Instagram is a lie.
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- Опубликовано: 16 июл 2024
- Instagram is arguably one of the more frustrating platforms for people serious about photography, but there's a lot of misconceptions about how to grow on the platform. There's also a few things I think should be cleared up for one's mental health as well.
And I think its also worth noting that age doesn't matter…
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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
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Instagram and all other platform have one issue: they keep you away from doing photography, or music or whatever, you have to spend an extremely amount of time to keep it running. Time you will loose doing the real stuff you like to do.
Indeed! Several times I thought about creating an account and putting my work in it, but the amount of time I would have to spend there to get some sort of payback (not talking money, just an overall feeling of accomplishment) would most certainly kill my passion for photography and I would end up with no more works to put out because I lost interest, it wouldn't give me any pleasure, anymore!
Nah, that's not true. It can be your motor as well. Trying to prepare something to show it to an audience is always a key way of improving by taking your work more serious than only doing it for your albums. But you're right in the sense that you shouldn't measure your success via instagram. I recommend the book "Show your work" by Austin Kleon, easy to read and really eye opening in this regards. :)
Agreed... and looking at the standard of "influencer" on Instagram, it says quite a lot about the followers.
Certainly Facebook and Twitter contain the absolute dregs of society... Instagram isn't far behind.
Looking for highly popular and yet meaningful art, on Instagram....is like trying to find great poetry on the graffitied wall of a public toilet.
"Content creators" vs photographers, Daniel Milnor on his channel (q&a 14, 16) put it very well.
@Jason Pettibone I think you can't compare Flickr with Social Media Networks. Flickr is specifically for photographers, in a way like DeviantArt or 500px. That's different, in my honest opinion.
I'm closer to 70 than 60 and I believe I'm the best version of myself. I used to fret over age but realized it was just making me feel old. A bonus is that my photography is better than it has ever been. Be true to yourself, not the twenty-somethings that think they have everything figured out.
A particularly good video. I liked this one a lot! As to age ... I live in London and I am 73 years old. I am a full-time teacher of Aeronautical, Engineering and Automotive training courses and I love it. I go out almost every weekend in London doinf street photography which I also love. I have NEVER, EVER worried about age, or growing old.
I’m 103 where am I?
The irony of “liking” this video is not lost on me. However, it’s a solid message.
Liking the video actually boosts it algorithmically, as well as commenting. So however ironic it may be, in this case, you may actually help him
Instagram is a reflection of humanity, most easily identified when a photo of a good looking person gets 1000X more likes than a photo of a rare bird that took months to track and photograph ;)
This.
Well, i mean....right?
Have the girl hold the bird. EZ.
Kylie Minogue is a rare bird
This is so true. But if your celebrity (which is a whole new level) posts their selfie, and you're hooked, then that is why they have millions of likes. Also people who look good also spend thousands of dollars on their face, and body. That is something that you need to look out for bc wow, they're putting their work time pay checks (9-5) on their face, and looks. That is why they (the non celebrities but look good) also get thousands of likes.
But once you start becoming serious on photography, and know how to target the audience then the account grows. Making it a professional account works pretty much (you advertise your photos by your payments).
Also in small countries where english is not the ligua franca the accounts don't grow bc of language, content differentiations, lacking interesting things others can relate on, photos looking too good to like (just the thumbnails is satisfying), looking like stock images or google photos. Many use it like snapchat or fb or tiktok nowadays also.
The people that use it are very talented, and yes both type of people all try very hard imo.
I picked up my first camera in May 2019 at the age of 63. Became obsessed with IG and recently decided to funnel that energy towards yoga, indoor plants and publishing my first photobook, at age 65, which will be up on Amazon in July. I'm ready to start posting on IG again now that I've found some balance.
Oh, and nice video
Well said, and congratulations and best wishes on your photobook! I've rekindled my passion for photography after retiring last year at age 62. I've made the deliberate decision to not give a damn what anyone thinks of my work unless they also provide me with a well thought out rationale. I'm doing it to make *me* happy, not anyone else.
@@billkossmann9246 🙌🏼🙌🏼 🎯 💪🏼💪🏼 👍🏼
Amazing. I'm turning 31 now and often feel things are "too late" to pursue my goal of having a full-time wedding photography business but I am moving forward with it and see where life takes me in that journey.
@@NatyMidnight dude you're still wet behind the ears. Get your fanny out there and make it happen.
"do not resent growing old, many are denied the privilege". - Irish proverb
Wise words indeed
🙏🏼🙏🏼 so very true!!
Or as I use to say, you can be happy as long as you turn one
That's so good
Resent or not, the option is grim...
There must be at least one (million?) modern day Van Gogh with tremendous talent and nearly no likes on social media
Imagine all those who intentionally have no contact with any social media.
