Several authors and creatives I follow recently announced, with fanfare, that they are leaving Instagram… only to confess in the next breath that they are, actually, just giving the keys to a member of a team who will still continue posting important updates on their behalf.
Interesting to hear your take on this. All very wise. I grapple with this too and would like to reassess. I like your intention to be less precious with it, and to allow space to be a real person, and you.
All good thoughts and comments, Antonina. I love and hate IG. Love because it gives me access to many different artists and photographers, and provides a good well-used method of direct messaging with friends and contacts, but hate because it is awkward, tricksy (refreshing my feed in seconds which is both annoying and destabilising), hard to navigate (where can you find your past Stories?), and there is simply too much stuff. I don't hold out any hope for leads and genuinely useful new contacts. SO... a conundrum. But I am with you.
I agree. I love it for the ease of finding people and information and getting inspired - and hate for all the reasons you listed (refreshing feed is driving me crazy!) and more!
I am with you! I feel exactly the same. As a branding photographer and community space builder I do get a lot of business via instagram so turning my back on that would be crazy. I’m also told a lot by people booking shoots that they’ve been following me and my work for months, sometimes years before they choose to book and this is the crux for me because at the heart of that is them building a picture of who I am and what it’s like to work with me. A highly curated page doesn’t do that for me, as I’m not a highly curated person 😂 I am turning more and more to Substack as a place to share more words without a word count and to reach new audiences. For now insta will remain part of my strategy as I also enjoy it... most of the time.
Absolutely relate to not being a highly curated person and yes, I do want people to know how I am. Saves on a lot of awkward conversations further down the line too! :)
Interesting thoughts. As a photographer I have gotten projects out of the blue from instagram, so I keep posting (although not frequently). My dislike of it has grown though with the increase in ads and influencers. I came on Substack to write, and have been blown away by the growth and engagement I have seen here. When I go back to Instagram it just feels dull in comparison. I won't quit though, unless an alternative to Instagram appears. I'm thinking of opening a photography Substack though too. It feels exciting here right now.
Thank you for sharing. I think it’s a good idea to experiment and try new things. And I really do enjoy being able to write more long form, and really think about what I want to say - as opposed to quick fire thoughts. I am actively retraining the muscle of reading more long-form posts too, a skill we all had in the 2010s when everyone was blogging, but lost it to character limits since! I must say my relationship with Instagram definitely evolved since I wrote this post and I hate it more now that I did a year ago!
Interesting to hear your take on this. All very wise. I grapple with this too and would like to reassess. I like your intention to be less precious with it, and to allow space to be a real person, and you.
Looking forward to seeing how you realign it for yourself going forward.
All good thoughts and comments, Antonina. I love and hate IG. Love because it gives me access to many different artists and photographers, and provides a good well-used method of direct messaging with friends and contacts, but hate because it is awkward, tricksy (refreshing my feed in seconds which is both annoying and destabilising), hard to navigate (where can you find your past Stories?), and there is simply too much stuff. I don't hold out any hope for leads and genuinely useful new contacts. SO... a conundrum. But I am with you.
I agree. I love it for the ease of finding people and information and getting inspired - and hate for all the reasons you listed (refreshing feed is driving me crazy!) and more!
I am with you! I feel exactly the same. As a branding photographer and community space builder I do get a lot of business via instagram so turning my back on that would be crazy. I’m also told a lot by people booking shoots that they’ve been following me and my work for months, sometimes years before they choose to book and this is the crux for me because at the heart of that is them building a picture of who I am and what it’s like to work with me. A highly curated page doesn’t do that for me, as I’m not a highly curated person 😂 I am turning more and more to Substack as a place to share more words without a word count and to reach new audiences. For now insta will remain part of my strategy as I also enjoy it... most of the time.
Absolutely relate to not being a highly curated person and yes, I do want people to know how I am. Saves on a lot of awkward conversations further down the line too! :)
Most definitely!
Interesting thoughts. As a photographer I have gotten projects out of the blue from instagram, so I keep posting (although not frequently). My dislike of it has grown though with the increase in ads and influencers. I came on Substack to write, and have been blown away by the growth and engagement I have seen here. When I go back to Instagram it just feels dull in comparison. I won't quit though, unless an alternative to Instagram appears. I'm thinking of opening a photography Substack though too. It feels exciting here right now.
Thank you for sharing. I think it’s a good idea to experiment and try new things. And I really do enjoy being able to write more long form, and really think about what I want to say - as opposed to quick fire thoughts. I am actively retraining the muscle of reading more long-form posts too, a skill we all had in the 2010s when everyone was blogging, but lost it to character limits since! I must say my relationship with Instagram definitely evolved since I wrote this post and I hate it more now that I did a year ago!
Ha. Well you have an interesting substack!