I Instagram, I Tumble, Therefore I am a Professional Photographer
[by Richard Kelly]
I make pictures. I see the world with a sense of curiosity, I discover, I taste, I sample, I see. I can share these discoveries, tastes, samples and sights with friends and followers who have “agreed” to share these common experiences. This social engagement through visual images and motion has never happened in the history of our society – not at this scale and with such efficiency. The question is, should professional photographers share for free what they are typically paid to do?
Professionally, I am hired to solve problems with vision. It doesn’t matter what tool I use. It’s not just the picture, it is the process that I am hired to perform. The deliverable in many cases is very similar to the images on my Tumblr feed, but I arrived at them very differently.
To me one of the biggest values in sharing photos is the constant mental and visual exercise. I find, the collection of light, composition, ideas, sparks, concepts, reactions and faces that lead to other creative projects useful. The exercise also keeps me from creative doldrums and ruts. The feedback from friends is good for the artist ego, and the critical observations remind us of the improvements we can still make.
I also see it as a way of keeping my name connected to pictures. I have many connectors and buyers on my feeds and seeing them respond to a picture from time to time keeps me in their point of reference. It is definitely a great conversation starter when you have a face-to-face meeting.
I have always approached social media with a plan. I know what I want to accomplish and what message I want to send out. I am constantly re-evaluating the value of all of these different channels to decide how we are using them and if the ROI is there. My top three reasons for playing in the photo-sharing sandbox:
- Remaining relevant.
- Creating a living serial portfolio.
- To feel more connected to the world.
Richard Dale Kelly has been seen making pictures with his iPhone across the globe. You can follow his tumblr feed at www.TheVisualRaconteur.com
