Stephen Walton Photography Workshops

If you spend a lot of time on Facebook chances are you’re part of at least one photography group, or you’re thinking about joining.

After spending a long time running a private photography group as well as being a passive member of others I’ve learnt a lot about what works well and what to watch out for in photography groups.

I should also say these principals and red flags apply to other photography forums and communities, not just on Facebook groups.

What Should a Facebook Group Do for a Photographer?

When looking for the right community to join you need to consider what you want out of it;

– Constructive feedback
– Exposure (likes and thumbs-ups)
– To get inspired by others
– To compare yourself to others
– Enter competitions
– To network with other photographers
– To get opinions on gear and locations

There are other reasons I may not have listed, but either way, having a purpose is important. Don’t just search for ‘photography’ on the groups tab and join all the public ones.

A good group should be helpful and constructive (if that’s what you want). Look at the comments of other posts (are they the kind of remarks you want or just a bunch of flippant thoughts?)

Be Careful Choosing Your Photography Group(s)

When selecting a Facebook photography group keep an eye out for 2 key factors;

– Group Size
– Frequency of Posts

The bigger the group the harder it is to stand out and make connections. You’ll have to be posting and engaging often for your name to become familiar to others. Imagine going to football game and trying to get your favourite players attention in a stadium of 50,000 other people doing the same thing.

The more frequent posts are made the less chance your images will be seen by more group members unless there are lots of dedicated members who are willing to scroll through the group feed and not simply view what appears based on the Facebook algorithm.

Why Facebook Photography Groups Can Be Bad for You

Unfortunately, not all groups are as good as each other. I’ve come across groups, communities and forums where arguments have started from nothing. Beginners posting photos and amateurs ripping them apart only to make themselves feel better.

This kind of conflict is what’s wrong with social media in total. Watch out for comments and individuals like these.

Reading comments like this can be deflating, regardless of other positive remarks. It can turn people off altogether and even stop photographers from continuing. Of course, you can report comments to moderators and hopefully, they’ll act appropriately, but otherwise, you should consider your membership.

You don’t need to be a part of lots of groups, just a few useful ones.

Red Flags to Watch Out For in Photography Groups

If you see any other following in the group then consider whether it’s a space your photography will benefit or just a place for self-promotion;

– Posts with lots of likes but few comments
– Photo spam of low-par phone shots for contests
– Reposts of other photographers’ pictures
– OP not replying to comments when asking for feedback or CC
– Lots of photo posts with no explanations or backstory
– No/little engagement from admins/moderators
– No/weak group rules

What a Good Facebook Photography Group Requires

If Facebook group creators really want their community to succeed they need to be doing something more (or better) than their competitors. Sure many groups will just exist for fun and not for financial gain, but if you want to be part of an engaged, attentive and loyal Facebook group the owner(s) need to do more for their members.

Look for unique features and content that’s provided by the admins. Is it just a weekly photo competition or do they offer anything educational or different? In a photography group I ran, I gave out daily questions to create engagement and conversation.

I also offered picture guessing games, quotes, webinars, Q&A’s, live streams and anything else that would challenge group members’ thoughts about photography.

Did You Enjoy This?

Let me know what you think about Facebook groups for photographers. Have you got positive experiences and what groups would you recommend to others? Or have you found any red flags that you want to warn others about? I’d love to know.