I've tried but Social Media just isn't for me
21st August 2026
The number of times I've been told that if I want to successfully sell my photography then I need to have a strong on-line presence on social media. Well I've tried but I just can't handle the pressures of the likes of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or even Substack. The problem is overthinking on three fronts.
Firstly if I do get a good reaction to my posts (usually on Substack) then I get stressed out with all the comments. Yes they are lovely and yes I appreciate ever single one of them but I seriously overthink what to reply. Do I need to write a personal reply and come across over friendly or do I do a simple thumbs up emoji or thank you and appear to be rude and abrupt. I trry to reply but ane up having to stop, not knowing what to put. The longer I pause the more anxiety I feel. In the end I stop uploading posts for awhile so people who've commented on my previous posts and haven't received a reply think I must be away and unable to get on line. in reality though I'm too scared to get the whole responding to comments thing wrong.
Secondly Should I just follow and react to photographers with work I really like, this is what I want to do. Or should I follow and like the work of those who like mine. I don't think I should but is that being rude.
Thirdly and lastly I see other photographers with literally hundreds or thousands of reactions to their posts and thousands of followers. This makes me feel like an imposter with my measly numbers.
I think I need to leave social media for the sake of my sanity and health!
Firstly if I do get a good reaction to my posts (usually on Substack) then I get stressed out with all the comments. Yes they are lovely and yes I appreciate ever single one of them but I seriously overthink what to reply. Do I need to write a personal reply and come across over friendly or do I do a simple thumbs up emoji or thank you and appear to be rude and abrupt. I trry to reply but ane up having to stop, not knowing what to put. The longer I pause the more anxiety I feel. In the end I stop uploading posts for awhile so people who've commented on my previous posts and haven't received a reply think I must be away and unable to get on line. in reality though I'm too scared to get the whole responding to comments thing wrong.
Secondly Should I just follow and react to photographers with work I really like, this is what I want to do. Or should I follow and like the work of those who like mine. I don't think I should but is that being rude.
Thirdly and lastly I see other photographers with literally hundreds or thousands of reactions to their posts and thousands of followers. This makes me feel like an imposter with my measly numbers.
I think I need to leave social media for the sake of my sanity and health!