@@iurqlla 🤯
Dan, as someone who never sold a painting in his lifetime, Van Gogh would have got ZERO likes :)
@@larrywilkes3818 exactly my point, though I imagined that at least his brother or someone might have given him one
@@lupolion Actually his brother often liked his pictures :)
50? Pah! I turned 61 last month - trust me, 50 is nothing! I was a professional photographer for ~20 years (20-40), and a professional woodworker for about the same. I started my RUclips channel aged 56, and I went full-time last year, a little before my 60th. Instagram is great, I post daily to promote my RUclips, but I don't think it's the platform to showcase 'serious' photography and I agree 100% that all these platforms that just show the end results - rather than the graft that's been put in - can give the wrong impression entirely. Great vid, thanks!
You have a great RUclips voice and very nice videos.
Greetings from Belgium.
@@PhotoArtBrussels Thank you! Best wishes from London. 👍
Respectfully if I may ask, what would you say is the platform for one to put out serious work? Outside of physical photo galleries that is.
Well I just looked at your channel Peter and yes... you are an inspiration. In yourself you are. I am turning 54 in October and wondering WTF? I may be too old to even use those letters in and of themselves of course. My problem is finding authenticity.. doing stuff that is for the reason you want to make it, rather than anything otherwise, probably the reason why I don't post too often. You have to believe in it, that's vital.
@@photowalk.podcast Thanks Neale! 👍
The KEY take away: “There are a good photographers then there are good Instagramers.”
I've always thought this about RUclips photographers, personality can override the photography. How good you come across in video.
It's not the key take away just one of those average internet wisdoms that dwell in binary thinking and don't bear any meaning. I personally don't like instagram and there are many average photographers as well as brilliant ones on there, who, in conntrast to me, just enjoy the social media game.
A good photographer that can integrate Instagram into his photography is a rare thing, but it can be done. Instagram is about telling a story that someone wants to hear just like photography is about telling a story in a single image that someone wants to experience.
This is a great conversation. I'm 71. In my 20s I was a musician / composer and making a pretty good living at it. I got more serious about it and went back to school in my 30s. Midway through my 30s (1980s) I had to abort music and got a gig working corporate cuz I had a family. I stressed out so much over what success meant. Now, I simply enjoy being creative. I love photography, making videos, writing, creating music. I think I've learned that it is what it is, some 'make it' some don't through the weird lenses of our culture and media. It simply gets down to time. You only have so much it. How are you going to spend it? I'm no saint and I certainly don't have it all figured out, but I tend to follow my own advice and take the path towards my joy. Social Media is totally weird these days and your points are well taken. It's not like the online frontier of the 80s and 90s for sure. It seems now to be by default about branding. After all, we're all capitalist's and have something to sell is the Holy Chalice. This mindset, culture, platform politic, machine learned behavior, AI manipulation is becoming exhaustive and in the end destroys the creative process. So to your point about being 20 years old is well taken. Practice! Patience! Persistence! Right? No shortcuts...
This was so much more than the title suggested. One of my favorite channels, artists, creators, photographers, and thinkers. Great message, brother, cheers to more to come from you!
As a hobbyist, self gratification is always how I evaluate myself. I don’t have a single photo on my walls, and all my work is available for everybody for free.
i'm trully agree with you
Three years to grow a little and not a single client, lots of effort and cero gain. Got much more from just studying, taking pictures and promoting myself the "the old way" bussines cards and face to face interactions... Still use it as a virtual portfolio...
My experience is completely opposite, I get almost half of my business through Instagram...
@@kretktzable in France they don't really use social media as we do, I continue to use it just in case they discover it exists ! (But not as dedicated as I was)
@@pedrobartolomei7707 How do they go about promotion in France? I am curious...my daughter is a new painter and we've by word of mouth let people know and she's gotten a few small jobs like that but is just beginning utilizing social media with a purpose in mind...I guess.
@@inquisitivemind8672 Everyone might have a different experience or result, but for me its way better to research for clients and contact them, than using sotial media.
@@pedrobartolomei7707 for us...we speak to people...they get interested and then a project blossoms from the conversation...it seems slower but it works out.
Loved this perspective, Ted!
Even as someone you'd consider "young and hip", I get frustrated with the platform as well bc people my age think Instagram = photography, and a lot of those people don't exactly have talent, they just chase trends
Love your channel Mary
@@theartofphotography Aww thanks Ted! You're an inspiration!
Ted thank you. You are always right on point. You are one of the best speakers on this platform and your content is always extremely informative and thought provoking. I'm turning 75 in a short minute and believe me this social media challenge is extremely daunting to say the least. I've been looking through the lens since I was 13 because of my fathers love for photography. I called him a professional a mature because he never did it for money but just for the love. He had a dark room in the garage and loved printing his work just as much as shooting.
Getting back to my point. I dabbled in my teens but never really got a real camera until I was 21 in Hongkong on R&R from Nam. I was a Navy Tugboat Man. Fortunately I landed a job out of High School at Warner Bros Studios which they had to give back to me after the war. Like you I was falling in love with being a musician and brought a Gibson 335 back home from duty. Working the studio and playing at night I was in the best of both worlds. I was falling in love with the motion picture process and the music revolution that was all pretty intriguing.
