Benefits and Limitations of Posing on Instagram from Desktop

Before getting in to the different ways to post to instagram from desktop, let’s review the benefits and limitations of doing so. There are several reasons one might want to post on Instagram from a desktop:

1. Image and File Management – Photos stored on a server or on your hard-drive are often easier to find and upload on desktop.
2. Better Photo Editing –  Desktops often have more powerful photo-editing software, giving users more control over their image quality and editing options.
3. Easier Typing – Crafting the perfect caption or response to comments is often easier on a full-sized keyboard.
4. Bulk Management – Businesses and influencers managing multiple posts can benefit from the larger screen real estate and multitasking capabilities.

Though Instagram has evolved to include some desktop functionality, there are limitations.  For example, features like adding a collaborator are only available on the mobile app.  We’ll review more of these limitations as we dive deeper into the different ways of posting to Instagram from a desktop computer.

How to Post Directly on Instagram.com on Desktop

A straightforward way to post on Instagram with Desktop is directly through the Instagram website.  However, this method gives you the least amount of features, and you won’t be able to do things like schedule your posts or add collaborators.  To post from instagram.com, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to instagram.com and log into your account.
2. In the left menu, you will see a ‘+’ icon with the word “Create”. Click on it.
3. Choose the file you want to upload from your computer.
4. Adjust the size, add your caption, and hit the ‘share’ button.

How to Post on Instagram with the Creator Studio

Instagram’s Creator Studio is especially helpful for those with business accounts.  Creator studio lets you post to Facebook and Instagram at the same time.  You can also schedule your content one month ahead.  To get started with posting on Instagram on desktop with Creator Studio, follow these steps:

1. Visit the Creator Studio.
2. Select the correct Instagram and/or Facebook account at the top.
3. Click on ‘Create Post’ or ‘Create Reel’

4. Upload your content, and add captions
4. Click Schedule or Publish.

Using 3rd Party Apps like Planoly

Third-party applications like Planoly can be beneficial for managing all of your social media.  This can be useful for scheduling content on multiple platforms and planning your social media calendar months ahead of schedule.  Of course, it does come with a monthly cost, which may or may not be worth it to you.  If you decide to go with this route, follow these steps:

1. Sign up for a Planoly account and link your Instagram.
2. Use Planoly’s dashboard to drag and drop your photos, plan your grid, and schedule posts.
3. Add captions, hashtags, and choose a posting time.
4. Planoly will either auto-post for you or remind you to post at your chosen time.

Device Mode on Chrome

You can also use ‘Device Mode’ from within Google Chrome which will allow you to browse as if on a mobile device, therein allowing you to upload from a desktop to Instagram.

Device Mode is there more for developers to test various screen sizes, site performance and such things, but this is a handy feature. To access it go to View>Developer>Developer Tools, and then you’ll see a little icon that looks like a phone and tablet in the top right which allows you to toggle the mobile site version on and off. and it’ll look something like this:

Conclusion

The desire to post on Instagram from a desktop is evident and, thankfully, there are now numerous ways to do so. Whether you choose to use Instagram’s native desktop site, the Creator Studio, or third-party tools, you can comfortably manage and upload your content without reaching for your phone. Just remember to stay updated with Instagram’s features and policies to ensure a smooth posting experience.

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Note: This article is a continuation of our Instagram Marketing series.  You may also be interested in previous articles such as How to Add a Collaborator on Instagram and How to Make Reels on Instagram with Photos.

Understanding Instagram’s GIF feature

Before we dive into the process of posting a GIF on Instagram, it’s important to understand what it is and why it’s important. Instagram’s GIF feature is powered by GIPHY, a popular GIF search engine. The GIF feature allows users to add animated GIFs to their stories and posts, which can help to increase engagement and add personality to their content.

However, it’s important to note that Instagram’s GIF feature has some limitations. For instance, users cannot upload their own GIFs without a workaround, which we’ll cover in this article.

