First, if you are a photographer (amateur or veteran) and do not have an Instagram account yet, you need to open one immediately. For photographers Instagram account is a must have. You may have a Facebook account or maybe you are a YouTuber, but you are not in the right social media space unless you enter the realm of Instagram. If you are already there, then kudos to you!
So, you are on Instagram now. How do you use it to your advantage? Instagram is not just a place to gain followers or post photos randomly. Yes, the follower count matters, but just by being on Instagram, you will start to improve your photography skills subconsciously! That is a priceless benefit an Instagram account offers for free. There are so many great photographers leveling up their game on a daily basis. You can train your eyes to capture better photos by viewing their photos. You can learn to color grade your photos more efficiently. Set a goal of at least viewing 30-50 photos of photographers who are way ahead of you. If you can do that within a month, you will notice the difference between your photos before that.
Photographers on Instagram don’t just post photos. They frequently post reels or stories about their editing process. You can quickly learn details like ISO, shutter speed, focal length and all the other nuanced knowledge just by going through their content. What ISO do they use in what type of lighting or focal length they use to capture how much detail, you should be able to extract all this information by studying all these incredible photographers.
It is not just the art itself; you can learn the professional sides of photography from social media as well. Buy the professional side, Ia mean the money-making side of photography. However, the common perception might tell you that art and money do not go hand in hand. That may be true to some extent, but if you want to make some money, do not shy away from the business knowledge of professional photographers. I have been on Instagram for years without any intention of making money from my photography. But now that I want to, I am intentionally looking for ways to monetize my passion. This side of the knowledge is not as easy to find as photography knowledge. The information is there, but it is hiding in plain sight. You have to look for ways in which photography influencers are productizing their art. Selling presets printable photography, and digital photobooks are a few common ways I see them making money. There are other ways, like photography lessons and a paid photography community, but these take more effort to build.
Another benefit of social media platforms is that you can easily choose your next gear from them. Photography influencers regularly post about newer cameras and supporting gear on their accounts. Aside from a detailed review, you can find tons of actual photos taken with the equipment in your “next to buy list”.
As social media becomes more and more integral to our daily lives, it is wise to learn how to navigate this world. You do not need to have a grand plan already to become a photography influencer yourself but do become a learner. Knowledge never goes to waste and you never know where your passion for photography might take you in the future.
