I doubt I'm alone amongst nature photographers in that we all have a love, hate relationship with social media. If you're a professional photographer and your business is primarily running workshops and tours then it's important to have a 'presence'. It's also nice, from time to time, to share your latest (and those from the archive) images and to, generally, make folk aware that you exist! Facebook used to be the go-to platform but unless you enjoy looking at what others have had for breakfast or can put up with vomit-inducing love-letters wishing their partners happy anniversary (tell them in person - we don't care!) then, like me, you'll pop by and sneak a look once in a blue moon. I have a closed group for my workshops which I enjoy where the only ones that can access it are those which have attended and have been invited. It's a place to share photographs from the courses and trips and to re-connect with those they had met while away. Occasionally, I'll set a challenge and offer critique and inform them as new workshops are added to my website. Outside of this group I use FB primarily to share news of my photographic endeavours - of the rare competition success, for example.
Twitter's an altogether different platform and another I rarely participate in, photographically. It's a good place to vent and 'to get things done'. Petitions often start here and you can gain the interest of a wider audience (including celebrities that can help your cause) much more so than through FB. As far as sharing images are concerned, I'm not a fan and you'll often find cliques forming - particularly amongst landscape shooters, I find.
Finally, we come to Instagram. The photographer's platform. It's short and to the point. (Unless that is, you're Andrew Parkinson who narrates his beautiful images with the most lengthy and articulately written captions. How does he find the time? :)) You post a picture with a short caption, add a few hashtags and you're done. Simples! You follow those whose work you admire and you may get a few followers in return - or not. Either way, all you see are photographs. It's, by and large, a well-behaved platform for sharing one's images with next to no bitching and for gaining inspiration from photographers, artists, and whoever else takes your fancy.
So, if you'd like to see the (very) occasional image of mine then head on over to my Instagram feed, here. Furthermore, once you're on my page take a moment to see those that I follow. You might find just the inspiration you've been searching for.