How to post your own GIF on Instagram (without GIPHY)

As many of you have probably experienced before searching for this article, if you try to upload your own animated GIF to Instagram, the GIF simply becomes a static image without any animation.  Luckily there is an easy workaround.  Just follow these steps:

Step 1: Find a free GIF to MP4 converter such as Ezgif (or other converter – any one will do).

Step 2: Upload Your GIF.  This can take a few seconds depending on the size of your file.

Step 3:  Press “Convert GIF to MP4”

Step 4: Click “Download” to download the Mp4 file.

Step 5: Upload the mp4 to an Instagram post and follow the normal steps to create your post, story or reel!

Example of a custom GIF on Instagram

Here is our final sample result:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by SLR Lounge (@slrlounge)

How to post a GIF on Instagram (with GIPHY)

How to post a GIF on Instagram Stories and Reels

Now that you understand Instagram’s GIF feature let’s discuss how to post a GIF on Instagram Stories or Instagram Reels.

Step 1: Open Instagram and create a new story or reel.

Step 2: Tap the “Sticker” icon at the top of the screen.

Step 3: Tap the “GIF” option from the list of available stickers.

Step 4: Search for the GIF you want to add by typing in a keyword or phrase.

Step 5: Select the GIF you want to add by tapping on it.

Step 6: Edit the GIF as needed by resizing or repositioning it.

Step 7: Once you’re happy with your post or story, tap “Share” to post it to your Instagram account.

How to post a GIF on Instagram Stories and Reels

To post a GIF from GIPHY as a regular Instagram post, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download the GIPHY app.

Step 2: Find a GIF you want to post.

Step 3: Click the share icon on the bottom right side of the GIF.

Step 4: Choose Instagram from the options.

Step 5: Follow the regular steps to create a post.

Tips for using GIFs on Instagram

While it’s easy to post a GIF on Instagram, it’s important to use them effectively to increase engagement and build your brand. Here are some tips for using GIFs on Instagram:

Only Use Relevant GIFs: Make sure that the GIFs you use are relevant to your post or story.

Don’t Overuse GIFs: While GIFs can be entertaining, it’s important not to overuse them as they can distract from your message.

Customize your GIFs: You can edit and customize your GIFs to make them fit your brand and message.

Keep it appropriate: Make sure that the GIFs you use are appropriate for your audience.

Be creative: Use GIFs to showcase your creativity and personality.

Conclusion

Posting a GIF on Instagram can be a great way to add personality and engagement to your content. By understanding Instagram’s GIF feature and using it responsibly, you can create compelling and engaging content that resonates with your audience. Follow the steps outlined in this article, and use the tips provided to start using GIFs on Instagram today.

What Does Adding a Collaborator Do?

Collaborating on Instagram means that the content shows up in feeds of both accounts.

Adding a collaborator is an exciting opportunity to  work with someone else in the industry, while growing both accounts at the same time. Not only can you benefit from the extra exposure of a larger network reach, but it also gives you the opportunity to nurture your most important relationships.

It’s ideal for accounts with similar audiences or topics, so you can truly benefit from having someone else do some of the workload. Furthermore, by joining forces you have access to each other’s networks and the combined effort helps create more visibility across social channels; raising awareness of both accounts at once.

How to Add a Collaborator on Instagram

Here’s how to add a collaborator in 5 easy steps:

1. Create a post as you normally would in the Instagram App
2. When you get to the final step, click “Tag People”
3. The click “Add Collaborator”
4. Type in the name of the account that you want to collaborate with
5. Important! The account that you input has to accept the collaboration request before it will show up on their feed.

Adding a collaborator on Instagram is as easy as a few simple steps. Start by clicking the menu option in the top right corner of your post and hit “Edit”. You will then see a new section called “Collaborate” where you can add any other account’s username into the field that appears after tapping on it. Once your collaborator has accepted to be tagged in the photo, they will appear near your username when anyone views your post. This makes it easier to search for their profile and follow them if there’s mutual interest. So if you want to give credit or work together with someone on Instagram – don’t forget to use the collaborate option!

