Does Your Photographer Shoot For You? Or Their Social Media?

An introspection into brand obsession and virality focused marketing.

Peeling oneself away from the very sticky walls of social media and building a business, has offered me some stark insights into my own motivations for photography and what I hope every service provider with a brand gives room to think about.

I shot this for social media, I had seen the shot before, wanted to recreate it, and gave this prompt. GUESS WHAT - it was a hit. People love it and I love it too, but it was not a natural image. Most natural images of mine do not have that kind of impact on EVERYONE - which is okay - the intention is to impact the person who hired me to take their photos.

BRANDING!!!!

Marketing with social media has a sea of free, accessible and easy to apply tips for a budding small business. I truly think it is absurd to not utilize the free marketing social media offers for a micro business. It is cost effective to use, connects you with peers, allows you to network and establish a presence in your community you are working with, but it also is driven by brand influence and establishment.

The main tip I received from every 101 class on marketing was to build a strong and cohesive BRAND. (every time I type it I hate it even more)

This in connection with the emergence of social media influencing being your ticket to virality by sharing your images, or posting them, and ultimately making one the most successful photographer around, right?

Maybe. But the more I sit in photography circles specifically, the more I see the standardization of imagery. Trends happen, every generation has their version of JC Penneys Portraits. But this feels different, it feels like a force hungry for exposure. For likes. For visibility.

ASK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER (OR ANY ONE YOU HIRE) WHAT THEIR MOTIVATION FOR THEIR WORK IS.

Ideally, it is to focus on capturing the moment the way the client would like to remember it, or in the way that is unique to them and their family, their experience. I think about this especially with birth photography. The most awarded imagery is often the most shocking photos of birth, crowning, breech babies, often times just the vaginal canal itself is awarded the as a triumphant moment in birth.

Then I just think about the client with their head chopped off - and if that birth was shot for the client - or accolades. I am not published, I don’t win awards or enter comps. I am far more personally motivated to be the photographer and doula I need to be. Not one for social media, not one for a brand, not one to be viral. And I really had to check my intention with this - because these images are not for me, they are for the clients. The wonderful people who welcome me into their space in the most tender time, with hopes I will not exploit their intimate situation for a shot at a viral post.

Intention checks are important, before all things we do, but in the birth space this is paramount.

When you are searching for your photographer or service provider - are they looking at you as an opportunity for viral fame or collaborative creator? I would hope the latter.