Not just Instagram: the best platforms for photographers to share their photos

You’ve taken your amazing photos, edited them, and now you are wondering, “Where do photographers upload their photos?” In this article, I’ll explain a couple of platforms where you can showcase your amazing photos.

Why share your photos online?

Before sharing it somewhere, it’s best to consider why you are sharing your work. This can inform your choice of where to post your photos online, as it’s no use posting on photographer-exclusive sites if you plan to sell prints to locals.

Anyway, think about the reason you share your work. Is it to find clients to hire you? Clients to buy your prints? Just to show off your work? To get feedback from other photographers? Or to find like-minded people and share ideas.

Share your photos on Instagram: the obvious choice

The first and most obvious option, of ofcourse, is Instagram. It started as a photo-sharing platform and then grew to become so much more.

On Instagram, there is a vast potential audience. Apparently, 2 billion people, so yeah, you’re sure to find people there who like your photos.

Although there’s a lot of criticism, it’s still a good platform. You can share your photos in various ways—regular posts, carousels, in stories, and ofcourse reels.

Find me on Instagram at Fredpaulussen.

Upload your photos to Flickr: the old choice

Many people think Flickr is dead, but that’s definitely not the case. Although not as popular as Instagram, Flickr still has a good community of photographers. 

On Flickr, there are fewer algorithms, so your photos have a long shelf life. You can keep distributing them to relevant groups and albums you create.

Though it has an active community, it’s primarily aimed at other photographers.

Find me on Flickr as Frederic Paulussen.

Publish your photos on Foto: the new choice

Foto (app) is the new kid on the block. Which, of ofcourse, means they are currently still growing in audience size and features. They are actively working on both of those, so that’s a good sign.

Foto resembles Instagram in its original functionality and appearance, but is more focused on photographers, similar to Flickr. It might be nice to receive feedback and find inspiration from other photographers in an interface you’re familiar with. 

Find me on Foto as Frederic Paulussen.

Exhibit your photos on your own website: the professional choice

A place a lot of people forget, but you can build your own website. This gives you complete control over how you present your work. And it keeps you safe from any sudden feature or algorithm changes.

You do have to attract your own crowd, usually on these other platforms. But with options like push notifications or newsletters, you can make these people return to your website every time you publish new work.

I use WordPress for my website, but there are plenty of alternatives, such as Wix or Squarespace.

Curate your photos on X/ Bluesky/Threads: the less obvious choice

Often overlooked for photos, but microblogging websites like Twitt- sorry, X, Bluesky, and Threads can be great too.

Although text options are limited, it’s often beneficial on these platforms to add some context and ideas alongside the photos. They’re also platforms on which resharing (aka retweeting) is big. This allows you to go beyond your own followers more easily. 

It’s also more conversational than the other platforms, which might suit your style of interacting more.

Find me on Threads as FredPaulussen

Find me on Bluesky as Fred Paulussen

What content to share as a photographer

Now that you know where to share, the question remains, ‘what to share’.

There are plenty of options; it also depends on the platform. 

You can share your just photos. Alternatively, you can add ideas, opinions, or thoughts to them.

On platforms like Bluesky and Threads, you can share thoughts or opinions without photos, too.

You can show off the BTS of a photo on your Reels. Or create a tutorial on how you made your last photo.

It’s also interesting to share the backstory from your photo. What was your mindset at the time of making? And how was the environment? How did these two interact to create the picture you posted?

What’s your favorite platform to share photos? Let me know in the comments! Or on the platform of your choosing. 😉