In its early days, Instagram was a haven for enthusiasts and professional photographers. Due to its visual nature, it is now publicly available, and a spate of comments often stifles genuine feedback. Or you can’t reach the right people. If you’re a budding photographer, check out these Instagram alternatives to get feedback on your photos from professionals and like-minded people to hone your skills.
On Instagram, you’ll have a chaotic time getting tips on how to improve. And the flood of photos, many of which are generic, makes it unobtrusive frustrating if you’re a creative person.
Fortunately, there are many Instagram alternatives. To take your photography to the next level, check out these five platforms instead. You can use all of these on iOS and Android, and on the desktop outside of Vero.
1. Photograph
YouPic is like a cross between Instagram and Twitter. Similar to Twitter, you can reshare posts you find interesting. You can also leave a heart to your loved ones, known as favorites on the platform.
YouPic has several amateur and professional photographers who can leave comments on your images. Beyond that, they can also evaluate what they think about content, creativity, composition and technique.
A smart way to collect feedback on your photos and tips to improve your skills. You can use a mix of hashtags, descriptions and locations to increase visibility on YouPic.
The basic version of YouPic is free. You can also upgrade to Premium ($19.99 per month/$119.88 per year) or Pro ($49.99 per month/$359.88 per year) for extra benefits such as unlimited uploads and increased impressions.
2. 500px
500px is a growing community of over 16 million users worldwide. You can use the app to view your services, build a portfolio, and connect with creatives who agree with you.
On 500px, you can also improve your skills using various resources. The website showcases tutorials on various aspects of photography alongside articles and podcasts.
When you upload a photo to the platform, users like and comment on your photos. You can also see how many people viewed your photos. For newcomers, 500px’s algorithm also amplifies images so you can get feedback.
500px has two membership tiers: Awesome ($6.49/month/$47.88/year) and Pro ($12.99/month/$71.88/year). With Awesome you can browse stats and enjoy unlimited downloads; Pro allows you to create a portfolio site and add resources to the Resource Center.
vero
Vero has three million users and is a multimedia sharing application. While the platform prides itself on being free from ads and algorithms, it also says it doesn’t use data mining. Also, you will find many well-known photographers and other professionals on the platform.
In the Vero app, you can share photos taken directly from your camera. You can also share images from your camera roll as well as upload galleries. You can also choose to share it with your close friends, followers, and everyone in between.
One of the common complaints many users have against Instagram is that it compresses photos. Vero takes up this issue. It displays all in full resolution and does not compress.
Vero is currently free to join. Cevelopers plans to introduce a subscription-based service later on.
3. Pinterest
With more than 300 million users worldwide, Pinterest is like a virtual board of ideas. It aims to help others be inspired and try new things.
You can create new pins and boards to share with others on Pinterest. This way, you can create a portfolio of your photos and open it up to others to provide you with valuable tips and tricks for others. Of course, the community may not be on a larger scale. You will find many users who especially follow photography.
You can also use the platform to save pins you find inspiring or photo ideas you want to try. You can use the search function to find new ideas.
One of the biggest appeals of the platform is how it makes a real effort to eliminate the negativity associated with Facebook and Instagram. All users must sign a Creator Code, promising not to post harmful content.
Pinterest is free for all users.
flickr
Despite the rise of other photo sharing platforms, Flickr remains a popular choice among photography veterans. You can use Flickr to share individual photos or create albums.
You can also post your photos in groups to reach more people on Flickr. This is especially helpful if you’re looking for specific feedback in a sub-niche because you’re guaranteed to get ahead of the people you want.
With the free version of Flickr, you can upload a maximum of 1,000 photos. If you want to share more, you can upgrade to Flickr Pro. This costs $5.99 per month or $49.99 for the full year if you pay annually.
Think Outside of Instagram
Instagram can still be a useful platform for photography inspiration. But if you’re looking for feedback, you’ll likely have more chances to expand your horizons.
Fortunately, there are plenty of places where you can connect with other photographers and get helpful advice. It’s a good idea to think creatively about how you can use mainstream platforms like Twitter. However, photography-specific platforms and apps can provide focused exposure and feedback on your work.
Give these five platforms a try and see which you like best. Then, give them a reasonable amount of time. You will find that you get better feedback and can build a community of like-minded people.