Ok cut to the chase. I'm currently still in love with my music and all the more with photography. Here's why I related to this story because I'm old and tired and constantly challenged by possible impending health issues and the reality of the fright at the end of the tunnel. I'm not giving up. I won't give up I can't give up. I have to much to share with my family , friends and the art world that's surrounding us through social media. I need to leave some of what I've created as part of a legacy to prove I was here and contributed art that can live on forever.
So to the folks who get frustrated with slow moving traffic.....Fuck That. You can't rush art. Just stays ted fast and never stop challenging yourself. Keep seeking new concepts and always try them out if they ring your bell. But most importantly never give up your vision because you think someone else has a better one. Your personal view point is worth everything. There is where you get to tell the joke. If you stay there the world will laugh the hardest right there with you. Stay well Ted please keep this wonderful platform alive and enriched with all your brilliance and excitement for the most powerful art form this planet has ever experienced. Thank you sir. Much love. Send a note if ever you care to. That would be grand. freddycoolpix@gmail.com
Thank you for this Ted! I needed this as a good reminder! I am 23 and still have a lot to learn. I am approaching this next decade as a huge learning experience and soaking up everything like a sponge!
Some people just put too much importance on social media. I just share my work on Instagram for others to see my images without any expectation of getting anything back from it.
The thing is. Social media. Has figured out a way to interact with creators in a way that. Creates brain chemistry. Similar to crack cocaine.
I still have my flickr account and I thing IG has taken me away from that with the lure of better likes but my flickr account has way more likes and it's just for artists.
@@chod54 ...My Flickr account has the advantage that you see how many people view your photo...instagram doesn’t give you this.
I put my favourite pictures on Flickr that hopefully show the animals I photograph at their best.
@@franklawler7055 You can switch to a free business account on Instagram and see both your impressions and reach once you click "view insights" under the picture. I hope this helps! 😀
Don’t do it it’s a big black hole to feed
This is why I still love Flickr. I wish more photographers would move there.
and 500px
I would go back to Flickr but the app is a joke. It’s so kludgy.
@@EDHBlvd Honestly, just using the website is much better.
Move there? Everyone left there fifteen years ago.
@@therealjimmy5411 Yeah, and it was a huge mistake because Instagram sucks.
Ted, Love your videos. A certain part of this video struck me about someone being successful in real life in galleries and the like. It would be interesting to hear you talk about breaking into the field of photography per say away from social media since that seems to be what most people recommend nowadays. I am an engineering graduate from a technical school so I have 0 connections in the industry and have always found it very daunting as to how to even break in and get started.
Agreed, I work as a software dev but would like to move to photography in a couple of years. And while I know how you could make money as a wedding photographer for example but I suck at choosing the easier path and love street photography and have no idea how could I make money from that unless I'm well recognized and social-media-famous
You are becoming 50 this year and I am having my 6+th birthday tomorrow. We dont give up but we are making the best aut of it! And we don't let anybody dictake whate we have to aim for! Keep creating in your way, that is why we are coming to your channel!
You are right on. Glad you have spoken up. I am 66, lost my wife to a chronic illness, now retired but on another adventure. Just spent the morning up country doing some photography and absolutely loving it. Last week bought my first photo editing program and loving the journey. We have to be ourselves and not let social media influence us to be otherwise. Square pegs don't fit in round holes. Thanks for the great words!!!!
Perfect timing my dude, I'm in my early thirties and needed to hear that. Especially from someone who's opinion I hold in high regard.
A photograph cannot be defined by the amount of 'likes' on Instagram, as long as the photographer loves it.
You cant trust likes from the general public or professionals. The truth is somewhere in the middle of those two plus as youve stated, as long as you love it
And you know how to take criticism properly and know when it's valid and when it's not. Sometimes others can see the mistakes and weaknesses in you that you don't so its important to figure out what's true.
I’ve been struggling with getting older myself .. I think about it all the time … needed this Ted .. love you brother
This is so true Ted. Age is coming for us all, hopefully, so we can't let it stop us. I have been dreaming of photography and video since my early twenties. Last year I turned forty and I took my first paid gig. I learned so much that I am now just pushing forward, but not rushing it. Life is great when you do something you love. Thank you for making such an authentic and great quality channel :) I enjoy watching and listening to you. Have a great weekend!
"Instagrams easy when you're in your twenties and cool and hip"
Literally hundreds of millions of 20's something who's getting nowhere on Instagram : Am I a joke to you?
Stole my words
Me 😭
Instagram is dumb and toxic for the mind in general, but especially for photography. Usually, "likes" don't in the slightest sense correlate to how good a photo is. I've seen massive "likes" on so many +1000 saturation, +1000 contrast, photoshopped background (where the light is in the complete opposite direction to the foreground's light), and kindergarten level composition. Sometimes I wonder if people who like those photos are blind? Or maybe bots.
On top of that you're looking at an ad every 3-4 posts. Seriously??? You probably get less ads from watching TV. Unless you're already successful (likely because you got fans from other platforms or started like 5-10 years back), I highly advise against putting effort into the platform. It's complete garbage, it warps your perception, it wastes your time, and it'll probably give you mental illness over time.
