Reply To: A Pinterest-ing Discussion…

[IHF]

I tried to get into Pinterest a while back, but it just didn’t click with me.  I think if I could make boards privately, I might use it to organize my favorite tid bits that I like to refer back to. Recipes, beauty tips, and just random info that interests me. But I have a pretty good system going on my desktop.  I just don’t quite get the social aspect to it all.  I had 10 strangers following me within a day.  Why?  And why would I want to follow them?  I wouldn’t mind following my sister, or a friend, but… I don’t know.  I just don’t get the appeal of it.

Some of my photos have been pinned, and I even had someone buy a small print that was found on Pinterest.  Possibly others that did as well, but we didnt communicate personally through the transaction and it was done annon through a POD site. (i really dont like that and want to leave the whole pod thing and only self fulfill) But pinterest isn’t supposed to be used for self promotion, right?  I know I would feel uncomfortable doing that.  Plus what happens after tons of repins?  Do you have to dig to find where the original came from? (Seriously, I don’t know, do you?)

There are some photographers that absolutely hate pinterest and are trying to shut it down and/or get better copyright protection.  “Artists against pinterest” or “photographers against pinterest”. I can’t remember which.  This I think is silly.  Pinterest isn’t going anywhere.  Isn’t it like number 3 in social networking now?  Your fighting a losing battle folks, especially when there are a billion of me out there who don’t feel threatened by it like you do, and would never freak out and cry “thief!” When an image is pinned.  lol seriously they do this, and have given pinterest take down notices and what not.  I guess I shouldn’t laugh, to each their own, and I have no idea how they market or make their money of their photography, and obviously they find it a real threat to their livelihood for whatever reason.

Then there are photographers/artists who love it!  And follow Trey’s lead on the whole dealo
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2012/02/13/why-photographers-should-stop-complaining-about-copyright-and-embrace-pinterest/

lol I just realized I rambled on and on, just to say I personally have no feelings one way or another when it comes to pinterest.  Yay! For people who love it, calm down to people who hate it, and fear it!  But this is coming from someone who really isn’t interested at all in it.

Inspiration boards: I have noticed lots of photos out there that have “I found this on  pinterest and had to try it” look to them that makes me want to vomit or Laugh out loud when they are done so badly, but to each their own.  Inspiration to me is finding someone that has an interesting niche that works well for them and wows me.  I also admire versatility.  some commissioned/commercial togs just blow me away with how very versatile they are, yet stay completely recognizable.  I mean holy crap!  i wish i had that talent!  I don’t try to duplicate in either case, because most times it would be impossible for me to, but they drive me to get out of my box and try something new within my own genre and capabilities (I regularly fail, but with each failure i get better and better) I haven’t consciously tried to emulate a photo I have seen (not that I feel there is anything wrong with it) but I will try to emulate the light, or the color, or the mood/feel of it.  But, I’m not a family portrait artist (just a someone who is very interested in it on the side of what really gets me going, and I’m having a lot of fun learning portraiture), I think that’s a different ball game in a way, because people/customers see something they like and want it emulated for them.  You, in this case have to do what pays the bills, and using ideas from whatever source is actually necessary to keep the ball rolling, I would think.