I have to cop to being a near-obsessive social networker, and have
been for a few years now -- well before I ever took my first photograph
with the intent of being a photographer rather than simply taking a
picture. In fact, along with my mother's illness (from which she is
recovering very well, by the way) that's been a big part of the reason
I've been largely absent (on the assumption it was even noticed) from
the list over the past several weeks.
I'm by no means what anyone would consider a professional photographer,
so for the time being, I'm content to go with the term "freelancer".
The same applies to my writing. With all that said, a certain synergy
has come into play between my social networking, my writing, and my
photography so that I'm *finally*, at long last, beginning to see some
results from the effort.
Were it not for the intertwining of the three, I have no doubt that I'd
be completely frustrated in both my photography and my writing right
now. But, just within the past couple of months, I've managed to sell a
couple of photos for publication in a book that I never would have sold
had I not gotten so deeply involved in social media. By the same token,
if it hadn't been for my photography, I wouldn't have made some of the
social media contacts that I've made that have opened up some
opportunities for me in the months ahead.
Of course, nearly all of this is related to the political realm, which
I'm loathe to discuss on this forum, having seen how quickly the
discussion devolve into bitterness and rancor. So, I try to keep a wall
between my "work" photography and the photography I share on the list.
But, I will say that, just within the past week, the writing,
photography and social networking have all kind of lined up so that I'm
now the owner of a full-featured blog and domain, along with contacts in
the world of politics that have led to my being granted exclusive access
as a photographer to events in the near future. And that, in turn, will
provide exclusive content for my blog -- which I intend to use as a
means of promoting my writing and photography.
So, I guess it boils down to how established you are as a photographer
and/or writer as far as the importance of social networking is
concerned. If you already have something resembling a client base, a
respectable portfolio, and contacts within the profession, there's
probably not a whole lot to be gained by devoting a great deal of time
to social networking. But, if you're like me -- a complete upstart
trying to get a foot in the door, not exploiting social media and/or
networking is akin to not buying a camera.
By the same token, if all you're concerned with is becoming a better
photographer and nothing more, then I'd say it behooves you to spend a
lot more time taking photographs than pecking away at the Like button on
Facebook.
And that's all I have to say about that. :-)
-- Walt
On 1/13/2011 8:10 AM, John Sessoms wrote:
I say only semi-OT because I am a *Pentax* photographer.
I attended the Central Region winter seminar for the PPofNC Sunday and
Monday. Hoped there would be at least one speaker with ideas on how to
improve myself as a photographer, but it was all about at marketing
yourself.
Even the one session that was supposed to be about how to streamline
PhotoShop and Lightroom was about how to get the images up on Facebook
faster.
It's pretty much 24/7 social media now. Actually left me with a
question and some doubts.
Q: In this 24/7 assault on Facebook et al, when do you actually make
time to take photographs?
And none of it addressed my current aims in life.
I don't want spend 24/7 on a computer marketing myself. I spend far
too much of my time on the computer now just from trying to keep up
with this one mailing list I belong to.
As a photographer, I don't want to *WORK* full time. My aim is a part
time business to supplement my income just enough to pay for the
equipment and perhaps a little location travel.
I undertake the *work* of photography for a specific purpose; to allow
me to afford what I need in order to enjoy the *pleasure* of
photography. In other words, I'll take the photos someone wants to
buy, so that I can have the financial resources to take the photos *I*
want to take.
But, it's not worth it if I have to work so hard I never have time for
myself.
And then there's Facebook. That's a problem in itself.
I'd rather be trapped in a Bronx phone booth at 3:30am on Sunday
morning, masturbating a rabid mountain lion with a handful of rusty
barbed wire than to spend one minute on Facebook.
Yes, I *am* a Luddite!
I'd start a fan page for Luddites Anonymous, but I don't have a
Facebook Account.
Later ... gotta get ready for school. Looks like the ice has melted
enough that it's finally going to open today.
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