🎯🎯🎯 💪🏼💪🏼🌟👍🏼
Agreed. What would be a good platform to share on in your opinion?
Wonderful video I really enjoyed this opinion piece. The topic of how one shares their work and uses the reaction as a source of inspiration to fuel more work is a very important one. Glad to hear your take on it!
I deleted every single social media a year ago. I went back to the basics, shoot and print.
Best part about being in 50’s is that you don’t care.
So true! :-)
Same for the mid 40's :D
60’s even more so
Best reply here.
Best part of being in my 60’s is that I really do care, but not all that much about Instagram.
Photography in 2021 is no different than any other career has been the past two hundred years: it takes YEARS TO DEVELOP... MUCH SACRIFICE... and MANY 'RISKS' WITH NO OBVIOUS GUARANTEES OF SUCCESS... but this always weeds out the mediocre, the unresolved or those who simply don't have the staying power/determination.
**Here's wishing you much additional on-going success, Ted!**
This! 👏👏👏
I like this. Social Media is new, but the human processes behind it are maybe not.
I don't care about influencers, I follow selectively, I avoid bots and follow for follows.
Working photojournalist, Instagram works fine to upload one image per day, from the dozens of photos I shoot daily.
Those who care about my work follow me avidly, those who don't, I don't care about them. Glad my income doesn't depend on how many followers I have or how many likes I have.
This topic you point out is so reassuring because is something that runs through my mind a lot. And in some point you begin to question about yourself and everything you socially and work related. I would love to hear your thoughts on 'being a instagramer and being a photographer'.
Thanks for this video Ted.
Brilliant! Love the personal perspective. Social media has a habit of putting a positive view out of other people without seeing their struggles. Thanks Ted for being so open
Perfect perspective and it’s important we sit and reflect and make sure we are striving for the right things.
This was a really engaging talk. Well put-together, good presentation. Thank you for sharing!
Brilliant video, as usual. Don't be afraid of 50, embrace it. You've earned it. I passed that milestone a couple of years back, and I'm just getting started. A lot of the people that fear 50 or get depressed about turning that corner oftentimes feel that their best years are behind them (high school quarterback all-star syndrome). They fear the future because they may not have anything to look forward to. I feel like when I hit 50, I was just hitting my stride. I've been a hobby photographer my whole life, but didn't find my niche until about 5-6 years ago. 50 is awesome. I love it! I have a certain confidence that I have lacked most of my life. If I want to try something, I try it, who cares what others think. I think you will enjoy 50, you have the right mindset.
Hey Ted, great vid. I just turned 58, I came to photography as a hobby and creative outlet about 2 years ago and I feel so excited about the future of making pictures, I’m currently making my first photo book, its a lot of work, curating, culling, editing sequencing etc etc - hard work is so rewarding. One of my favourite lines is “Life is a do it yourself job” meaning ....nobody is going to do it for you.
Instagram was amazing at the start until Facebook took over and now it’s just a dogs breakfast
This! It’s basically turned into ADagram. Every other post is an ad or a link to a store to buy some junk. Non chronological order is absolutely horrible too. I hate it just also like being able to follow people of interest. It’d be nice if there could be a successor that didn’t hinder the experience like Facebook did with the platform.
Couldn't agree more!
It’s just another advertising platform to screw people for money
Its been gargabe for so many years...
Instagram sucks. Flickr is dead. I no longer share my photos online. I don't care what other people think of my photos anymore.
Thank you Ted, I just turned 30 and I'm scared myself. But thank you so much for making this video, gave me some inspiration. I can't give up because life has just started for me, everyone is different and we all have different paths. I made the mistake of comparing my photography to others and using likes and followers as a barometer to measure how good my photo is and that's just not the way about it. More Ted rants!! Haha. Great video man. It was needed to be said.
This video is as real as it gets. I am 27 and i feel old and boring when on instagram and it got to the point where i simply left social media(except for youtube) almost 1 year ago and i never felt better. I am happy for yo that you find a chance to open up anout the age issue, i think it's just part of life.
congrats, I agree with you 👏 did you definitely delete instagram and social media?
I've never liked Instagram as a place to showcase photography. I have many photographer friends who do that, but I don't get much satisfaction out of looking at a 2 x 2.5 inch photo on my cell phone screen, no matter how great the photo. It cannot be fully appreciated in miniature, so after a quick glance I move on. But Instagram has always been mostly about speed and quantity. When I want to view photos I would much rather see them on my computer monitor, enlarged, and take time to sit with and absorb what is before me -- much like sitting in a museum in front of a painting. I enjoy Instagram for the social aspect -- sharing quick pics with friends. But that's about it. Not my choice for sharing or viewing photography as an art form. Good video. Thanks.
So many truths in this video. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I can relate to Manu of them.
