Instagram? For people like us?

[Richard M. Coda]

I was wondering if anyone was using Instagram... you know... us old geezers (speak for yourself) who use big cameras to make beautiful images... not hipsters who flood the world with garbage. Becky Senf, a friend of mine, and assistant curator at the CCP in Tucson, just raves about IG, but she is also a little younger than most of us and has fallen for the gimmick, I mean "allure" of vernacular photography. So, my college age daughter got me started on Instagram (http://instagram.com/rcodapics/) and I have been curating my images, resizing them to 640 px square and copyright watermarking them. From what I see, IG is mostly a bunch of narcissistic twits with iPhones, and everyone is a "photographer". I am hesitant to "like" most of the people who like my work because, well, I'm just not digging their work. So my question, is there anyone here successfully using IG as a marketing tool? Thanks for indulging me... I had three glasses tonight! ;)

[Sirius Glass]

What is this Instagram of which you speak? Is it some type of fiber for one's diet?

[Darin Boville]

I recently started using it and love it. I'm not sure about its value as a marketing tool but it s cool to see interesting photographs and other people's lives. The quality of what you see depends entirely on the people you follow. Don't want cat photos? You know what to do...

If you want to follow me I'm at http://www.instagram.com/darinboville :)

I post pictures mostly of works-in-progress and picts from exhibits I visit, etc...

--Darin

[Fred L]

For many people, Instagram is no longer about using camera phone pics but rather are uploading photos taken with professional equipment. Look at the feed at Hasselblad_official. Some pretty impressive work there.

It is what users make of it. Flood it with great work and it's great place, flood it with cute kittens, well then I come here for respite lol

[Jac@stafford.net]

For many people, Instagram is no longer about using camera phone pics but rather are uploading photos taken with professional equipment.

How many? What ratio? Of what significance is professional equipment?

[Fred L]

Just an observation of what I see so this is skewed to what I look for and not representative of Instagramers as a whole. Pro equipment usually means professionally taken images vs cellphone pics.

An uploaded Hasselblad photo is probably going to look better. Models, mua, lighting etc.. These are photographers who are using Instagram as a marketing tool to get their name and work out there. I have no idea if it gets them more work but I think it's something that is worth looking into, depending on one's market/niche.

[Sirius Glass]

Of course when you post on it, you lose your control of the selling of your prints and the profit. You may not be able to sell copies of those photographs later. Giving it all away for 15 nanoseconds of glory on the internet is hardly worth it.

[Kimberly Anderson]

Of course when you post on it, you lose your control of the selling of your prints and the profit. You may not be able to sell copies of those photographs later. Giving it all away for 15 nanoseconds of glory on the internet is hardly worth it.

That's why I use it as a visual exercise and don't use it for anything serious.

@btnpshr

[Kodachrome25]

I plan on using it for contextual images of works like prints in the wash tray, mounting area & and behind the scenes, in action, on location. They will be great images with strong narrative but nothing of the finished work it self as a means to protect it. I'm launching an enormous marketing engine this year and Instagram will certainly be a part of it.

Also, I am not sure what value so called "professional" equipment has on Instagram as lots of work I have seen with iphones in terms of pure vision buries tons of other gear centric work deeply in the sand.

[Nicolasllasera]

That's why I use it as a visual exercise and don't use it for anything serious.

@btnpshr

Same here. Usually post stuff Im doing at the moment regarding photgraphy. It can be darkroom snapshots or the camera I am using at a certain moment. Just for fun.

@nicolaslllasera (on instagram)

[Mark Sawyer]

...So my question, is there anyone here successfully using IG as a marketing tool?

I'm afraid that's all it comes down to...

[Michael W]

Instagram is whatever you want it to be. It's the epitome of the contemporary flow of images. Don't like it? easy, stay away. Otherwise, explore it and make it what you want. Follow the people who interest you; if they stop interesting you then stop following them. Put up whatever images you like, you can mix the banal with the serious and they can come from whatever equipment you like. By default the images should be square but you can post any image shape you like by putting it within a white square. One of the accounts that I like is @pinkhassov (Magnum photographer). My account is @kittensandsunsets No doubt some people use it for self promotion and others just to express themselves.

[geekofnature]

I find that my film photos that I scan and post to instagram actually get more attention than my regular travel or occasional cat photos. #largeformat #largeformatphotography #4x5 #4x5print #viewcamera #filmisnotdead

[David R Munson]

I like it as a sort of journal. Nothing too serious, a distinct lack of "selfies" (I hate that word) for the most part, no shots of my lunch, etc. Wanderings, photography, and cats I meet along the way. Seriously, cats. It's an outlet.