Collaborator Ideas for Photographers

Here are some ways photographers can use this feature:

• Add the model(s) as a collaborator
• Add the clients as a collaborator
• Add a vendor (wedding planner, event designer, makeup artist, etc) as a collaborator
• Add a location or venue as a collaborator
• Add a product or brand as a collaborator

Remember that numbers aren’t everything when it comes to social media.  Factor in your real life relationships and find ways to benefit your partners in the industry.  Also, conversions are far more important than vanity numbers.   So find accounts to collaborate with in the same target market (or the target market  that you are aspiring to get into).

IG Collaborator FAQs

Here are a few FAQs on the collaborator process that we’ve learned the answers to though trial and error.

How to add collaborator on Instagram after posting

Unfortunately, you cannot add a collaborator on Instagram after the post is already up.  You would have to remove the post and repost it with the collaborator added in the beginning.

Can you add a collaborator from the Facebook Creator Studio?

No.  As far as we know, you can only add collaborators on the Instagram app.  This can make the workflow a challenge if you typically schedule your posts.

Can you add more than one collaborator?

No, you can only add one collaborator.

Can you add a collaborator for Instagram Reels?

Yes! Just follow a similar process as outlined above and add a collaborator on the last step.

Is this the same as tagging an account?

No, you can also tag an account or multiple accounts in addition to adding a collaborator.

Conclusion

Adding a collaborator when creating Instagram posts can be an incredibly effective and efficient way to grow your engagement.  We recommend giving this strategy a try and seeing how effective it is for your growth.

They simply need to share them at the right time, in the right way, and with the right people, and awareness of their work and their brand will increase. This article teaches you just how to do that in four easy steps.

Note: the advice below is most applicable to wedding, event and portrait photographers and may not apply to genres or businesses heavily reliant on print sales such as commercial or landscape photography.

1. Share Teaser Images Within Two Days

Timing is everything. We recommend sharing “teaser” images in the first day or two after any event with both your client and the vendor team from the event. Immediately following an event, whether it be a wedding, a corporate function, a baby shower, or other, the hype around the event is at an all-time high. Sharing images soon after the event capitalizes on all of the excitement and increases the engagement on any social media posts or blog entries that include your images.

To share your images, use a simple file sharing service like Dropbox that allows you to quickly and easily send large files from any device. You can create a shared link for a file or folder, then copy that link into an email, chat, or text.

Try to avoid sharing low-resolution files as the quality of the images will likely work against you and defeat the purpose of sharing the files in the first place.

2. Expand Your Image Usage Rights

The last thing anybody wants to do is get caught up in a copyright lawsuit over shared images. Make it worry-free and easy for vendors and clients to share your images by minimizing image usage restrictions. Your original images are inherently protected by copyright, but you have several options as to how you may choose to allow others to use your images: fair use, creative commons, public domain, and so on.

For marketing purposes, whether you’re sending images to online marketplaces like WeddingWire or vendors like Details Details, we recommend granting express authorization to use the images you share on the recipient’s web and social media platforms. You can always ask that the person  or business sharing your photos link back to your social media profile, website, etc. Just remember to keep it simple.

3. Remove Those Ugly Watermarks

In the business of photography, your images are your product and the success of your imagery weighs heavily on its visual appeal. Unfortunately, in an effort to maintain ownership of their product, many photographers splash large watermarks across their images whenever they share their work. Few things can curb the shareability of an image like obtrusive watermarks. This practice will definitely decrease the likelihood of your images being shared.

If you are inclined to include a watermark, keep it small and place it in a location that does not distract from the focus of the image (see the example above).