This is a really hot topic and I think it's complicated by peoples confusion with attention and intention. Too many people are intent on "Being Someone" to get attention rather than focusing their intention on "Doing Something". I hear what you are saying about 20s, 30s and 40s, I was also born in '71 so I have reached that mile stone as well and I think it made me start to realise why so many people seem to lack certain perspectives or understandings, they just aren't there yet. These social platforms, are the work, and are the product, for some, but for those who only post here to share, those, whose work is out in the world, there needs to be more focuss on clear objectives, that build leads, and close deals. Those who perform a service should be focussed on developing and refining their skills, likes don't pay the bill's unless your influence is making the sale.
Good insights! I recently had to sit my family down and tell them the reality of "selling" my photography work...it takes a lot of investment (time, money, etc.), and most of the work is not behind the camera or in Photoshop. I have a rewarding and good paying day job not related to photography, so even selling my photos successfully as a side-hustle would cut drastically into what I love...shooting photos. It's good to keep social media clicks in perspective.
Instagram is designed to make money and so it needs people scroll through this content as much time as possible. I know few photographers that are making beautiful imagesand they do photography for living. but they photos have on instagram max few hundred likes. They just dont have time to be on social media. Sometimes I have bad feelings too. Someone who is making overedited photos of their local area with 0 composition have grown much higher than me. But then I remember. I like being out and taking pictures more than sharing them. And whats the point beying famous when you are not happy doing it? Im much happier when someone who meets me in person will tell me that he likes my photos on their own. And my happiest moment while using my camera was pure offline. When I created a short music video on camp for kids with muscular dystrophy. At the last night of the camp I have played them this video on big screen. 50 people were watching it together. Kids and adults. I could everyone see interested for whole 3,5 minutes. And after that everyone literally thanked me for that video. Parents of these kids with hard life told me it means much for them since they can see on the video their kid happy enjoying that moment. The organization that organized this camp and is helping those people asked me for approval to present this video on their international presentation of organizations like this one. They showed me that they took it like a professional video. (It wasnt). Later they uploaded in on youtube and it has only around 4K views. But that very evening I showed it to them... their real reactions meant for me so much more than any likes on social media. Even from real photographers. I dint feel special. I felt useful. Thats why Im making photos and videos. To be hapier.
it's a 'marketplace' and microcosm of society - only a staggeringly small percentage will succeed at the highest level. most of that small few will have achieved their success for extrinsic reasons... ie, most that succeed will already have been wealthy/famous, had connections, etc. I don't think this necessarily correlates with how talented the person may be or how much work they may have put in.
another factor is their (I would call it a lack of) ethics, and their willingness to do things that most otherwise "decent" people may not.
wherever there is corporate money involved, it becomes a race to the bottom. people will do all sorts of stuff for fame - all in what amounts to be a myopic, reckless pursuit of short term profit. I feel at least a good portion of the people who succeed, weather previously famous or not, will have to distinguish themselves from the other worthwhile creators somehow. call me pessimistic but I don't think a lot of that stuff is likely to be decided in the healthiest ways.
bottom line: capitalism destroys art (and everything else it touches) by turning it into a commodity; some thing with an arbitrary price to be bought and sold. you automatically price people out and exclude them.
Needed to watch this one today. Been struggling so much with social media, specifically IG and the fact I came across this video today when I was ready to give up… means a lot
Thanks for the Perspective, Ted. I’ll be turning thirty soon and I can completely relate to feeling unaccomplished. Thank you for the Perspective. I greatly appreciate it. I think you’re right. It’s never too late to start something your passionate about.
Social Media, at it’s best, provides vanity metrics on any content posted. Vanity. That’s it. Keep the metric by which success is measured in perspective to your personal reaction. ✌️
💪🏼💪🏼 🎯 👍🏼
"In the real world" - this is exactly what Insta is not. Thanks for your words and saying it out loud.
When you said : be patient , it takes time , I really needed to hear that . I’m new to posting on RUclips and it feels like just getting monetised is something that’s impossible . It’s so hard not to compare yourself to others and feel like , you’ll never actually get anywhere .
Anyway , great post , keep up the great work mate ! 🙏🏼
Thanks for this video, it really helped me to focus on do things, and not in thinking if im doing it right or wrong, or if im too old or whatever
Let's start with core questions: Why it should be so important to be successful on Instagram or other social media? Is it mandatory to have a lot of likes and followers? Do you really need it?
It's obvious why it can be important to someone. More eyes on something can be important when making a living as a self employed person. It's not all clout chasing idiots, lots of people are attempting to build brands and businesses. Noone needs it, but some people use it to great effect.
I don't think it's important to get likes, but I can see why a photographer would want some sort of audience. It's nice to get feedback and it's also a motivation to go out and take pictures when you know there are people seeing them.
Exactly, nope. I don't care if people follow me or not. If you geek out over what I geek out about and we connect great, if not that's ok too.
