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How do you define "any kind of audience"? It's very easy to get hundreds and even thousands of followers on instagram. Can you get into galleries? Eh that's re

by Swizec 8y ago

How do you define "any kind of audience"? It's very easy to get hundreds and even thousands of followers on instagram. Can you get into galleries? Eh that's really really hard you're right.

StavrosK 8y ago
> It's very easy to get hundreds and even thousands of followers on instagram. How? I post new photos every few days and my follower count actually goes down. I get a bunch of accounts following me automatically and unfollowing me after a few days, just to get me to follow them back. Maybe my photos are terrible, but I don't think so? https://www.instagram.com/stavroskorok/ https://www.instagram.com/stavroskorok/
- o10449366 8y ago
  I like your photos. That being said, I think it's hard to succeed on Instagram specifically unless you have a very well-defined theme or style. There's nothing wrong with trying a little bit of everything, but I think it's also understandable that the people who initially followed you because they saw a great portrait you took may not be interested in your landscapes. I have an Instagram account that's private and mainly followed by my personal friends. I post whatever I want on there - my paid photography work, my life updates, pictures of my cat, etc. but I also keep a separate, public account that's strictly for my professional portrait work. I think having that separation helps for retaining interest.
  - StavrosK 8y ago
    I've been wondering that as well. Looking at every other photographer, this is true, so I think you're right. I like to experiment with many different styles so the photographs don't look "samey", but I guess that for an Instagram account having a defined aesthetic is an advantage. I'll try to shoot more "my style", thank you for the feedback!
- alokm 8y ago
  Your photos are good. Getting instagram followers in itself is a separate set of skills than being a good photographer. There is no scope of "organic" growth when the platform is swamped with people trying out different tricks.
- platz 8y ago
  Your photos are very well executed and pristine. I think it depends on what you want. Do you want followers? Do you want originality? Do you want to get in galleries? Do you want clients? Do you want to have fun? Are you documenting your life or someone else? These are all different goals, I'm not sure which one you're prioritizing for. I admit I don't know about getting followers on Instagram. For example, gallery artists might try to play with the formal properties of the photo and surprise the viewer in some special way.
  - StavrosK 8y ago
    Thank you, I think that's the more important question. My photos are for me and for what I like, it would just be nice if people liked them as well. Since my goal is to have fun, I'm not going to ruin it by forcing myself to take photos, even if that doesn't get me followers or any recognition. Thank you for your feedback!
- scott_s 8y ago
  I like your pictures. (I'm not a photographer, just someone who can look at some stuff and say "I like that" and not necessarily know why.) But I find some of your comments odd. Such as: "Another shot of the lighthouse in Chania." Well, yes, it's a picture, so I can see that it's a lighthouse, and it's obviously a shot. The only information in that sentence, then is "Chania," but where is that? From the tags, I guess it's Greece, so maybe the comment should just be "Chania, Greece." If the lighthouse has a proper name, then that would be better. Another example: "Here's a boat." That doesn't have any information. Where is the boat? What kind of boat? Who is on it? What are they doing? You don't need to say any of this, but some context would help tell a story. The problem with "Here's a boat" is that it is completely reductionist. I get that maybe you're going for self-aware deprecation, but when presenting your art, that does not come off clever. It comes off unconfident.
  - dillutedfixer 8y ago
    This. Tell a story with the photo. There are millions and millions of photos out there, but only YOU have your viewpoint. Only YOU have your intellect and knowledge. Tell a story, it will be unique and people might like it. Also, Instagram is not the measure of success. I know a few photographers who are good, even excellent, and have more Instagram followers than Sebastião Salgado, who in my opinion is the best photographer walking the earth right now.
  - StavrosK 8y ago
    Hmm, that's good feedback, thank you. I don't write descriptions a lot because I consider my photos' value to be the aesthetic and not so much the story behind them. I'll try to write something more descriptive from now on, thank you, I wouldn't have thought of that before you mentioned it.
- WA 8y ago
  This is what many people do. Using a bot which automatically does follow-unfollow, likes or post pointless spam comments. Forget Instagram. It’s a place of spam and bot. Also: what’s the point of having Instagram followers? Your photos are nice, but earning money with it is an entirely different thing.
  - StavrosK 8y ago
    That's true, and I don't want to turn photography into work either, as that will take all the fun out of it. I won't bother with Instagram beyond posting my photos, thanks for the feedback!

by Swizec 8y ago

How do you define "any kind of audience"? It's very easy to get hundreds and even thousands of followers on instagram. Can you get into galleries? Eh that's really really hard you're right.