4. Dummy Proof Your Intentions And Make Suggestions

In the same message as your file delivery, include the following:

• Simple instructions
• Suggested social media hashtags
• Instagram handles for all vendors and venues involved
• Clear and simple image use restrictions
• Anything else to make sharing your images easy and pain free

If the person can simply copy and paste a message to their post, they are more likely to share.  In addition, by saving them the time and effort it takes to find all of the hashtags and vendor handles, you’ll come across as a rockstar that they’ll want to work with again.

You shouldn’t need to author a novel to communicate your intentions; just cover the basics. As we’ve mentioned in previous steps, the idea for sharing your work, from selecting the service you use to share files to the permissions you grant to use those files, is to keep everything simple.

Conclusion

Photographers are never short on competition. It’s true that setting yourself apart from your competitors requires strategic marketing, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Although there are myriad tools with which to market your work, knowing which tools work best and how to make the most from the available tools can make all the difference. Sometimes, simplifying the process is the answer.

If your images are your best marketing tools, then the faster you can share your images with the people who will in turn re-post and share the images on their own sites and platforms, the better. Besides, you will benefit not only from the added exposure of more eyes seeing your images but also from the stronger relationships you build with fellow vendors and clients alike. As we mentioned above, the impact is highest while the event is still fresh.

What are some other ways you use file sharing to your advantage in day-to-day business?

What Is a Vlog and how is it different than a regular video?

In simple terms, a vlog is a video blog that captures life on camera and is published online.  Unlike other videos you might see on Youtube, Vlogs are typically narratives that provide a more intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the content creator.  They are often taken from a selfie perspective or in front of a computer, with the content creator addressing the viewer directly. Vlogs often leave in outtakes and recording imperfections to add to the realness of the video when compared to traditional, professionally edited videos.  Of course, there is no clear cut categorization or hard and fast rules for vlogging, and each content creator has his or her own style and approach.

Knowing what a vlog is, however, does not tell us how to make one or how to make it successful. In reality, most vlogs come and go without ever growing a following or making any impact. Still, starting a successful vlog is easier than you think.  We’ve looked at a number of famous vloggers and compiled a list of things their vlogs have in common. In this guide, we’re going to share eight tips we collected to help you start a vlog and become a better vlogger:

1. Research Other Vloggers

One of the first steps you should take to become a good vlogger is to study the work of other vloggers, both the good and the bad. The best and worst vlogs will teach you what to do as well as what not to do.

For example, how do your favorite vloggers frame their shots and in what environment(s)? How do they break down and present their information? Do they use music and graphics to supplement their delivery? How long do their videos usually run, and what kinds of comments do they get? How do these traits compare to vlogs that are less successful? Understanding these elements will help you create a stronger vlog.

Pro Tip: Successful vloggers often use an effective SEO keywording strategy for driving traffic to their channel. You can use YouTube itself to help you find the best keywords to use in your titles and description, as well as other services like Google AdWords or SEMRush. Just make sure to use keywords appropriately. If you use keywords as clickbait and mislead your viewers, you will not only disappoint your viewers but also rank lower and get fewer recommendations for new audiences.

2. Find Your Formula & Stick with It

If you find yourself short on ideas or struggling to find an interesting topic to discuss, try to remember why you started the vlog in the first place. If you’re truly interested in your topic, there will always be something to say about it. Stay true to your vision and look for ways to add to the conversation.

One way to approach content creation is to create a formula. The best vloggers stick to a consistent formula that allows them to engage their audience with a familiar approach, regardless of the topic. They can effectively introduce their topic, engage their audience, and end the vlog to positive reviews, even if the content is lighter for a given post. This is why we stressed the importance of studying others in the previous step.

Pro Tip: Start each video with a bang. A study by Microsoft in 2018 revealed that most people have an attention span of eight seconds, which means you should put your best foot forward in the intro; don’t save the best for last.

