Here's my internal dialogue:
Me: I need Instagram because you are a photographer and that's where photographers show their pictures
ALSO ME: I don't need instagram for my business. A couple of years ago I did get traction and built community on IG but most of my business now comes from word of mouth, Facebook, and my website.
Me: Instagram has been the main tool I've used to recruit models specially when I'm in a new area/market
ALSO ME: True, and this is something that'd be hard to replicate and Facebook isn't as useful to be honest. However most of those connections were mostly collaborations and that was great while building a portfolio and/or getting my name 'out there'. Now that I have 3 jobs I do not have as much time in my hand as I used to.
Me: No Snapchat, dead Twitter account, and now no Instagram... it seems I'm shrinking...
ALSO ME: Perhaps... but I rather look at it as focusing more on what works for me and instead of having multiple things I'm not keeping up with anymore
Me: No IG means also missing out on latest photography trends!
ALSO ME: Trends do not pay my bills. In my experience what people want is reliability, affordability, and a personal touch. I can still deliver all that via my website and Facebook.
Me: Is there another reason, beyond photography, why I'm quitting IG?
ALSO ME (a): Yes, as part of my LIFE CODE I have the line 'protect my eyes' and truth to be told there's a lot of distracting images on IG. Images that take me on a path of lust, not of love. To be clear, the problem is ME and my own biases and bents, not the images or the models or photographers. Oh yeah, and I'm just taking a BREAK for now. It might be permanent or not, let's see.
ALSO ME (b): The likes/comments game was yet another thing for me to keep up and check on a regular basis. It got too much for me. Personally I do love metrics, numbers and hype, and quite frankly I just don't want to keep playing that game anymore. Maybe I'm just getting old. I'm good with my website, Facebook, and the occasional WhatsApp for international friends.
Me: So, what's the exit strategy?
ALSO ME: I'll 'deactivate' my handles @ArturoPaulino @CoffeeSessions and @TravelingMondo.
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