I'm about ready to quit Instagram -- not because I'm not "succeeding" on it (which was not the reason I joined it), but because there is just so much noise on it I don't care about: too many ads, "stories" I don't give a crap about, etc. I wanted to be inspired by other photographers, but mostly I just shake my head and go look at images on Flickr or something. If I were trying to drum up business via social media, I'm sure I'd think differently about it, but so far nobody has gotten any business from _me_ via their Instagram postings, so :shrug:
When I'm out and about. With my camera. People will ask me. Hey are you a photographer? And when I say yes. They will ask me. What is your Instagram? To me. That is enough of a reason to have at least one Instagram account with a gallery of your work.
@@Smoothblue90 Sure, makes total sense if you're in the business. However, I'm just a software engineer who loves photography as a hobby and wants to get better at it, but no real aspirations to make money off of it -- hopefully something to keep me busy and creative when I retire in a year or 2 (knock on wood). PS: What's your Instagram handle? ;)
It’s for this exact reason not too long ago I deleted my Facebook and it’s been liberating. And then to hear a story in last weeks video about Keith Carter making photos just simply for him! Great video again Ted!
Omg ur page showeD up in my feed . I'm so glad it did . Coming from AOL TO USB DRIVES AND IBM COMPUTERS TO LAB TOPS . SOCIAL MEDIA HAS HAD A BIG IMPACT ON OUR CULTURE . UR AMAZING FOR THIS . AND UR RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING U SAID .
Springsteen didn't know it, but he was talking about Instagram: "This whole world is out there, just tryin' to score. I seen enough, I don't wanna see any more."
Heck yeah. I just turned 42 and I’m just starting to find recognition. It’s a little youtube, a little instagran, but it’s mostly me and getting my work in front of people printed. THAT ‘s the real world.
This is such a beautiful way of explaining real-life issues. Specially concerning social media and our inevitable aging lives. Thank you, for the gift of you!
I so appreciate your insights here. As a former music major you will certainly understand my similar reaction when after I gave a solo recital I would hear comments like “you are so talented”, or “I wish I could do that”. They have just heard one hour wherein the public experienced my “talent”. I can’t begin to the express the hours/years of work and preparation that led up to that hour. The same is true, of course, for success and recognition in any demanding field, including photography. Here I’m a rank amateur, but a serious appreciator of the skills and work of you and the ideas and others work that you bring to us on this channel. Thank you.
I’m 62 and just beginning.😊📷🎞
Sometimes it’s one’s own ethics that may prevent Instagram popularity. The person who is more willing to post soft porn images, for example, will have more views and likes than those who won’t.
True, or whether you want to tag the different "magazines" aka reposters that have never held a camera in their lives, for them to repost your images so you can get 100 followers to their 5000
How is someone deciding to show their own body in any way unethical?
Spoiler: it's not.
@@ChrlzMaraz You’re referencing moral ontology. Do you believe objective moral facts, values and duties exist? I’m guessing you’re not a moral realist.
Surely you’d recognize at least some boundaries such as the ones broken by pedophiles.
@@LtDeadeye I wouldn't consider myself a moral relativist for two main reasons: First, it would mean moral progress is impossible. For example, the moral progress of no longer holding the view that an adult who chooses to post nude photos is immoral. And second certain obviously immoral behaviors like slavery, pedophilia, and oppression of women and minorities would be morally acceptable simply because they enjoy acceptance by a culture.
@@ChrlzMaraz We agree. To what or whom, in your opinion, are moral values, facts and duties, grounded?
Great video and you speak the truth! I completely changed career and became a teacher at 50 and had a very successful 13-year career. At the same time I rediscovered photography and at the age of 62 when I retired found success in my photography being used in books, magazines, newspapers, online and now a very special commission with an exciting heritage project. The only place I experienced ageism on a regular basis is in the IT industry which is why I became a teacher at the age of 50!
Solid message!
I've never given into social media like that, except RUclips, and that's only because of how punishing the algorithm is for lack of niche.
I just post otherwise, with some optimization, and keep it pushing.
The best idea I had last year was to totally quit instagram. I hope it works out for some people but for me, i don't miss it at all.
I'm afraid to totally quit it because people who have paid me money for photography follow me on there.
@@jamilgotcher5456 always do what's best for you. I can see your point as your managing to use it for making money, deffo keep it if it's meaning you can make a living from it.
So very well spoken Ted!
Well said 👍
I've have a conversation about this yesterday with my lil brother, how social media see us & there we go a vid came out, highly appreciate it sir, many thanks 😊
I have never understood the fear of turning 30,40,50… The day you turn 50, you are like the day before only a day older than yesterday.
Yep! Going on 50 in a few months. I look at it as a blessing to be granted this many years of living and don't take it for granted. Age is just a number.
I had two Instagram accounts and recently deactivated one (and almost the other one and facebook). I realised that the pursuit of followers is a dangerous trap, where the sense of your worth becomes based on the number of likes a post gets... I remember Flickr was almost as bad. I decided I wasn't going to commit the time to try and grow my following as ultimately for what purpose ? OK some desire the possibility of "fame and fortune" but honestly I am not one of them and perhaps I have finally realised I really have no desire to be.
You are so smart.
@@sl2608 Just a realist in a world of fantasies.