[Kodachrome25]

Seriously, cats. It's an outlet.

In the book "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman, a portrayal of the world if humans instantly vanished, one of the otherwise domesticated animals that would not only survive but flourish would be cats. In short order, dogs would be an epic fail....

That said I reserve photos of my cat to friends and family only....

[Leszek Vogt]

Seriously now, did I missed another wave of FB type fad ? Probably happily so.


Les

[John Jarosz]

The people that use instagram (generally) look only at the image and what it is 'supposed to be about'. They really have no interest in a photographic print as an object (or craft or anything else). Instagram is not really about what most people on this forum would consider traditional photography.

My opinion of course.

John

[invisibleflash]

Nope. Prob cause I don't have a smart phone.

I'm an old geeser at 60....but I shoot like a young buck.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Mike_Busey_4_Copyright_2014_Daniel_D._Teoli_Jr..jpg/800px-Mike_Busey_4_Copyright_2014_Daniel_D._Teoli_Jr..jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Gathering_of_the_Juggalos_Kiss_Copyright_2014_Daniel_D._Teoli_Jr._lr.jpg/800px-Gathering_of_the_Juggalos_Kiss_Copyright_2014_Daniel_D._Teoli_Jr._lr.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Faygo_Gathering_of_the_Juggalos_Copyright_2014_Daniel_D._Teoli_Jr..jpg/757px-Faygo_Gathering_of_the_Juggalos_Copyright_2014_Daniel_D._Teoli_Jr..jpg


nsfw

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Man_with_Cock_Ring_Copyright_2014_Daniel_D._Teoli_Jr..jpg/438px-Man_with_Cock_Ring_Copyright_2014_Daniel_D._Teoli_Jr..jpg


Actually I shoot much better than the youngins. I do HDR too!!

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Homage_to_Weegee_2012_Copyright_2012_Daniel_D._Teoli_Jr..jpg/776px-Homage_to_Weegee_2012_Copyright_2012_Daniel_D._Teoli_Jr..jpg

[gmfotografie]

http://instagram.com/gm_fotografie/

:-)


i will start using it more and more...

[toyotadesigner]

I don't know anything about it. Do you need a smartphone for it?
Any hint will be appreciated, because if it works only with some mobile device, I can relax because I don't have one. This state will remain as long as I know I will be smarter than a lousy cell phone.

[axs810]

Instagram? For people like us? Why not? It's a great marketing tool if you know how to use it


http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2014/03/07/this-photographer-made-15k-in-one-day-on-instagram/

[Richard M. Coda]

Instagram? For people like us? Why not? It's a great marketing tool if you know how to use it


http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2014/03/07/this-photographer-made-15k-in-one-day-on-instagram/

Thanks axs810... that's the kind of information I was looking for... although I would never put myself in this young man's position... I'd be working at McDonald's if I had to.

[DrTang]

not for people like me - for sure


I don't get out enough..how many pix of my living room does anyone need??

also..I'd feel pressured to make new and interesting images everyday...for my followers

nope..don't need that pressure (same reason I quit blogging years ago..I found myself doing things just so I had something to write about)

for me...no

[Sirius Glass]

Here is a concept. My cell phone is a telephone. No camera. No texting. No Operating System. It allows me to enjoy life as it really is and leave time for photography. I don't need no stinking smart phone!

[David R Munson]

Stephen Shore shares some thoughts on Instagram over at ASX (http://www.americansuburbx.com/2014/12/stephen-shore-likes-instagram.html)

[axs810]

Woah I thought ASX stopped posting stuff awhile ago! Thanks for sharing David

[David R Munson]

Yeah, it was announced a while back that it was going to stop. And maybe it did briefly, but definitely started up again in a big way. I'm very happy about that!

[StoneNYC]

http://Instagram.com/stonenycfoto

My page is private because some of the images are risqué, if you want to be added please be sure to have some information about who you are in your page title or I will deny you because I don't know who you are.

And yes you need a smartphone, and what happened in this thread, as they say "wow that escalated quickly" LOL

[Larry Kellogg]

One interesting little comparison is that Instagram is valued at something like $35 BILLION dollars, and employs how many people, fifty, one hundred? Kodak at its height employed tens of thousands of people, and created jobs through suppliers, distributors, dealers, etc. It's a strange world.