3. Choose the Best Equipment for Vlogging

For vloggers, portability is key. It’s important to choose easy-to-use, yet portable equipment, including the following:

• Cameras & Lenses
• Tripods & Gimbals
• Lighting
• Audio Gear
• Video Editing Software

These days, you can get by with using your phone in a pinch, but some gear is better in the field than others. For instance, you can find a list of the best vlogging cameras here. Depending on the type of action you cover, some on-location shoots may involve a considerable amount of movement. For such instances, it’s worth looking into gimbals that are compatible with your camera. You’ll also need a good travel tripod to stabilize your footage when you’re not on the go; you don’t want your viewers to suffer through shaky footage. It’s no secret that photography and videography both depend heavily on good lighting. Whether you’re shooting in-studio or on-location, there’s a lighting solution for you. And lastly, sound is one of the most underrated and crucial aspects of creating good video, whether for a vlog or other purpose. You can find a variety of audio gear that is well-suited for vloggers. We’ll talk more about video editing software below.

Pro Tip: In most instances, you don’t need to use the best gear from day one. Don’t let your lack of access to premium gear derail your goals for creating and building a vlog.  If you build good content, viewers will come. You can always start with a handheld smartphone or other small camera, like the Osmo, and then add to your arsenal down the road when your finances permit. If you’re experiencing success on your channel, it’ll better justify upgrading your gear.

4. Make the Most of What Makes Vlogging Unique

Vlogging is unique among other mediums in terms of its visual appeal. In essence, your vlog is like your show, or your contribution to Internet television. Like other mediums, vlogging requires that you consistently turn out content to stay relevant. However, the visual aspect of vlogging that makes it unique also requires that you provide on-screen entertainment to accompany your ideas, whether that be switching up the environment (rather than shooting live from your couch for each episode), using dynamics in your speech patterns to break away from a monotone delivery, or using clever animation and edits to hold your viewers’ attention.

Pro Tip: You can engage your viewers more by talking directly to them in your videos. This approach works best when you use your genuine, authentic tone. Another way to interact with your audience is to ask them questions in the video and ask that they answer in the comments, which you should also respond to as often as possible.  If your audience feels like they are a part of your vlog, they will be more likely to stay tuned and come back.

5. Edit for Success

Editing can make or break a vlog post. It’s one of the most important parts in the entire process. You want your video to make a deep impression on the audience, and not in a bad way. We’ve already mentioned that you should find a formula that works for you, and the same is true for the editing process. A good edit will follow a logical sequence and firmly capture the audience’s attention. The best edits can make an ordinary video shine. So, invest in your education to learn some video editing skills and take advantage of user-friendly video converters to streamline your vlogging workflow.

Pro Tip 1: The large file size of videos can use up a lot of room on your flash drive, and they take forever to upload and share online. It’s worth looking into video editors like the Canva Video Editor,  WinX Video Converter, which will allow you to quickly convert video to smaller formats (such as H.264/AVC) while maintaining high quality resolution.

Pro Tip 2: Make sure the music is legal. There are several royalty free music sources you can subscribe to (such as Artlist, Premium Beat,  Soundstripe, Music Bed, and others) in order to use affordable, quality music in your vlog posts. You should also be sure to credit the musicians and royalty-free source in your video description to further avoid any potential copyright issues.

6. Choose a Video-Sharing Platform

Once your post has been polished in post-production, it’s time to share your video online. Consider your target audience and choose a suitable video-sharing platform. YouTube is one of the most popular platforms for vloggers, and Instagram & Insta Live is also a popular choice. Both are free to use and offer analytics. Other options include Vimeo, Twitch, Daily Motion, and Flickr, among others. Not all options are free to use and some are more user-friendly than others with various pros and cons. Be sure to research your options and commit to one or two platforms, lest you spread yourself too thin across multiple platforms.

Pro Tip 1: You can repurpose a single piece of content for multiple platforms.  For example, you can create your original video on Youtube, which is best for longer form content, and then cut up clips for Instagram and TikTok, which are better for shorter clips.

Pro Tip 2: If you choose a platform like YouTube, be sure to completely fill out your profile. Doing so will help your channel rank better on the platform. The same is true across social media. Complete your channel description, include thumbnails and banners, and make a trailer to break down what your vlog is about.