It's OK if you're a portrait or wedding photographer. But if you're into abstract, street or genres where you need some sort of recognition in order to not starve what do you do? How people notice you so you can sell prints, publish a book, share some photos in galleries maybe. You don't need to be famous but you need to be recognized. Sure if you have gallery owner friends or win some competition, maybe...But that's recognition from your peers, fellow photographers, not your general buyer. IG sucks...but I'm not sure what other ways are possible for a bit more niche genres of photography
@@danielerdos3046 But how did they get recognition before Instagram?
@@DrRusty5 that's the question 😀 I don't know. But I'm still early on my journey just trying to think ahead 🙂
You have summed up every thing in one video. Great insight and advice. Im in my mid to late 40s and been doing photography for a couple of years and love the craft but have very limited intstagram knowledge and not many followers. Im still learning even now. Marketing is a whole something else to learn other than the photography Side of things and can be quite daunting. But with an outlook as you have mentioned I think its great advice and mindset. I feel I'm at a level now where Ive got the photography down and loving what I do even though I still learn every day but I've come a long way from when I started. Now on to the next step and then the next step but I'm enjoying every step I make.
Hey, thanks a lot for the video I would love to see that video on platforms for sharing and promoting our photography. Thanks for your content!! much appreciated!
"Then I got my ass handed to me..." 🤣🤣🤣 reaching my 30s next year, I'm feeling the same and hoping for the best..
Don't worry about old age Ted, it doesn't last long.
The problem with great professionals like photographers and designers who ends up failing on Instagram is that what matters on Instagram is not their designing/photography skills, but their communication skills. Most of the people who are famous on IG are people who were already very famous outside of it. If you want to grow on Instagram you should improve your communication skills
Thanks Ted, enjoyed your video. Almost 60, I enjoy the engagement from various people who follow me on Instagram. I post what I like, regardless what is happening elsewhere. Getting to know the global village of people who enjoy photography is the reward.
In your fifties you will realize that time's running out. You can still achieve targets, but out of ten things you really really wanted to succeed at, you have time to resolve two or three only IF you're quick and lucky and stay healthy. And you finally learn that there are tons of things you can NOT "still achieve later", even if you live for another 50 years. Nobody became a professional surfer, tennis player, ski or car racer after the fiftieth birthday. And yes, if you move to another city or country, it's much harder to make new real friends then twenty years ago. and - last and perhaps least - young women do not even realize your existence anymore, not even if you were sitting in the same bus or so, lol
Remove the “young” part from the women comment. It’s just women period….and if you’re still single in your fifties, probably best to just get a dog. Because an average guy in his fifties has no shot anymore.
At least you’re being honest. Just turned 50 in December, but am in the Bay Area of Northern California, and have been for only 2 years after having started travel nursing at the end of 2016. I’m now taking a permanent position at the hospital I’ve had my assignments at for these last 2 years. I’ve sort of come full circle in that I was in the central coast when I was 20. Totally was trying to live out here then after having drove cross country in an old Monte Carlo with a friend I made at a resort job in Northern Michigan. I basically was her ride back to California - her and her boyfriend were taking a break for that summer. As a thanks, they let me live at their place until I could figure stuff out; albeit, I was to live in a tent in their yard, but whatever. I was 20. 3 months past and it started to rain. I ended up back in Michigan with my California dream crushed. Never thought I’d end up back here. I DO feel like time is running out, but I’m hiking in beautiful hills and mountains and have vastly improved my cardiovascular function in the last year and a half. Lost a bunch of weight and enjoying some of the best weather in the world. I don’t know. Of course I wish I had been able to do all this way way sooner, but I almost feel like I appreciate it more now. I am super grateful and feel extremely lucky at this point. It’s almost liberating to have the attitude that it is what it is and to just flow with it.
Try talking to women your age you old creep, Jesus.
@Rozanna I think you see girls with Daddy issues.
Great video as usual. As I said to my daughters a few years ago....Strive to be skillful, don't strive to be famous.
Love the rant sir!! Everywhere you go you hear about the algorithm. They also say post every day sometimes more than once a day. This, to me leads to mediocre work and burnout. You can't force creativity. I quit trying to post every day. I'm gonna do what I want to do and keep producing my style with the goal of constantly learning, improving and evolving.
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 Yes!! 🎯👌🏼🙏🏼💪🏼💪🏼🌟
Hi Ted, a nice perspective full of wisdom, thanks for sharing it! I personally post my work on instagram without expecting to be liked by others, I share my work thats all and I like it.
Age is a number, nothing more. I'm late 40-sonething, going on 14, lol. Good video.
Would anyone be interested in starting a discord channel to share our own work with people who appreciate it? Without all the headache of working the Instagram algorithm
Check out The Photographic Eye channel on RUclips, Alex just started the TPE Photo Community on a discord channel like you mentioned. He’s a genuinely sincere guy and I’m thinking of joining too.
Love the vulnerability here! Thanks for sharing with us. I’m in my 30’s and I needed to hear this! Appreciate it.
