Why You Shouldn’t Trust Your Pictures to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Flickr

Woman with eyes. NYC, 2016
Woman with eyes. NYC, 2016

Why you shouldn’t trust your pictures to Flickr, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.

If you’re not paying money for your photo-hosting services, you are the product

Architecture. Berlin, 2017
Architecture. Berlin, 2017

Don’t trust your pictures to any service where it is “free”.

Why? Consider, Facebook (which also owns Instagram) is an advertising platform. They take your pictures and friends hostage, and keep you prisoned on their platform, in order to continue to “monetize” your interests and passions.

The problem of using free photo services is that you have less control, access, and export options.

Solution: Don’t trust “free” photo services. Start to pay money for your photo hosting.

For example, I recommend smugmug.com, photoshelter.com, or format.com

Make your own photography website/blog

Flash. Ricoh GR II, popup flash, P mode. Tokyo, 2017
Tokyo, 2017

Or, make your own photography website and blog via bluehost.com or 1and1.com, and use the open source WordPress.org platform to host your pictures.

If you’re broke, then I recommend using Flickr. But, Flickr is probably gonna die in the near future (Yahoo bought them out, and Verizon bought out Flickr). Who knows if Flickr will become the next MySpace (digital graveyard).

Do you remember MySpace?

Kyoto walking woman. Left side. Flash.
Kyoto, 2017

Do you remember when they said that MySpace was gonna take over the world? Do you remember all the pictures you uploaded there– can you still access them?

Or another case– ‘PhotoBucket’. I once hosted all my pictures there, now I cannot access them — unless I pay a hefty fee.

Build your own platform

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THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER

My suggestion is become a MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER and build your own platform, and own your own platform.

Don’t build your kingdom on quicksand.

If you don’t own yourself, or pay for your services, you are the product.

OWN YOURSELF,
ERIC


Photography Entrepreneurship 101

ERIC KIM x HENRI NECK STRAP  by HAPTIC INDUSTRIES // Portrait by Benjamin Thompson

The Modern Photographer: Tips, Strategies, and Tactics to Thrive as a Visual Artist in the Digital Age

THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER by HAPTICPRESS

Marketing, Branding, Entrepreneurship Principles For Success

MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER is your new philosophical and practical primer to succeed as a modern photographer in today’s digital world.


Why Become a Photography Entrepeneur?

Take control of your own photographic destiny:

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THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER


Photography Entrepreneurship Articles

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PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS 101

CAMERA MONEY GBP by ANNETTE KIM


KEYS TO SUCCESS

Table of Contents

Learn how to make a living from your passion:


Photography Business 101

How to Make Money with Photography

CAMERA MONEY USD by ANNETTE KIM
CAMERA MONEY USD by ANNETTE KIM

Photography Marketing 101


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How to Hustle.

Entrepreneurial Principles

How to be a Full-time Photographer

Photography Blogging

How to Teach Photography

Social Media

How to Save Money

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