[Michael W]

One interesting little comparison is that Instagram is valued at something like $35 BILLION dollars, and employs how many people, fifty, one hundred? Kodak at its height employed tens of thousands of people, and created jobs through suppliers, distributors, dealers, etc. It's a strange world.
I hate to say it, but one represents the past and the other the future. Professional investors are looking for growth and it's hard to see that in Kodak. The sad thing is, there is no reason why Kodak couldn't have developed something like Instagram, it would fit their core business identity, just seems the management were pushing them in stupid directions like inkjet printers.

[axs810]

Kodak sells a physical product though and as the economy goes up and down it's understandable why it can be hard to stay afloat...I can see why investors would be more interested in instagram though because they don't actually sell a physical product and it's used by the masses for "free". Plus how many people do you know now a days that will be completely willing to delete all social media? For me very few people...so places like instagram and facebook are great places for people to invest because it's like a drug. It's "free" but you are really just allowing third party companies to buy your information.

Good movie to watch on Netflix is "Terms And Conditions May Apply"

[Larry Kellogg]

I hate to say it, but one represents the past and the other the future. Professional investors are looking for growth and it's hard to see that in Kodak. The sad thing is, there is no reason why Kodak couldn't have developed something like Instagram, it would fit their core business identity, just seems the management were pushing them in stupid directions like inkjet printers.

Yeah, I agree. It's too bad, as Kodak did try all sorts of photo sharing systems, although I guess they were all physical systems, as far as I recall.

Still, are the ad opportunities so rich with Instagram that it's worth $35 BILLION? How do they generate any revenue?

[axs810]

I believe they were bought out by investors (facebook) for $1 billion in 2012 when they were just 13 employees working.


When I was using instagram I don't recall any advertisements but if they started using ads then yes it could generate a good amount of income considering how many people/businesses use instagram all over the world. Although I would assume they make more money (since it's a facebook owned program) by selling your information to third parties. (ie, what you search in hashtags, locations, etc) because it could be very profitable for other businesses to buy this information to use to figure out what kind of market there is for certain demographics. At least that's my observation on the topic

[StoneNYC]

I believe they were bought out by investors (facebook) for $1 billion in 2012 when they were just 13 employees working.


When I was using instagram I don't recall any advertisements but if they started using ads then yes it could generate a good amount of income considering how many people/businesses use instagram all over the world. Although I would assume they make more money (since it's a facebook owned program) by selling your information to third parties. (ie, what you search in hashtags, locations, etc) because it could be very profitable for other businesses to buy this information to use to figure out what kind of market there is for certain demographics. At least that's my observation on the topic

Yeah, Instagram is all information gathering and selling that information, it doesn't really have much of a marketing scheme as far as advertisement, modern companies also understand that people don't like ads anymore, they used to be fun and only a few of them in between commercials on TV, now we are bombarded by so much that we just skip by it because we can, especially in a feed system such as Instagram or Facebook wall, so gathering information and selling it to other parties is much more profitable and keep people interested in using and contributing more information because they aren't annoyed by ads.

[Stoogley]

Instagram...isn't that one of those annual medical diagnostics for women? (no offense intended) :)

I have an Instagram account, like my facebook account, primarily for getting freebies and participating in (non-photo) contests.

[Gary Nylander]

This is my Instagram account:http://instagram.com/nylander_photographs/

I have been using Instagram for about 10 months now, I'm just seeing where it goes, I enjoy posting my work. I'm just trying to get my work and name "out there" and using this as another venue to reach a different audience, although I'm not sure if many of the folks who are true Instagramers will "get" my work, at least its worth a try, its taken me this long to get 54 followers.

[Daniel Stone]

Gary,
You have some really nice shots there :)!

[Leszek Vogt]

Gary,
Meziadin Lake rocks!!! Yeah, and I was totally oblivious to it...ripping the road via Casiar Hwy....not the same, but did see some fine eagles. Gots to get out to No BC soon.

Les

[Gary Nylander]

Thanks, Daniel and Leszek!

[Richard M. Coda]

Yes, Gary... just saw your "follow" today and I have reciprocated... very nice work!

[Gary Nylander]

Thanks, Richard, looking forward to seeing your Instagram posts!

