Instagram is a powerful tool, and one that I use on a daily basis. While posting and seeing everyone's photos as you scroll down your feed might be great (and fun), there are actually some other tools within the app that can help enhance your profile. Take one that I just updated — Instagram Story Highlights. These are those little circles you see on people's profiles. You can use this to save past Instagram stories, whether they be video or stills. This is a great way to show off your work, in a sort of mini-portfolio of sorts. For me … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Using Instagram stories and highlights for a mini-portfolio
Remembering 2018
With the new year just hours away, we thought it'd be fun to recap 2018. Between covering the full-frame mirrorless trends, photography conferences like WPPI and PhotoPlus, reviewing the latest camera gear and helping you with camera and post-processing techniques, our team had tons of interesting articles that caught your interest! Below are our top 10 most viewed articles for 2018. We hope you had a great 2018, and we can't wait to see what's in store for 2019! Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash … [Read more...] about Remembering 2018
Photography Marketing: Know your platform
As photographers, we spend a lot of time sharing our images and trying to market ourselves on social media. It's no secret that we spend about 20% of our time actually photographing, while the other 80% is spent on our business. In order to be effective on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, however, you have to know the platform. And you have to know your audience for those platforms. Facebook When Facebook was initially launched in February 2004, its audience was clear. It catered specifically to college students. But two years … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Know your platform
Photography Marketing: What Flickr’s changes mean for photo sharing
When I first got started in photography, I was constantly on Flickr. I uploaded all my photos there, browsed tons of groups and crossed my fingers that some of my work would make it to the coveted Explore gallery. While I'm no longer active on the service, I know several photographers — amateurs and professionals — who use Flickr on a daily basis. It's a great method of sharing your photos and getting feedback from the photography community at-large. It can even help in terms of showing off your work to clients. By Flickr changing its … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: What Flickr’s changes mean for photo sharing
Quick Tip: Start using Instagram Stories to promote your brand
To help build your brand on Instagram, start using Instagram Stories to showcase projects you’re working on, future events or share something you just learned. This will attract new followers plus it may give your current clients ideas for future shoots. Want to learn more? Check out this podcast, "The InFocus Interview Show with Jonathan Tilly | Photofocus Podcast June 29, 2018" … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Start using Instagram Stories to promote your brand
How to post to Instagram from your computer — Easy as A, B, C
I hope this technique is as helpful for you as it has been for me. It's well known that you can only post to Instagram from your phone app. Which means you've probably done all kinds of digital gymnastics in order to get your best photos onto your phone to share. Many people upload them to Dropbox or another file-sharing site, then download to their phones. I thought I had a good system, which was to use Lightroom mobile to sync photos between my desktop and phone. But this is better. Soooooo much better. The Lr Mobile and Dropbox … [Read more...] about How to post to Instagram from your computer — Easy as A, B, C
Heartening statistics about photography use
I found this infographic heartening because I'm always hearing about the devaluation of photography. But, according to this, it sounds like photos and images are still the most important tool for reaching people with lasting impact. Think about that next time you trip the shutter. The infographic is provided by MDG Advertising. … [Read more...] about Heartening statistics about photography use
Quick tips for making an Instagram story
Whether you want to share fun and lighthearted content with family and friends or promote your business, you can do it all with Instagram stores. Here are 4 quick tips to get you started. Hit the plus button on the top-left side of your home screen or swipe left in your feed. Hit the circle button at the bottom of the screen to take photos or tap and hold to record a video. Tap Done to save your story. Tap the add your story button to share to your story. Still having trouble understand Instagram stories and how they work? More … [Read more...] about Quick tips for making an Instagram story
How to create a Instagram story
One of my sweet friends recently got an Instagram account and I know what you are thinking. I said the same thing, but she asked if I could help her set it up and if I knew how to do those “circle things up top”. 😊 I explained those “circles” are Instagram stories and that stories are a feature that let the users post photos and videos that vanish after 24 hours. The content shared to stories doesn’t actually show up on your profile or in the main Instagram feed. It is basically a way for Instagram to try and incorporate that Snapchat vibe … [Read more...] about How to create a Instagram story
Photography Marketing: Never become satisfied
A few years ago, I met someone from my church who ran a graphic design agency. While our meeting wasn't work-related, it was good to pick his brain a bit and hear some of his stories. He told me that, years ago, he had put all his eggs in one basket. He had one main client and hired 10 people just to work on that client. It was a major chain in the midwest, and it covered 90% of his company's overall income for the year. Then that company changed leadership and went with a different agency. He had to lay off almost all his staff because … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Never become satisfied
Hiring a professional photographer: Is it really worth your money?
Nowadays, anyone can take pictures anywhere, anytime. Everybody has a cell phone in their pocket and/or a camera in their bag. It's available, it's convenient and it's cheap. As a business owner or an event organizer, why bother spending big bucks on a professional photographer for something anyone could do? Well, let's talk about it for a minute. A lot of people think they can do the same work because they own a camera. They think it's an easy job, or they've done some photography and they feel qualified enough or they simply aren't aware … [Read more...] about Hiring a professional photographer: Is it really worth your money?