Great video Ted like how you explained the process, I am one of the well known photographer’s in LA and I just use I Instagram as a vehicle to show off my photography when I get to speak or talk to a prospective client my personality, charm and knowledge seal the deal to make that project happen, so don’t expect too much from Instagram the people who visit your Instagram feed, Are people that decide they wanna see an open house but have no intention of buying it’s just another form of entertainment. However I did get one fabulous gig from Instagram which was to fly to San Francisco and shoot Duran Duran! I am 64 and still kicking ass but in a new way!
I’ve never used it or Facebook. RUclips is #1.
Can I ask you, where do you post your photography? I just bought my first camera so I'm still learning
@@AlanMeksikanac So while I'm not the OP of this particular comment, I think I can still offer some insight that follows the Tom's message. So I had recently purchased a Yashica Mat 124g medium format film camera off of someone on OfferUp. After initial pleasantries and what have you, I had asked him where he posts his work as he had shown me some and it was definitely decent work, he explained to me that he's not a big fan of social media and it's purely for just personal enjoyment. So to come back around to your original question, I think the best way to go about answering that question is first figuring out what you're looking to achieve. There are tons of sites and tools available to you, but before you get mixed up in all of that figure out what you want to do.
I have five Instagram accounts. One is for work. When I'm out and about with my camera people will ask me. Hey are you a photographer? And I will say yes. And they will ask me. What is your Instagram? So. Imagine that scenario. Imagine you are out and about. And you run into someone. And they ask you if you are a photographer. And then they ask you, do you have an Instagram. Imagine the gallery of photographs you would want to show that person. And create that Instagram. Separate from the Instagram you use for your food and your travel and your significant other and your dog and your running and your working out yada yada yada...
Welcome to the 50's. And welcome agism.
Hi Ted, just wanted to say hi, and agree age is only in your mind. If you have the time and focus, that will be your indicator on how you move forward. Your passion will shine through to the degree you put forward! I'm having a ball with photography after many pursuits in life including music. I'm about three years in for full focus plus enjoying life. I just bought my second camera because of the joy photography brings me. I'm still finding my way forward as someone taking the pictures as well as the business end. I do enjoy the journey. Thank you as well for your insight and experience. I do enjoy your channel and the history you bring along as well.
Loved the video, man. I have the same type of age-based anxiety. Sometimes it feels as if I can't compete with older creators who have been doing their thing for a while, and then, I also feel like the young folk coming after me are gonna trample me, because they had earlier access to technology. So thanks for all that. I needed to hear it.
I saw a quote the other day - “sustained happiness comes from steady progress towards a goal, not reaching it.” And that really stuck with me. Your age is irrelevant - do what you love, share it with those you respect and your best work will always be ahead of you.
Facebook ruined it all from the instagram being a app for sharing photos to now reels videos and etc.
The need for an alternative app is so much needed now dedicated to sharing photos only.
You mean like a MySpace (before FB...)?
Flickr still exists
There are Flickr, 500px, YouPic. But these are mostly for photographers. I don't want to share my pictures to other photographers, I'd like to share them to people who enjoy looking at pictures and not photographers. IG was pretty good before there were more influencers than regular users and before it was a money grab billboard where it shows your image to 20-30 people only if you don't promote it 😞
Great rant! And you are right “everything requires work”. Highlights the importance of loving what you do.
Phenomenal perspective, and thanks for being open and sharing. Turning 40 in a few months so this definitely hit close to home. Cheers
Several hours work on a flawless Urban Landscape image = 4 likes. Crappy over exposed image of a half naked lass = 5,000 likes.
I remember watching a video years ago where a guy was talking about how he would work on a travel video for a week with hard work on the ground and drone work and editing. And it would get an average amount of likes. And then he would do a video with three girls in a hot tub with a thumbnail with three girls in bikinis. With less than a day's worth of editing. And it would max out on likes. And how frustrated that was to him because he really wanted to do travel videos.
Excellent video that does put things into perspective. And the take away is - if you want success you have to work at it. It isn’t something that just happens spontaneously.
Super stoked that you're finding your feet in the studio and making these videos 🙂 Thanks!
Great subject/video, Ted! I go hot/cold with Instagram. What I do enjoy there is a community of people with some of the same interests as me, and I find inspiration in their work, and the stories they share. I do suffer from fear of missing out on occasion, mainly because my life is in a transition phase and I just can't explore my interests as much right now. That said, it does keep me trying, even with a limited opportunity these days. I started my Instagram as a complement to my website. But frankly, more of my web traffic shows up because of good SEO terms. Off-topic...looks like your new studio is coming along. Give us all a video tour sometime? Oh, and 50 isn't so bad. :)
Thanks Ted. I'm now 68 and - honestly - I don't care what anybody thinks about me! I've been through doing things to get acceptance or approval; got me nowhere, except frustration and worry. And today's obsession with celebrity and image is anathema to me. Someone said 'Comparison is the thief of joy'; I think that can be true when it comes to photography. I really enjoy making photos and I do it for me. If anybody else likes them then of course that is very nice; if they don't they still give me pleasure.