7. Build Your Audience

Once you have a product, in this case a vlog, you need an audience. There are several ways to build your audience and make your vlog successful. One way is to update new vlogs to your channel regularly to maintain interaction with your audience. In fact, interaction marks another way to build your audience. Visit vlogs similar to yours and join in the conversation in the comments. You should also regularly respond to comments left on your posts.

One of the quickest, most effective ways to build your audience involves collaborating with competitors. Don’t think of others in your field as the enemy. Instead, if it’s feasible, turn your competitor into a collaborator. The relationship could (and should) prove mutually beneficial. Given that your followers share similar interests based on your like-minded content, each of you stand to benefit and reach a wider audience with a single vlog post (or consider an ongoing series if the collaboration proves a success). Whenever you approach another vlogger for a collab, it’s best to be yourself, be authentic in the reasons for reaching out, and try not to spam a bunch of potential collaborators solely for your benefit if they’re not genuinely a good fit for your audience.

Pro Tip: Schedule your content in advance to keep yourself accountable for publishing videos on a consistent basis. If your publishing schedule becomes routine, your viewers will know to return to your channel at a certain time and look forward to your upcoming posts. You can include your schedule in your videos or video descriptions, as well as your “About” section or video trailer (if you have one, which we recommend).

8. Set a Goal to Define Success

We’ve talked about ways to become a better vlogger and run a successful vlog, but you really need to define success for yourself to know whether or not you made it. It helps to set goals before you get too far into it. Some people want to reach a certain number of subscribers while others want to develop a steady stream of sponsorships. Others, still, simply use their vlogs to break out of their comfort zone and don’t expect to “go pro.” Whatever goals you set, give yourself some flexibility so that you can adjust and pivot along the way.

Pro Tip: Give yourself time to achieve your goals. If your goal includes vlogging as a full-time job, you should be realistic about how long it might take to get there. Popular vlogger Austin Null (formerly of The Nive Nulls vlog) told “Video Influencers” on YouTube it took two to three years of balancing his vlogging with his day job before he was able to make the switch to become a full-time vlogger.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed these tips on how to start a vlog and become a better vlogger. While it’s true that pretty much everyone can become a vlogger, only a small percentage will find success in the field. If you follow the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to creating engaging content with an effective strategy for building your audience and finding success.

In mid-November, Instagram released its new feature: Guides. It gives users an easier way to share and consume helpful recommendations and tips in an easy-to-digest format that requires no design skills or code. Instagram has become a pseudo-website for photographers if you know how to use it to your advantage, and Guides seem to be another nail in the coffin of traditional sources of photography advertising/marketing. Here are five ways you can start using them with content that you’ve already shared on your Instagram in order to inform your followers of your services and showcase your work.

1. Eliminate the Need for Blog Posts

While there is still an argument for having a website and housing your portfolio on it, IG Guides give photographers a perfect outlet for blog creation without the pressure or inconvenience of web design. Think of all the times you sat in front of your keyboard wanting to create a blog, now ask yourself, why didn’t you do it? People don’t blog for a variety of reasons but primarily because it takes time: sourcing the photos, creating a concept or theme, designing and formatting, writing useful and SEO-keyword based content, etc. IG Guides breaks it down to three simple types of posts:

• Places: Recommend places in your city and beyond.
• Products: Recommend your favorite product.
• Posts: Recommend posts you created or saved.

In this article, we’ll be focusing on the Posts Guides since this is the most relevant and direct way for photographers and videographers to market their work and services. Guides’ sleek format is perfect for a quick read and it doubles as a marketing tool to draw viewers to posts on your feed. You can type in headers and copy to beef it up or just keep it simple and link directly to the posts in your feed.