The InFocus Interview Show with Jonathan Tilly | Photofocus Podcast June 29, 2018
https://soundcloud.com/photofocus/infocus-interview-show-with-jonathan-tilley-june-29-2018/s-w7IJr In this episode: Personal Brand Strategist Jonathan Tilly shares how to build your brand on Instagram. Topics: Choosing a good name before setting up your profile The purpose of your Instagram What content should be on your Instagram Creating interaction with followers How to schedule Instagram post Building an Instagram scheduling day The benefits of Instagram Stories If you like these Infocus Interviews, please … [Read more...] about The InFocus Interview Show with Jonathan Tilly | Photofocus Podcast June 29, 2018
Photography Marketing: Is IGTV the Next Big Thing?
I shouldn't have been surprised on Wednesday, when Instagram announced its latest product — IGTV. Focused on taking the vertical video format a step further, IGTV is a new app that could be YouTube's biggest competition yet. As photographers, is IGTV something we should embrace? Is it worthwhile to try out yet another social network? The last time I talked about a new option was with Vero. And while I was big on it at first, I've not used it in the last month. Will IGTV suffer the same fate, or will it be in it for the long haul? What is … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Is IGTV the Next Big Thing?
Photography Marketing: Strategize Your Instagram Hashtags with Focalmark
One of the biggest struggles I have in using Instagram is deciding what hashtags to use. I usually use some that are consistent with each post, specific to my camera make (Olympus), location and type of photography. But recently, I discovered a tool to make this a little easier — Focalmark. The app is available for free (with paid upgrades) for both iOS and Android devices. How it Works With Focalmark, you can copy up to 30 hashtags directly to Instagram or your phone's clipboard. Focalmark works by asking you three questions. First, it … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Strategize Your Instagram Hashtags with Focalmark
Photography Marketing: Instagram Caves, New Posts to Appear First in Feed
You might have noticed a few changes to Instagram over the past week — and now it's official. Instagram has caved, and has decided to make newer posts more important to its users. I had received messages from several people about this over the past few days, and while I, too, had noticed some changes, Instagram made it official on Thursday, saying in a press release, "With these changes, your feed will feel more fresh, and you won't miss the moments you care about." What This Means Simply put, you're more likely to see new posts from the … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Instagram Caves, New Posts to Appear First in Feed
Photography Marketing: Be Everywhere — But Only Where it Counts
With the marketing and social marketplace changing on what seems like a daily basis, it's easy to get overwhelmed and think you have to be active on every platform imaginable. It's great to have profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus, Flickr, Instagram, 500px, LinkedIn, MySpace (wait, MySpace?!?)... You get the idea. There are a ton of networks out there that can help achieve your marketing goals. But you should only be active on those networks that positively impact you and your business. A Case Study: Google Plus Back in … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Be Everywhere — But Only Where it Counts
Its All About the Square
Why I love Instagram & Hipstamatic Like every photographer nowadays, I have been shooting with my iPhone more—it has virtually replaced the pocket point & shoot! The one camera that is always with me, it has come to represent the future of photography technology, and it cannot be ignored. More often than not, my go-to photo app is Hipstamatic. Why? The funky, old fashioned, snapshot camera simulator has an interesting effect on my vision, simplifying my approach to picture making by virtually removing the post-processing part of image … [Read more...] about Its All About the Square
Photography Marketing: Upload Pixel-Perfect Images on Social Media
Let's face it — as photographers, we have to spend a ton of time on social media sharing our images. But depending on the platform, it's not as easy as just clicking the "Upload" button. Different social networks recommend different image sizes, in order to make your photos look as best as possible. While every social network compresses uploaded images somewhat, the amount your image is effected is often based on the size you upload at, as well as some additional factors, like compression and converting to different color … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Upload Pixel-Perfect Images on Social Media
How to up your social media engagement
After the first couple times, I was asked about how I have such good engagement on social media, I disregarded the questions because I didn’t feel like my social media following was that big of a deal. Many other’s have much more followers and engagement, or so I thought. When one of my friends who runs several Instagram accounts with thousands of followers asked me how my engagement was so high, I literally looked at her confused. I admired her following. Then when my followers started asking me advice on what I do, I actually ignored their … [Read more...] about How to up your social media engagement
Photography Marketing: Uploading Finished Images to Instagram
I'm often asked how to further utilize Instagram as a photographer. And while using applicable hashtags and giving a location to your images is great, sometimes the simplest of techniques is overlooked. That is, uploading photos taken with your camera to Instagram, instead of just photos on your iPhone. That's not to say that images taken with your iPhone are necessarily bad; they have a time and a place. But for marketing purposes, you want to display your best work in all mediums, and that includes Instagram. How Can I Upload My … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Uploading Finished Images to Instagram
Photography Marketing: Creating Brand Engagement Through Instagram
