Expanding My Photography through a Social Network

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

Mine was a sarcastic remark. When I mentioned this a couple weeks ago, I was told by Mr. Fuzzy that I was full of crap.

Where exactly did I say you were "full of crap"?
This is exactly what I said (relevant part bolded) so that you don't, again, misrepresent things: "

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

*Sigh*

Heather, you'll also apparently get a lot of generalized broad statements spoken as fact that aren't supported by any actual facts.

Really Ryan, "most"? C'mon. Care to back that up? I agree that many times people wrongly (and sometimes rightly) get aggressive and arrogant and belittling, but to generalize it as being like that 'most' of the time is disingenuous at best.

Just for kicks, I looked at every thread on this 1st page of "Earning" (as of the time of this post) section alone and found that this is the only one that was unhelpful (at first). And this is the very section that creates the most drama I'd say.

So let's not misrepresent things and risk driving someone away from a potentially very useful resource. Thanks.

Again, where exactly did I say you were "full of crap"? In fact I agreed with you on some level and simply said I believe you're over characterizing the degree of the issue (and it IS an issue as you like to point out). I'm sad that Eric (and others) feel that way, I wish he didn't. But I still feel that if you look the multitude of posts here every day the ones that have rude/sarcastic/unhelpful are by far a minority. I did that and found it to be true.

If you have suggestions as to how to ensure 0% prickish remarks make it onto the forum, we're all ears Ryan. Care to make an actual recommendation instead of taking the easy road and simply pointing your finger and yelling, "see, I told you so, nya nya nya!"every time it happens?? Maybe you can point us to a forum with similar number of posts/members where your ideal world of no-pricks exists, and we can learn something from them?

Lastly, I get it, you have sand in your clam over me. I get it. You didn't like that I questioned one of your challenge entries my first week on this forum way back when. I get it. I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. I get it. Now I ask that you man up, get over it, and stop misrepresenting what I've said to drive home a point about how much you don't like me. Again, I get it. Are we done?
All I ask (again) is that if you want to attempt to paraphrase what I say, get it exactly right, please.

[thegarageblog]

Personally, facebook is pretty important. Most of my work is shooting motorsport and many drivers travel the World, buying rides from local teams, so they don't have connections with local shooters.

As an example, recently I received a message from a guy in Italy. He had raced at an event in Canada which I had shot. He saw a couple of my shots of his race, while looking at the wall of a mutual connection. He bought images from me, that I would not have sold otherwise.

[erickson_abreu]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Something along these lines:



Notice: You dont link to your own page. Not yet at least. If youre looking for help its not because youve already got a page up, it's because you need it. Putting the link in the first post is like saying "Look what I did, see isn't it fantastic?". Even if you have a page up, you wait until at least your first reply to link to it, otherwise it just looks like youre trying to drive pageviews.

Of course, this information applies in this instance almost exclusively; you came to a forum and asked for help while pimping your page and it sends mixed messages. There will be times when pimping your page is the right thing to do.

ahhh okayy, i see

[Jim Poor]

Facebook is a nice add-on to a real, dedicated web page, but when used alone looks amateurish and less stable/professional.

[qadkins]

Originally Posted by thegarageblog

Personally, facebook is pretty important. Most of my work is shooting motorsport and many drivers travel the World, buying rides from local teams, so they don't have connections with local shooters.

As an example, recently I received a message from a guy in Italy. He had raced at an event in Canada which I had shot. He saw a couple of my shots of his race, while looking at the wall of a mutual connection. He bought images from me, that I would not have sold otherwise.

Interesting, I can see how facebook would be very helpful for you and reaching people from thoes events. Has this happened more than once?

[Jim Bryant]

Moving to Seattle soon. I really hope you'll have a fulltime job to depend on. Freelancing.........not a chance with all the full-time freelancers, unemployed photographers, weekend warriors, not to mention there's about five photography schools in the area and then there's University of Washington. Frankly, the market is pretty damn bad here.

[UlpilotSC]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Facebook is a nice add-on to a real, dedicated web page, but when used alone looks amateurish and less stable/professional.

Completely agree!
First of all - I'm a hobbyist. I've sold one photo, ever, just because a friend of mine liked one of my prints on my blog, and said "hey - can I buy a copy of that?". I don't intend to start a photo business. I'll sell artistic prints if someone wants to buy something I shoot, but I'm not interested in booking events, owning a studio, working weddings, etc.

From this consumer's point of view; facebook is fine, IF it's connected to a real web site. In other words, you put a set of photos on your site, and throw up a link on facebook; "took some great shots at yellowstone this week" or "my favorites from the Stevenson's wedding".
Facebook can drive traffic to your site, help friends and friends of friends connect with you and can even get you some business.

But to use ONLY facebook to showcase your work, which any ten year old with a cell phone camera can do, strikes me as completely unprofessional. Its like the difference between a high end escort service and the craigslist 'personals'. There are much different expectations of the qualities of service.

[veritasimagery]

Originally Posted by erickson_abreu

ahhh okayy, i see

Again, as was referenced before, in order to come across as a professional, you must write like a professional. That means capitol letters, proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. "Text speak" screams not only amateur, but also immature.

FB is an okay way to make connections, but it can't be your only way. You need to pound pavement, and work on a professional web-site.