StavrosK 8y ago

> It's very easy to get hundreds and even thousands of followers on instagram. How? I post new photos every few days and my follower count actually goes down. I get a bunch of accounts following me automatically and unfollowing me after a few days, just to get me to follow them back. Maybe my photos are terrible, but I don't think so? https://www.instagram.com/stavroskorok/ https://www.instagram.com/stavroskorok/

o10449366 8y ago
I like your photos. That being said, I think it's hard to succeed on Instagram specifically unless you have a very well-defined theme or style. There's nothing wrong with trying a little bit of everything, but I think it's also understandable that the people who initially followed you because they saw a great portrait you took may not be interested in your landscapes. I have an Instagram account that's private and mainly followed by my personal friends. I post whatever I want on there - my paid photography work, my life updates, pictures of my cat, etc. but I also keep a separate, public account that's strictly for my professional portrait work. I think having that separation helps for retaining interest.
- StavrosK 8y ago
  I've been wondering that as well. Looking at every other photographer, this is true, so I think you're right. I like to experiment with many different styles so the photographs don't look "samey", but I guess that for an Instagram account having a defined aesthetic is an advantage. I'll try to shoot more "my style", thank you for the feedback!
alokm 8y ago
Your photos are good. Getting instagram followers in itself is a separate set of skills than being a good photographer. There is no scope of "organic" growth when the platform is swamped with people trying out different tricks.
platz 8y ago
Your photos are very well executed and pristine. I think it depends on what you want. Do you want followers? Do you want originality? Do you want to get in galleries? Do you want clients? Do you want to have fun? Are you documenting your life or someone else? These are all different goals, I'm not sure which one you're prioritizing for. I admit I don't know about getting followers on Instagram. For example, gallery artists might try to play with the formal properties of the photo and surprise the viewer in some special way.
- StavrosK 8y ago
  Thank you, I think that's the more important question. My photos are for me and for what I like, it would just be nice if people liked them as well. Since my goal is to have fun, I'm not going to ruin it by forcing myself to take photos, even if that doesn't get me followers or any recognition. Thank you for your feedback!
scott_s 8y ago
I like your pictures. (I'm not a photographer, just someone who can look at some stuff and say "I like that" and not necessarily know why.) But I find some of your comments odd. Such as: "Another shot of the lighthouse in Chania." Well, yes, it's a picture, so I can see that it's a lighthouse, and it's obviously a shot. The only information in that sentence, then is "Chania," but where is that? From the tags, I guess it's Greece, so maybe the comment should just be "Chania, Greece." If the lighthouse has a proper name, then that would be better. Another example: "Here's a boat." That doesn't have any information. Where is the boat? What kind of boat? Who is on it? What are they doing? You don't need to say any of this, but some context would help tell a story. The problem with "Here's a boat" is that it is completely reductionist. I get that maybe you're going for self-aware deprecation, but when presenting your art, that does not come off clever. It comes off unconfident.
- dillutedfixer 8y ago
  This. Tell a story with the photo. There are millions and millions of photos out there, but only YOU have your viewpoint. Only YOU have your intellect and knowledge. Tell a story, it will be unique and people might like it. Also, Instagram is not the measure of success. I know a few photographers who are good, even excellent, and have more Instagram followers than Sebastião Salgado, who in my opinion is the best photographer walking the earth right now.
- StavrosK 8y ago
  Hmm, that's good feedback, thank you. I don't write descriptions a lot because I consider my photos' value to be the aesthetic and not so much the story behind them. I'll try to write something more descriptive from now on, thank you, I wouldn't have thought of that before you mentioned it.
WA 8y ago
This is what many people do. Using a bot which automatically does follow-unfollow, likes or post pointless spam comments. Forget Instagram. It’s a place of spam and bot. Also: what’s the point of having Instagram followers? Your photos are nice, but earning money with it is an entirely different thing.
- StavrosK 8y ago
  That's true, and I don't want to turn photography into work either, as that will take all the fun out of it. I won't bother with Instagram beyond posting my photos, thanks for the feedback!