Instagram is a constantly evolving tool, and one that has changed drastically over the past year. Now, more than ever, it's important to follow some simple rules when posting to the social networking platform that can help you engage with not only your fans, but potential clients. Tag Businesses and Locations This might sound obvious, but oftentimes, it's overlooked. Mention your clients or potential clients by tagging their Instagram accounts in images that feature them or their products. On my recent trip to North Carolina, I stopped at … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Creating Brand Engagement Through Instagram
Getting Creative With Instagram’s Multiple Photos Feature
Recently Instagram added the “multiple photos” feature, where an image post can include up to 10 images and/or videos which you can swipe through. Although sharing an album of shots from a trip or shoot is the most obvious choice, I am always on the lookout for new ways to share my work and the stories behind it. Below are some creative ways to use multiple photos in my Instagram posts, as well as a short primer on how to use this new feature. Ideas for Things You Can Do with Multiple Photos Action Sequence (See it on Instagram. Best … [Read more...] about Getting Creative With Instagram’s Multiple Photos Feature
Lightroom Mobile Update: RAW HDR’s for iPhone and Android
Lightroom Mobile is far and away my most used app on my phone and iPad, and Adobe have just suped it up even more. The latest version of the app adds power to the integrated camera by unlocking the ability to shoot RAW HDR from within the app. That means you'll have greater control over the colors and tones of the pictures captured on your mobile device. And yes, this is for both iOS on Apple phones and for Android (affected models are listed below). The thing that blows my mind is that this app continues to be included with your Creative … [Read more...] about Lightroom Mobile Update: RAW HDR’s for iPhone and Android
IFTTT for Photographers – Part 3: Managing Your Social Media
Are you new to IFTTT? Then check out this article For my two photography businesses, I have about 9 billion different social media services, profiles, portfolio sites, and websites. Well, maybe 9 billion is a slight exaggeration. But, just keeping up with your online presence can turn into a full-time job. I would rather be spending time with my family and going out to take a photo or two, than basking in the glow of my computer screen. Whether you are new to IFTTT.com (IF This, Then That), or have been using it for a while, these applets … [Read more...] about IFTTT for Photographers – Part 3: Managing Your Social Media
Use Lightroom to post images to Instagram
The LR/Instagram plug-in is a great addition to your Lightroom Publishing Services.When you post an image from Lightroom to Instagram, the plug-in keeps the images in sync. If you modify the image, change the caption or decide you want to remove it from the catalog, the plug-in will send those changes to Instagram. Pretty cool! Here’s how to install it. Installing the Lightroom to Instagram Plug-in Step 1: Download LRInstagram plugin: http://www.lrinstagram.com/index.html. If you haven’t organized your Lightroom’s plug-in folder, now maybe a … [Read more...] about Use Lightroom to post images to Instagram
Instagram Grids– Hot or Not?
Grids. Banners. Cubes. Whatever you call them. More and more companies and individuals have been jumping onto this trend since the Summer of 2015. The owners of these instagram accounts segment one photo into typically 3, 6, 9, 12+, square blocks and post them in a progressive order, typically by using some apps that make it pretty simple-- like Giant Square or Banner Pic. The result is a pretty interesting Instagram profile that can break down the feed into sections or just displays the photo in a unique way. Instagram has been changing a … [Read more...] about Instagram Grids– Hot or Not?
Look at this Instagram [Humor]
While many of you have figured out how to use Instagram effectively, not everyone is quite as sharp. Enjoy a little humor in the middle of your day. The pictures you want to remember. A song you want to forget. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn-dD-QKYN4 … [Read more...] about Look at this Instagram [Humor]
What’s New with Instagram
With over 400 million users, Instagram is one of the top social networks for images and short-form videos. Since it’s beginning, Instagram has always shown new posts chronologically. But Instagram is looking to change that and they’re currently testing a new algorithm that will filter your news feed to see only the best images when you launch the app. The content creators, brand, and celebrities using Instagram are verbally opposed to this change that would let Instagram choose what posts its users see and don’t see. Really though, this isn’t … [Read more...] about What’s New with Instagram
Instagram Launches Multiple Account Management
Anyone who uses Instagram as a social media outlet for sharing personal images, as well as maintaining and building an audience for their business, knows that switching accounts can be a royal pain. The idea of swapping all the time was annoying enough for me to never create a second account and for a while, I used my personal account for everything. I don't mind my followers having a peek into my private life, but after a while I felt my personal life was overwhelming the select images I chose to share from my business. I was so close to … [Read more...] about Instagram Launches Multiple Account Management
15 Seconds of Fame: Preview Videos for Instagram
Videos slideshows are a powerful way to show pictures, and I think Instagram offers a unique opportunity. The thing is, my clients love to watch a slideshow of themselves, but few other people are willing to watch a long slideshow these days. Instagram has a 15 seconds limit on slideshows, though, and that's just about perfect--I don't know about you, but I watch almost every video that comes through my feed 'cause it's only 15 seconds. https://vimeo.com/128199972 So, let's use Instagram to make a short impactful slideshow that acts as a … [Read more...] about 15 Seconds of Fame: Preview Videos for Instagram