[gmfotografie]

developing �� http://instagram.com/p/xrxe-aMkZY/

[David R Munson]

I'm at http://instagram.com/davidrmunson

All done with my iPhone, I don't really upload from anything else and don't intend to. The nature of the device lends to the nature of the medium for me. It is lightweight and ephemeral and I like it that way. It's a form of visual journaling that I like for it's casual interaction. I'm not apt to overthink it, and that's a gift from the platform, as far as I'm concerned.

[goamules]

I hate to say it, but one represents the past and the other the future. Professional investors are looking for growth and it's hard to see that in Kodak. The sad thing is, there is no reason why Kodak couldn't have developed something like Instagram, it would fit their core business identity, just seems the management were pushing them in stupid directions like inkjet printers.

The sad thing is that Kodak provided jobs for generations of employees, created innovation after innovation for decades, transitioned from pre-war, to WWII, and back to post war needs successfully. Kodak transcended and supplied the markets of amateur, professional, cinema, military, and space companies for each generation. Thousands of research and developers. Thousands of manufacturers. Thousands of salespeople. Thousands of retail stores. Thousands involved with the chemicals, distribution, etc. They created and sustained all this, and is what this forum remnant is about.

Instagram should be called "Instawealth" for the few involved and it's owners, because it's "insta-hype" is all that will keep it going. What do they do? Create a website or something? It's faddish, for mostly amateurs. No pros (well, few). No military, no space, it's all consumer hype. Where will that company, and it's 100 employees be in 20 years? Moved on, I can assure you that.

[Larry Kellogg]

Well said.

[Sirius Glass]

The sad thing is that Kodak provided jobs for generations of employees, created innovation after innovation for decades, transitioned from pre-war, to WWII, and back to post war needs successfully. Kodak transcended and supplied the markets of amateur, professional, cinema, military, and space companies for each generation. Thousands of research and developers. Thousands of manufacturers. Thousands of salespeople. Thousands of retail stores. Thousands involved with the chemicals, distribution, etc. They created and sustained all this, and is what this forum remnant is about.

Instagram should be called "Instawealth" for the few involved and it's owners, because it's "insta-hype" is all that will keep it going. What do they do? Create a website or something? It's faddish, for mostly amateurs. No pros (well, few). No military, no space, it's all consumer hype. Where will that company, and it's 100 employees be in 20 years? Moved on, I can assure you that.

+1
I worked at Kodak, but not on film.

[Stephen Collector]

I have a project which I developed and at the urging of my 28 year old son I've been posting images on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook every other day for 6 weeks. You can review samples here if interested? https://instagram.com/stephencollector/ or @stephencollector (on instagram). Or friend me on Facebook - Stephen Collector.
As for outcome, I have no idea what to expect? I do know that my old pattern of being the proverbial starving artist in the garret with binders of strong negatives, of which, no one is aware hardly ranks as a strategy, yet like the definition of insanity, I keep doing it expecting different results!
I make prints then digitally scan them. Then get them ready for the web and upload. For instagram you'll need an account with, say Dropbox, which has an iphone app. Then upload to Dropbox and grab images from there. Can answer more specific questions if need be.

[ShannonG]

I recently got on it,i show my commercial work as well as my film and darkroom images. and images of some processes behind the scenes,(darkroom stuff and studio stuff)used as kind of a journal. A lot of my clients are on there so they enjoy seeing me there.
The thing i don't like is taking photos of my finished prints,my phone just doesn't do them justice. and i don't like how IG crops the images
Here is my IG page.. thanks for looking.. https://instagram.com/scdesignstudios/

[ederphoto]

I got involved with Instagram recently . It's no place for large format stuff .There's no point in shooting 8x10 or larger and reducing it to a 2"x2" image .If you want to show your skills with a cell phone or dslr , you have nothing too loose .If you really want to use it for marketing , you have to either hire someone to spend hours liking other peoples photos , trying to acquire thousands of followers and so on .Remember , Instagram is craking down even on photographers who use DSLR .The last maneuver was to remove or limet the use of hashtags to edited photos . At this time , i believe facebook is a better marketing tool for large format photographers .Remember , 90% of the people who use instagram view the images through a cell phone screen and not a computer . In my page you won't see any large format stuff but you can have an idea of how i view the world trough a lens .Check it out :

https://instagram.com/ederlopesworld

[Fred L]

I wasn't aware Instagram was cracking down on dslr uploads and hashtags and don't think that would gain much traction in the community. Gaining followers shouldn't be too onerous and adding proper hashtags is key if you want eyes. Some photographers use Instagram to post work in progress or backgrounder photos of what they're currently working on, a sketch book type of thing.

