Key Takeaways
Having been an energetic Instagram consumer, I made a decision to cease posting images for a yr.
Within the course of, I deleted my outdated account.
A number of causes led to this, reminiscent of burnout and a scarcity of creativity.
Instagram is the go-to place for pictures, and you need to be on there as a photographer… proper?
Effectively, I wished to seek out this out for myself. Here is why I ended posting images on Instagram for a yr, which included completely deleting my outdated account.
1 I Continuously Felt the Strain to Put up
This one is sort of unusual as a result of I believed I had nixed this behavior when taking my first prolonged break from Instagram in 2020. I used to be nice for just a few years, however ultimately, I began to play the “influencer” function (though I had by no means beforehand loved doing so). The first motive why was as a result of I began to take my pictures extra significantly, and—subsequently—submit extra steadily.
This began innocently sufficient, however ultimately, it felt like I needed to submit a sure variety of occasions every week. If not, the algorithm will neglect about me… proper? Blatantly ignoring that each one of my posts acquired higher engagement once I posted much less steadily, however I digress.
The stress to submit was purely inner. I am sure that almost all of my followers wouldn’t have cared if I did not submit a photograph for just a few weeks or perhaps a few months, and talking from my perspective, I would moderately observe somebody who posts higher-quality content material much less steadily (extra on this later).
In case you’re beginning to really feel like you need to be on-line, I strongly advocate quitting all social media for some time.
2 I Grew to become Disillusioned With Instagram’s Modifications on the Time
Once I determined to cease posting my images on Instagram for a yr, it was round that point when the app was making main adjustments. Reels had change into the precedence, and I observed a major drop in engagement on my images. This transfer disgruntled me as a result of I primarily joined Instagram to submit footage. Heck, I even jumped on the short-lived “switching from Instagram to VERO” bandwagon.
I additionally class myself as the kind of individual whose actions ought to match their beliefs. The easy matter right here is that when you don’t love what a social media platform is doing, you do not have to make use of it. I used to be now not having fun with the Instagram expertise, so it felt like testing was the very best factor to do at the moment.
3 I Was Losing Time
Once I first began occupied with not posting on Instagram, it primarily got here from me losing my time on the app. This wasn’t essentially about scrolling, though that was a part of it. Extra particularly, the strategic elements of posting on Instagram consumed extra of my bandwidth than they need to have.
I take accountability right here, but it surely all the time felt like I needed to submit an fascinating caption—though the fact is that I would moderately have simply posted my image after which left the app. Copywriting took hours, and I might waste a variety of time pondering of captions simply because I wished to submit one thing.
Quickly after my choice to cease posting on Instagram (and delete my account), I immediately felt a surge of creativity. My pictures expertise have by no means accelerated as rapidly as they did throughout that interval; if you wish to get higher at taking footage, spending all of your time creating an Instagram technique is not going to try this.
In case you’re utilizing Instagram for some other inventive undertaking, I can categorically inform you that you just’re higher off specializing in a higher-leverage job. For instance, I run a journey weblog. As you’ll be able to see from my all-time statistics beneath, I get little or no visitors from Instagram.
4 I Was At all times Dashing My Edits
Many photographers hate modifying, however I’m not one among them. I like fine-tuning my footage to look precisely how I would like them to. In case you have a look at my Instagram account nowadays, you may discover that I usually do not add my footage till months after taking them.
I do not edit instantly as a result of a) I take so many footage, and b) I need to create far to edit with a logical thoughts. Whereas posting steadily on Instagram, I all the time rushed my edits. The outcomes have been sloppy, and I hated how they regarded.
I really caught myself doing this once more after returning to the app, and I subsequently lowered my output workload to concentrate on high quality. I recommend doing the identical when you’re on this predicament, particularly when you’re simply doing all of your inventive work as a interest.
5 I Was Burnt Out From Utilizing Instagram
In the identical method that you would be able to get burnt out when you do not take a break from work or train, I believe that you would be able to additionally undergo burnout from utilizing social media (and different types of expertise) for prolonged intervals. I have been utilizing Instagram for the very best a part of a decade, and once I opted to cease posting images for a yr, I had been again on the app for 2 years and not using a break.
Each six months or so, taking a whole social media break for per week or two is a good suggestion. You do not have to delete your accounts, however it is best to on the very least take away the apps out of your cellphone. Taking break day will make it simpler so that you can take pleasure in extra of the advantages of social media.
6 I Was Taking Images Solely for Instagram
A surefire signal that it is advisable to cease posting images on Instagram is when you’re taking images solely for the app, and that is the precise state of affairs I discovered myself in. Each image was in portrait orientation, even when there was a panorama shot that I believed would look cool. When modifying, I used to be additionally occupied with how the image would look on my feed.
My creativity elevated a lot after selecting to not submit as a result of I used to be taking images for the enjoyment of capturing photographs. Pictures is by far my largest ardour, and I initially fell in love with it as a result of I used to be capturing no matter regarded cool. In case you’re taking footage only for an app, you may lose that (and funnily sufficient, you may fail to face out as a result of your photographs will not be distinctive).
There’s completely nothing fallacious with posting your favourite footage on Instagram, however I positively mustn’t have been taking images simply to probably pop off on the algorithm.
7 I Needed to Critically Assess My Instagram Utilization as a Photographer
Since becoming a member of social media once I was younger, I by no means stopped and critically assessed my utilization earlier than quitting. To me, it was simply one thing that I all the time did (and that everybody else in society additionally did). From a photographer’s perspective, I wished to cease and ask whether or not Instagram was really serving me—which is why I ended posting for a full yr.
After stepping again, I began asking severe questions and analyzing my angle in direction of the app. One revelation that sounds apparent now, however was an enormous revelation on the time, was this:
If a scarcity of likes and engagement alone stopped me from taking images, it steered that I did not really like pictures and as a substitute wished validation.
I additionally wished to ask myself if Instagram was one thing I even wished to make use of. For my part, the concept that you want any social media to reach a inventive endeavor is just not true. It may be a great tool, however there are many different methods to get your title on the market. And as a hobbyist, you would possibly choose creating your individual web site to share what you make.
As you most likely can collect from the actual fact I’ve my Instagram account in my bio, I finally returned to Instagram. As a substitute of attempting to be an influencer, I made a decision to make use of the account to easily join with like-minded individuals and casually share my footage. The overwhelming majority of my images are on my journey weblog, and I am pleased with this steadiness.