2. Showcase Favorite Shoot Locations & Venues

I am sure at some point in your career as a portrait photographer/videographer you’ve been asked by a client to suggest possible shoot locations and have had to send examples of your work in those areas. Creating a guide based on shoot locations is not only a great way to showcase your portfolio and versatility of work in various spots, but shows that you are knowledgeable and resourceful when it comes to providing valuable shoot information. This can also serve as inspiration for clients looking for new and interesting locations to shoot at. It’s also a great tactic to make people share and save your IG posts which will only help your impressions over time. This is also a great idea for a blog post for your website, however, the amount of time it would take to compile on your phone with posts you’ve already curated for your IG feed makes this an easy task to knock out.

3. Share Photography Ideas, Tips & Tricks

Have an ingenious photo hack or trick that you want to share? Guides make it simple to share a new shoot concept that sets you apart from your competition and works great for sharing when asked what makes you different. This can also be a great place to house some of your favorite portrait photography tools, gear, or accessories and discuss why you love them so much. Essentially, this type of guide acts as a way for your client to become more familiar with your style and expertise.

For example, this year due to the pandemic, I started offering FaceTime photoshoots. I recorded and documented the entire process hoping to turn it into a resource for other photographers struggling with being creative in a time that tested our capability as artists. I created a short guide that showcased the images (existing posts I had already made on my feed) and added more information on how the process worked.

4. List Your Services

So many of us portrait photographers dabble in different photography niches: family, wedding, graduation, maternity, fashion, etc. It would be extremely beneficial to have a way to designate what types of photography you specialize in and show off some samples of your work in dedicated guides. Similar to how a website portfolio works, these guides can serve to compile a specific genre of photography into one consolidated link to send people. You can add pricing for sessions, discuss what each package includes, etc.

Here is an example of one of my most requested services: at-home family sessions. It gives clients the ability to browse through a “catalog” of images to get a better understanding of the concept and gives them insight into the process. I often get requested to see examples of what an at-home session looks like because people can’t see the true beauty that lies within the confines of their own home, and that’s my job as their photographer, to see the unseen.

5. Provide Valuable Information

Similar to how blog posts function, Guides can be one of the most resourceful and educational assets of your social media platform. We always hear that good marketing means that you’ve created a strong voice that makes you relatable. Part of having a strong and clear voice is having an equally strong and clear message. Incorporating your expertise and advice into the copy of the Guides sells your services based on the value that you provide rather than them focusing on the amount they are paying for the service. In this example. I discuss the different types of proposals I’ve shot and how each of them is meaningful in their own way. This gives those that are considering hiring me to shoot proposals educational information and ideas, and, more importantly, proof that I am more than capable of hiring for the task at hand.

The “Licensable” label, which had started beta-testing back in February, provides information on the photographer who captured the image and where/how you can license the image should you want too.

Petapixel reports this is another step in a process “after Getty Images lodged “anti-competitive” complaints against it in the US and EU back in February 2018, Google began working with the stock agency to make changes to Google Images that would help protect photographers’ copyright. Days later, it removed the “View Image” button that allowed anyone to download full-res versions of photos while bypassing the host webpage. In September 2018, Google added image rights metadata to photo search results to make it clear who the owner of a photo is.”

According to the Google Images’ developers site,

“When you specify license information for the images on your website, the image can display with a Licensable badge on image thumbnails in Google Images. This tells people that license information is available for the image, and provides a link to the license in the Image Viewer, which offers more detail on how someone can use the image.”

While this new feature isn’t fully available yet, Google is already letting anyone provide the licensing info for their photos through the metadata or structured data as detailed here in preparation for this full-blown launch. So if you’d like your photos to display the Licensable badge in Google Images when the feature is made available, make sure you provide the proper licensing data for the Googlebot web crawler to see by checking the instructions from google linked just above.

This is pretty massive for image licensing sites like Photoshelter and individuals alike seeing as how Google images are a massive global tool used to find images, potentially making it easier for small independent freelancers to reach a much larger market. We don’t have an official date for this to be completely released yet, but I know that me personally, I’ve already started redoing the images on my site and business in preparation for the full launch. What about you? Are you prepared for this service to go live? Will you actually take part and change the way you prepare and upload your images to the internet? Let us know in the comments below.