It's another marketing tool that can be exploited or ignored.

[appletree]

I will admit, I am part of the young generation that has been tagging along in many of these fabs. That said, I often found myself much happier just working in the darkroom or whatnot. I started a website, that gets a bit of views, but minimal. Thus after a while, I decided to try instagram and facebook (after avoiding both [well I have had a personal FB for 10 years now] for the longest time).
I enjoy it, for the tool it is. Other than that, I agree, not much value in posting LF work onto something someone will view on their phone screen. Other than a way to funnel people to your website/blog/portfolio/etc.

Honestly for marketing, I think I need to get out and meet people in the local community and photography scene. Not that I am trying to make a business, but it would be nice to sell a print or two every month. Who knows if this is feasible. My photography has a lot of learning and growing to do.

Also, doesn't help I am lazy and feel swamped with over 600+ photos to edit and years of photos backlogged. Also one of my cats recently chewed thru one of the hardwired wires on my scanner. Well...I had been wanting a v750 for my 4x5 work and to make my other scanning faster (scanning always seemed like the largest bottle neck)...so I guess I will be upgrading earlier than I expected.

I was not around when Kodak was king, but it is unfortunate that at some point (in the 80s maybe?) they took a turn that seemingly kept going downhill. Always a step behind or lack of marketing or something...not sure. I am sure that there is a wealth of articles and posts on it. Honestly, sad. It seems like another thing in history that eventually is covered in dust. A reminder that all tangible things we hold dear and cherish will at some point be at a garage sale or the dump.

[chad23]

I'm a representative of the young generation.
I signed up to use Instagram about two weeks ago, I feel I am now qualified to say It's a waste of time.

[DennisD]

I'm sure Instagram has a place, but it's really more fitting for the casual photo collection or "in-the-moment" photography. In that respect, it looks like a lot of fun and a great idea. I'm tempted to start a page for my iPhone photos and 'fun stuff', but nothing more.

Perhaps instagram has value as a marketing tool, but the serious, creative and self respecting professional photographer can likely find better ways and places to market. Excepting, perhaps, wedding photographers who use iPhones, if there are such people !

Many of the Instagram pages that feature large format photography get lost amongst the flood of smartphone snapshots. Yes, the LF images look sharp and well done, but so does any image when placed in that tiny box. Even the enlarged view doesn't offer much more.

IMHO those who place their LF work in such a venue are wasting their time. They may have beautiful work, but it's in the wrong place and won't be appreciated. Further, it seems like a "cheapening" the LF image - something that's part of a contemplative and studied process - to place it in a venue dominated by 'selfies' and on the fly photos.

What's the point ?

LF work deserves a dignified presentation. Instagram, while it serves a worthwhile purpose for certain types of photography, does not elevate well done LF photography.

I don't mean to offend anyone - just my humble opinion.

[Atracksler]

I like instagram, you have to make something to put it on, even if it is taking a picture and filtering the bejezzus out of it. I don't like sharing and re-posting BS of other social networks...

Anyway mine is https://instagram.com/atracksler/ if anyone cares to look at my stuff...

[David R Munson]

I've already replied to this a while back, but it seems to bear repeating months later. I'm still having fun with it. People seem to expect some huge thing out of it because it's popular. I expect nothing out of it and enjoy it. I still think it is best as a form of visual journaling, and I don't even care about selfies (I hate that word) or shots of my lunch. It can certainly be a platform for insane narcissism, but it can also be a platform for sharing enthusiasm for life in general.

https://instagram.com/davidrmunson

[StoneNYC]

I've already replied to this a while back, but it seems to bear repeating months later. I'm still having fun with it. People seem to expect some huge thing out of it because it's popular. I expect nothing out of it and enjoy it. I still think it is best as a form of visual journaling, and I don't even care about selfies (I hate that word) or shots of my lunch. It can certainly be a platform for insane narcissism, but it can also be a platform for sharing enthusiasm for life in general.

https://instagram.com/davidrmunson

I've met a TON of models through it though, it can be good social networking at least.

http://instagram.com/stonenycfoto

[axs810]

Your profile is private

[StoneNYC]

Your profile is private

Yup, my first profile had over 2,000 followers in a short time and then I was flagged by some religious zealot and got deleted because of content, so now I personally approve (or deny) every follower.

If your profile is blank, or you're ultra religious, or just have pics of your kids I'll probably not approve you, only obvious photographers and models, who aren't children trying to moderate the world, are approved.