I put up and took down photo web-sites several times. Largely because I had not thought through the strategy of how I want to market it, and what I want to do with it.
I also changed the name of how I want to promote this, from “Crooked Imagez” to “Rajiv Chopra Photography”. I like CrookedImagez, however, and will probably keep it for photo tours that I want to launch later.
This is strange, because I did consider myself to be an expert on branding and strategy. Yet, I seem to always rub my nose in the dirt when it comes to my own branding!
Anyway, now I am mulling the options of putting up pictures on Behance, or Flickr, or 500 px until I decide on my own site. Then, one of them will become companion sites.
The question is – which of these is the best to be discovered, and to have the options to sell the photos?
Have fun with your photos, then everyone else will too. Especially me!
I have fun with my photos. I see the difference, when I am”in the zone”, and when I am not.. It is amazing how quickly the difference in quality shows up
Start with the principle that none has the option to sell (even if they have an option you won’t sell… 😉 ). The only advantage is that you are being seen. Social media (for me) is not about quantity but quality (and quality buys). Use you social media expressions to approach the right people (in my case: I tell them if they want to see my real work they will have to contact me… 😉 for I don’t publish everything anywhere on the internet ). Branding/marketing yourself is very difficult. In fact (also applies for me) one has to hire a colleague to do that …
thanks. I think that the points you make are very valid.
It is amazing, or maybe not, that I have branded products successfully, but not myself..
I’m a huge flickr user but it certainly ain’t for selling photos, 500px I don’t know a lot but my wife is a user there but I think both are more used as a promotion way than selling pics.
Thanks… I think i shall experiment with both, from the point of view of shameless self-promotion..
Hi Rajiv,
I agree with the comments so far. I don’t personally use Flickr or 500px (WordPress already takes too much time for me!) but many of my photography friends do. And they say they use it to promote themselves. I humbly think: if you trust your instinct (and what feels natural to you) then it will lead you to the ideal path!
Best wishes,
Takami
Yeah… And, my instinct is taking me away from the paths that my brain took me down several years back.
Reblogged this on Niki.V.all.ways.My.way. and commented:
Making decisions for someone else is easy because at most you are confirming a decision they already made, even if they had not formed the actual decision yet. The truth is, there is no right or wrong way to do anything, there is just the way you decide to do it. In a situation like this, i’d probably flip a coin and learn from whatever experience comes as the result. =)
I can’t answer that one Rajiv .. sorry don’t know anything about 500px, Flickr or Behance. But isn’t it funny about branding for oneself .. I always hit the wall there too 🙂
Well, I am the champion wall hitter!
I haven’t got a clue which would be the best, but I’ve seen some amazing photography for sale on DeviantArt.
OH boy I don’t know which one is best but I’m excited to see what you find! I love what you said about branding yourself and then not!!!! It’s not easy because you have so many gifts. Focus on what is in front of you and then let the others come naturally! I’m like you I tend to distract easily and have my hand in too many pots! This made me smile I was wondering how in the world do you find time for all you do?
Trying, trying!