and questions for those offering critique in the right forum, specific questions about website design. and so on.. views on here are subjective but some views are more informed than others.. there's a lot of experience and knowledge knocking about but you need to ask the right questions in the right way

No one is going to offering insightful feedback, if asked this:

Would love any feedback you might have on my photos, website design, or Instagram strategy. All tips and constructive criticism are welcome!

 

[Ed Sutton]

There are different level of recognition too. I am not so delusional or arrogant to believe I am going to revolutionise photography. I know that just on this forum, there are probably hundreds people more talented or more knowledgeable that I am. But how many basketball players became even close to be as good as Michael Jordan?

Unless you're a hired gun, the first thing to do is take the photos that satisfy you.

Forget basketball, an international cricketer once said that when you start playing cricket to please other people you have lost the point of playing cricket.

Saying something similar in a more intellectual way Joseph Conrad, in Heart of Darkness, wrote; "I don't like work - no man does - but I like what is in the work - the chance to find yourself. Your own reality - for yourself, not for others - what no other man can ever know. They can only see the mere show, and never can tell what it really means." Sums up why I take photos.

Photographer Daniel Meadows said something along the lines of 'nobody will be interested in your work for twenty years'.

Finding an audience for your work right now is a bonus.

 

[cfg]

Good observations and comments so far.

When I prepare a photo for a public competition I'll often pump the colour, contrast and clarity to make it pop. The smaller the image, the more pop it needs to stand out in a crowd.

When I prepare a picture for me it's often monochrome, and I'll back of clarity and contrast, often crush the blacks a little, try to make it soft and glowing. It won't usually stand out in a crowd, but I will look much nicer on the wall.

In general, the public know little about photos, but they like bright and exciting. If the public are your market then learn to make pictures jump off the screen.

Very interesting insight, thank you. What’s or what would be your approach for awards competitions with professional jury? I don’t want to alter any of my « work » to please a wider audience. I would be very happy with a small niche audience.

 

[cfg]

I've looked at your Instaglam (sic) and web site and was impressed. Your black and white work has a good tonal range, and this isn't the case (in my view) on some of the black and whites shown on here by others. I can't comment on Instagram - I have an account there, suspended because their algorithms determined I was a spammer, and to get back in I have to give them my telephone number - which is a step too far, given that they say in their terms and conditions that they'll share my details with every man and his dog. If you'd like my comments, I'm happy to go through the contact form on your web site.

@lindsay Sorry, I hadn't noticed that rule about mentioning your web site if not an advertiser, except in your signature line, and I can think of at least two occasions when I've broken this rule to give a quick pointer to save my typing in a long(er) reply to a query. Would you like me to "seek and destroy" - or at least edit the offending posts?

Thanks a lot, @StephenM ! I would greatly appreciate your feedback. I noticed you wrote an article about understanding photographs some time ago, and I plan to read it carefully. Please feel free to use the contact form on my website to share your thoughts.

 

[cfg]

In my view to get the best possible feedback, you have to start by asking specific questions on the relevant forums. A specific business question on the business forum, a photo for critique with some background and questions for those offering critique in the right forum, specific questions about website design. and so on.. views on here are subjective but some views are more informed than others.. there's a lot of experience and knowledge knocking about but you need to ask the right questions in the right way

No one is going to offering insightful feedback, if asked this:

Thank you. That's a good point. I will try to approach it in a more professional and strategic way.