There’s an inevitable question that comes up when you’re working on a photo story or project that you know you want to get published: what images can you share on social media? What’s smart to share and what’s oversharing that could shoot you in the foot later on? We tackle this conundrum by asking one simple but essential question.
Getting strategic about social media and your photo stories
Why Are You Posting on Social Media?
First, let’s start with understanding your reason for posting on social media. Your “why” can guide you in deciding what to share and what to keep private. Here are some common reasons why photographers post on social media:
- Building a Following Around a Cause: You might want to raise awareness and create a community around a conservation issue.
- Showing Activity and Engagement: You want your audience to see that you’re active in the field, capturing amazing moments.
- Building a Portfolio for Editors and Clients: You use social media as a portfolio to attract editors and potential clients.
Once you’ve nailed down your primary reason, making decisions about what to post becomes much clearer.
The Quick and Easy Answer
The straightforward answer to the question of what to post and what to hold back is: Don’t publish on social media anything you know you’ll want to include in a portfolio for publication later. If you have high-quality images that capture the essence of your project, keep those under wraps. Save them for the big reveal to maintain the element of surprise.
What to Post
With your best images held back, let’s talk about what you can post. The key is to choose content that keeps your audience engaged without giving away your most compelling shots.
Build a Following Around a Cause
If your goal is to raise awareness and build a following around a conservation issue, focus on storytelling snippets that add to the narrative without revealing the core of your project. For example, if you’re working on a story about a particular bird species and spend a morning with researchers mist-netting, here’s what you might post:
- Habitat Shots: Share photos of the bird’s habitat to set the scene.
- Behind-the-Scenes: Post candid shots of the researchers at work.
- Detail Shots: Capture the bird’s food sources, like caterpillars, and discuss their role in the ecosystem.
These types of images are interesting and informative but don’t spoil the core of your story.
Highlighting Excellent Work for Editors and Clients
If you’re posting to attract editors and potential clients, you want your feed to showcase high-quality work that aligns with your storytelling style. Here’s how to do that:
- Polished Shots: Share polished images that aren’t central to your main story. This keeps your feed looking professional without giving away your best work.
- Contextual Images: Post images that provide context, like landscapes or detail shots, without revealing the main subjects of your story.
By doing this, you maintain a consistent style and quality, helping editors and clients get a sense of your work without revealing too much.
Building Community and Engagement
If your primary goal is to build a community and engage with your audience, focus on the personal and behind-the-scenes aspects of your work:
- Selfies and Candid Shots: Share selfies or candid photos of yourself in the field. This helps humanize your work and makes your audience feel connected to your journey.
- Daily Moments: Post about your day-to-day experiences, like what you’re having for lunch during a shoot or a funny moment from the field.
These types of posts build a sense of community and make your followers feel like they’re part of your journey.
Evolving Your Social Media Strategy
Remember, your reason for posting on social media might evolve over time. Initially, you might post to build an audience and showcase your work. Later, you might shift to raising awareness about a specific issue or engaging with potential clients and editors. As your purpose changes, so should your content strategy.
Adapting to Your Goals
- Starting Out: When you’re new and trying to build a following, focus on fun, engaging content that showcases your personality and behind-the-scenes moments.
- Raising Awareness: As you work on specific projects, shift to posting content that educates and informs your audience about the issue you’re passionate about.
- Attracting Clients and Editors: When you’re ready to pitch your work, focus on polished, high-quality images that reflect your storytelling style without giving away your best shots.
Creating Extra Content for Social Media
Once you’re clear on your “why,” you can start creating additional content specifically for social media. Here are some ideas:
- Supplementary Shots: Capture extra images that complement your main project but aren’t central to the story.
- Behind-the-Scenes Footage: Record videos or take photos of the process, not just the final product.
- Engaging Stories: Share smaller stories or interesting facts that relate to your main project but don’t reveal key elements.
By planning this extra content, you can keep your social media feed active and engaging without compromising the integrity of your main project.
Final Thoughts
Choosing what to post on social media and what to hold back can be challenging, but it becomes much easier when you understand your primary reason for posting. Be clear and honest with yourself about your goals, and let that guide your content strategy. This way, you can keep your audience engaged and excited without giving away your most compelling work.
I hope you found these tips helpful! Now, go ahead and create amazing content for your social media feed while keeping your best shots ready for that big reveal. Happy photographing!
