I’m looking forward to joining the next beta round, but more so excited for a place where I can enjoy photography- not only mine but others too of course - and not have algorithms decide what I’m going to see. As you mentioned, IG takes so much work not only to maintain your ‘status’ and actually show in people’s feeds, but likewise actually seeing the photos from people you’ve followed for that exact reason you want to see their work is ridiculously hard to do. It takes an enormous amount of time and work to try and cajole the system into showing what you want and why you followed people in the first place. I’m really hoping this works and you can get the uptake on higher tiers to make is sustainable as you scale. Fingers crossed!
If you would, please consider opening usernames up to 3 characters only. It's really difficult to migrate to a new platform when you can't use the same branding you've been using on social media for decades.
Hmm, I'm getting an error saying handles must be between 4 and 32 characters. I guess I'll have to wait to try again when the waitlist opens up again. Very much appreciate that you looked into it.
Good read! I’m excited to join the next beta round. Adobe’s Behance would be another good platform to compare foto to. I personally don’t use Behance, but I’ve poked around it a bit, and answered some Adobe user survey questions surrounding it a while back.
I would say Foto will be closer to the OG IG starting out than Behance, which is a portfolio site. It doesn’t foster deep social connections though. More of another place to out your work hoping someone will see it and hire you.
I was on Photo-Sig before Flickr and feel that long lost platform to have been one of the best photo communities I have participated it.
Perhaps because I was just starting my journey in photography and fellow photographers would critique each other. The constructive criticism was amazing for those hungry to learn and probably the one place I learned the most about photography.
I've not seen anything like this since, but The internet was a very different place back then. People today seem hesitant to offer anything other than a 'like' or short comment. And I understand why. Text alone might not convey all that's needed for a supportive learning environment.
But I wonder how easy it might be to nurture a space that will allow this kind of shared learning.
I am so excited at having an alternative to Instagram, which is proving to be such a frustrating application but one I feel photographers believe they have to participate in. There are so many YouTubers making a great living purely descibring their views on todays Instagram algorithm ! And so many photographers hungry for the Instagram keys to success.
Hi Michael, this is all very exciting. I'm particularly keen in the true social aspect of photo and I love the idea of a paid pro account where editors, curators and image commissioners can browse our projects. as a professional commercial photographer and emerging art photographer the ability to connect is invaluable! Looks like finally someone has put some serious thought on a better way to benefit photography and not themselves. I'm glad to be part of this journey!
I believe people will be posting 2-D files on Foto. I’m not sure we can prevent that or event want that prevent that. We live in a digital art/graphics world so people will inevitably upload that type of imagery.
We want to be supportive of all artists through photos. We will be relaxed on that type of thing.
Good read Michael. Nice overview of the differences with other platforms. Happy to be in this private beta (@marcel) but would like to have a slightly larger group involved so there's more interaction. Keep up the good work!
I’ve been a Glass user for about two years. You obviously didn’t spend much time looking at the site. Your beef – “Glass also focuses on camera gear with its current UI design.” is so wrong. It’s merely a few lines under the photo caption.
And you are incorrect saying Glass doesn’t have a free tier. AFAIK you can look at every single image on Glass.photo without signing up. That way you can see if you want to join. By having paying subscribers only people who are genuinely interested in photography are the members and not losers who just want to leave smart-aleck comments.
I’ve posted photos on many different sites, but this is the first one where people encourage others, pay compliments, ask questions and generally behave like adults. I have never seen a comment badmouthing anyone’s work, it seems we follow the maxim “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Finally the Glass new message tone changes to a purr if someone posts a picture of a cat! You gotta love that.
I've been a little disappointed with Foto, in spite of me following plenty of other photographers, not many people follow me back again. As for people liking my images that never happens.
Yet post the same images else where such as Instagram and I'm getting likes and follows all the time.
Hey Steve! I believe engagement on Foto will improve as we move closer to Public launch. I think right now many beta users are there more to test the app and help us improve it rather than building community and engaging with one other right now.
Especially since we have allowed anyone else on Foto since September. As we allow more people on and add better discovery features (got a plan for this) then engagement will increase.
