Exposure through Facebook?

[Dan Henderson]

A photographer recently recommended that I have a page on Facebook as a way of drawing attention to my photographs. I have mucked around the site a little bit but feel a little lost.

Before I spend the time to really understand the site, I am interested in knowing about other APUGGER's Facebook experiences. Do you have a page there? Does it draw attention to your work? Do you recommend other sites as being even better?

Thanks for any feedback you care to share.

Dan

 

[Tim Gray]

I don't find Facebook to be anything but a waste of time. People tend not to seek others on Facebook; it's all about ME. They post pictures of and messages about themselves and hope that it will interest YOU enough to go and pay attention to them.

 

[Sirius Glass]

What f/stop? For what part of a second?

Steve

 

[SuzanneR]

Actually, I've found facebook quite useful, and have become reacquainted with some former high school friends, and have found a strong network of photographers there. It's an easy way to let people know when you have shows or projects ready to share. I think some photographers create their own groups, so that clients can follow what they are up to. There are some institutions on there, galleries, museums, etc., and it's good to see the events that they are planning.

I haven't really used it for marketing, specifically, but it can help build an online "presence" for you. It's a good idea to keep your "status" reasonably professional, imho. That said... I direct people to my site and blog to see my work... I don't like their copyright policy with regard to pictures uploaded to the site.

 

[david b]

I have used Facebook as a way to announce my own work as well as creating a fan base for Fraction Magazine.

I have also used it to contact photographers who I admire and have been quite surprised by the number of "big name"
artists there

 

[Christopher Walrath]

I use facebook to catch up with long lost friends who are also there. I don't poke or mafia or any of that. I post cell phone pics of friends and whatnot. I save my work for my own personal website.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have used Facebook as a way to announce my own work as well as creating a fan base for Fraction Magazine.

I have also used it to contact photographers who I admire and have been quite surprised by the number of "big name"
artists there

If you want to be know and want to create a fan base, then what is the logic of having your location as "None of your business"?

Steve

 

[ChrisC]

I've only really used it to show friends what I do. I also don't like their copyright policy, and all images that get uploaded end up horribly compressed and look pretty bad.

I mainly use it for keeping up with people and showing/seeing photos myself and others put up when we go on trips away.

 

[bill schwab]

Dan,

I have found it very positive on many levels. Having yet one more way of communicating can have its drawbacks as well, but on the whole I think it can be a very useful tool. Go for it... and look me up friend!

Bill

 

[winger]

I use it mostly to stay connected to old friends and my cousins (also friends). My website is listed in my profile and a couple of people have checked it out from there - one even bought 2 photos - . I don't particularly like their new format, but that may change again. I don't post many photos there - just snapshots.

 

[Marc Akemann]

Dan,

I'm also looking at Facebook (and Twitter and MySpace, etc.) as another way of getting my work out there. So far, it looks like a pretty good idea, although, spending additional time in front of the computer (like I'm doing now) is one of the last things I want to do. But, for my photography I think it's a good idea.

I found the following article link by a pro-photographer quite helpful (especially the comments after the piece):

http://rising.blackstar.com/using-facebook-to-grow-your-photography-business.html

Marc

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

I have a facebook page for my art. You can become a "fan" of me there!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Crawford/48229272798?ref=nf

It hasn't gotten me any real exposure or sales yet, but I have only had it about a month. My regular facebook profile, which i've had for a year, has connected me with a lot of old friends from high school and college. I don't think it is a waste of time or that people there only care about themselves.

 

[vdonovan]

I think it's a good way to build and maintain an audience. I don't post many actual photos there, but I do use it to keep people informed about what I'm doing. I pimped my gallery show on Facebook pretty heavily and got a great turnout.

 

[white.elephant]

It's a good idea to keep your "status" reasonably professional, imho.

Amen to that. The kind of comments that get posted there often fall into the category of too much information.

I'm still trying to figure out how best to use Facebook.

 

[bill schwab]

Amen to that. The kind of comments that get posted there often fall into the category of too much information.

Not to mention professionally and personally damaging. Anyone that thinks potential employers, business contacts and law enforcement can't go back and use certain information against you is fooling themselves. I happen to know for a fact that statements here on APUG have been used in such ways.

Be careful out there kids!

 

[Sjixxxy]

Over the past two months, facebook has driven 34 visits to my web site, which accounts to 1.43% of all traffic. Not too much, but It does let me force my RSS feed onto about 100 or so uniteretsed people's eyes. :/

I use it mainly for family & friend communication.

 

[keithwms]

I have ventured into facebook to see what's there and... I am disappointed that there isn't a very simple option to click that determines whether I am showing a professional or a nonprofessional face.

I certainly don't want to get into the whole internet long-distance romantic hookup thing and it seems like that's what it's geared for :s I assume I haven't delved far enough into the options. Looks like a good way to network, but... it comes across as a matchmaking enterprise to me.