Social Media and its impact on Photography
Social media has proven to be a technological phenomenon that changed how people creatively connect and communicate with the rest of the world. With just a click away, individuals, specifically photography fanatics or photographers, can efficiently share their visual artwork with others through social media platforms. Unlike past times, where everything was different from today’s busy world, photographers can find social media helpful, especially when reaching other photographers or potential clients. Social media has given us a lot of benefits; however, some agree to disagree. Some may describe social media as a catalyst for instant gratification. On the other hand, others find it as interfering with the authentic values of photography.
This topic is quite controversial as some may say that throughout the years’ social media has inflicted with how photography is viewed through the eyes of individuals. On a positive note, others may believe that social media is a digital medium to help photographers freely display their work and passion with the rest of the world. With just a few clicks away, photographers can create their own digital safe space to display their visual artwork and connect with the rest of the world.
Positive effects of Social Media on photography
Creating unique connections
Social media can create meaningful connection worldwide. Individuals have the ability to share and connect with others through different platforms by sharing images or inspiring posts. Those who just entered the world of photography or professional photographers can use free online platforms to showcase their work online. By doing so, users can see these photos, increasing a positive word of mouth and sharing unique content with the rest of the world. Photographers can create their personal work portfolio through different free platforms such as EyeEm or Flickr. These websites and other similar media can help photographers generate traffic to their page and attract new potential clients.
Finding a welcoming community
As previously mentioned, social media is an excellent medium to create different connections. Finding a community of people who share the same interest and hobbies can make the experience even more exciting and memorable. An online community of photography lovers or photographers can be fundamentally unique. People will support one another, providing a sense of reassurance and determination to continue working on this passion. Photographers can also collaborate or help each other to blossom into something better with the right target audience.
Negative effects of Social Media on photography
No control over images
The main disadvantage of using social media is that respective owners have no control over their photos, and in some instances, they can be used and taken without any credit. It’s a shame seeing hard-working photographers who take hours and days to capture and edit their projects for them to find out that their work is being stolen and used without credit or consent. Moreover, in some cases, specific photos taken by professional photographers can be used for a humoristic purpose and turned into memes. The creation of a meme does not typically appear on its own. People will take such photos and turn them into something entirely different from what the respective owner tried to portray. Sadly, this act infringes on the values and principles of the photographer’s work.
Social media controls individuals.
Social media can control what an individual should or should not post. Social media is a platform where one can find anything he or she desires. This means that information is generated every day; therefore, newer trends circle social media all the time, creating a chain of endless posts from different users. This can be seen as fitting in an ideal digital society and altering the individual’s prior desires to post what they feel like. We live in a world where fame and acceptance change how we truly see ourselves, ultimately changing our true self and how we want to be seen in front of others. Photographers can alter their work to fit in with a popular crowd, therefore demolishing their prior desires and work values.
In the end, whether we like it or not, social media will keep on developing and changing not only existing values but also the way we view our surroundings. Photography is and will still be an essential part of social media. Even if we are aware of the changes, the art and values that come with photography will shift depending on how we chose to see them. Even if social media has altered the art of photography, the concept of appreciating its form and vision is far more superior and fundamental. Ultimately, it’s up to us to continue to acknowledge and value our surroundings and cultivate memories through the art of photography.