In a post from The Hollywood Reporter, it’s said that Mashable had approached the photographer (Stephanie Sinclair), to feature her and asked permission to include one of her images in the write-up. Sinclair had declined Mashable’s offer of $50 but the site ended up running the photo regardless.

Sinclair filed a copyright suit and Mashable managed to avoid the whole copyright and image theft claim by using a feature included in Instagram by default: The Embedding Feature! Thus, it was “technically” just linking to the original post on Sinclair’s own Instagram page.

In the court ruling, Judge Kimba Wood dismissed Sinclair’s copyright lawsuit stating “because the plaintiff uploaded the Photograph to Instagram and designated it as “public,” she agreed to allow Mashable, as Instagram’s sublicensee, to embed the Photograph in its website.” 

Ironically, you can see from my screenshot of the original post, that Sinclair has since deleted her image from Instagram, preventing Mashable from using the embedding option on their post.

Instagram is a VERY popular photo-sharing platform, streaming service, and let’s face it, it’s practically become the new official business card for any photographer or videographer out there in the current market. So when we share images on there, or sites like Flickr and Twitter, you need to be careful since by using these services, you’ve agreed to their terms of service, allowing your content to be embedded on external sites without your permission. And apparently, with the settings and T.O.S. on these platforms, there’s no option to disable this feature. Your only option is to set your account to private (which defeats the purpose of many professionals who use it as an advertising platform), or to not post there at all!

This has prompted a flurry of comments & opinions on the internet along with some feedback from the ASMP to request services like Instagram and Twitter to provide the option to disable the embedding feature.

Ironically, this morning I posted an image from a camping adventure to which the corporation REI was quick to comment on and asked to share it on their accounts. You can see the comment and my reply below;

When this happened, I hadn’t been aware of the case with Sinclair and it was a conversation with another writer/photographer about this that pointed me to it, and made me realize after I replied “no” to the Outdoor Company getting free access to my image, it’s entirely possible REI can just embed my image and get away with it.

Sinclair “argues that it is unfair for Instagram to force a professional photographer like [her] to choose between ‘remain[ing] in “private mode” on one of the most popular public photo sharing platforms in the world,’ and granting Instagram a right to sub-license her photographs to users like Mashable,” writes the judge. “Unquestionably, Instagram’s dominance of photograph- and video-sharing social media, coupled with the expansive transfer of rights that Instagram demands from its users, means that Plaintiff’s dilemma is a real one. But by posting the Photograph to her public Instagram account, Plaintiff made her choice. This Court cannot release her from the agreement she made.”

James Bartolomei, attorney for Sinclair, expressed disappointment with the outcome. “We believe no photographer knowingly contracted away their ownership rights in their photos when they choose to use Instagram,” he added. “We remind everyone that this is only one single federal district court opinion and is not the binding law of the United States or even the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Our client is considering an appeal.”

So what’s the bottom line here? It might feel great to get some “free publicity” if you’re just starting out and you got lucky with an awesome shot. However, if you’re a veteran who has been working hard for a long time, then chances are you’d like for all your hard work to actually be rewarded in a more substantial way.

Media outlets of all kinds, such as the press, eye-candy content (clickbait) websites, and large corporations with advertising budgets, should all show a little more respect for artists by offering them at least some compensation for image usage. In case you weren’t aware, the business of internet traffic is HUGE, it can certainly afford to spend a few dollars on image licensing.

Simply put, this is a very important issue right now, especially with virtually all of humankind currently looking for more ways to make at least a little extra income, especially online. So what do you think? Have you had any copyright issues when posting your images online? Have you used someone else’s work without permission in this way before? What do you think about the option to disable sharing and embedding from sites like Twitter and Instagram? Let us know in the comments below.