Excited for this platform and the thought behind it. My question is how to bridge the gap between professionals and clients. If a non-photographer joins they will want to share the selfie or food pic but the platform will be more geared around photographers so what will be the benefit for them? And we are all addicted to likes and shares so how do we undo that narrative in the basic consumer mind?
I’m looking forward to joining the next beta round, but more so excited for a place where I can enjoy photography- not only mine but others too of course - and not have algorithms decide what I’m going to see. As you mentioned, IG takes so much work not only to maintain your ‘status’ and actually show in people’s feeds, but likewise actually seeing the photos from people you’ve followed for that exact reason you want to see their work is ridiculously hard to do. It takes an enormous amount of time and work to try and cajole the system into showing what you want and why you followed people in the first place. I’m really hoping this works and you can get the uptake on higher tiers to make is sustainable as you scale. Fingers crossed!
Thanks for your support Graeme!
Good read...much appreciated.
If you would, please consider opening usernames up to 3 characters only. It's really difficult to migrate to a new platform when you can't use the same branding you've been using on social media for decades.
You should be able to create a Foto account with 3 characters only right now. We did a test this morning and it was allowing us.
Hmm, I'm getting an error saying handles must be between 4 and 32 characters. I guess I'll have to wait to try again when the waitlist opens up again. Very much appreciate that you looked into it.
Also, feel free to email help@fotoapp.co with screenshots of the messages you are getting. That will help us.
Have you updated Foto recently?
Good read! I’m excited to join the next beta round. Adobe’s Behance would be another good platform to compare foto to. I personally don’t use Behance, but I’ve poked around it a bit, and answered some Adobe user survey questions surrounding it a while back.
I would say Foto will be closer to the OG IG starting out than Behance, which is a portfolio site. It doesn’t foster deep social connections though. More of another place to out your work hoping someone will see it and hire you.
Excited to see how Foto develops.
I was on Photo-Sig before Flickr and feel that long lost platform to have been one of the best photo communities I have participated it.
Perhaps because I was just starting my journey in photography and fellow photographers would critique each other. The constructive criticism was amazing for those hungry to learn and probably the one place I learned the most about photography.
I've not seen anything like this since, but The internet was a very different place back then. People today seem hesitant to offer anything other than a 'like' or short comment. And I understand why. Text alone might not convey all that's needed for a supportive learning environment.
But I wonder how easy it might be to nurture a space that will allow this kind of shared learning.
Looking forward to it! Will you add multi-photo-posts or is it mainly one-picture uploads?
Right now it’s one photo posts, but we have a plan for multiple photo posts in the future. We need to build other features first.
I am so excited at having an alternative to Instagram, which is proving to be such a frustrating application but one I feel photographers believe they have to participate in. There are so many YouTubers making a great living purely descibring their views on todays Instagram algorithm ! And so many photographers hungry for the Instagram keys to success.
Hi Michael, this is all very exciting. I'm particularly keen in the true social aspect of photo and I love the idea of a paid pro account where editors, curators and image commissioners can browse our projects. as a professional commercial photographer and emerging art photographer the ability to connect is invaluable! Looks like finally someone has put some serious thought on a better way to benefit photography and not themselves. I'm glad to be part of this journey!
Thank you Xavi!!!
What about illustration or other art ... is this just for photography?
I believe people will be posting 2-D files on Foto. I’m not sure we can prevent that or event want that prevent that. We live in a digital art/graphics world so people will inevitably upload that type of imagery.
We want to be supportive of all artists through photos. We will be relaxed on that type of thing.
What a wonderful project/idea!
Best of luck! 🎉🥳
Thanks so much!
Good read Michael. Nice overview of the differences with other platforms. Happy to be in this private beta (@marcel) but would like to have a slightly larger group involved so there's more interaction. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Marcel! We are adding a bunch of new people on Feb. 28th. We are accepting donations again and will onboard everyone on Feb. 28th.
I’ve been a Glass user for about two years. You obviously didn’t spend much time looking at the site. Your beef – “Glass also focuses on camera gear with its current UI design.” is so wrong. It’s merely a few lines under the photo caption.
And you are incorrect saying Glass doesn’t have a free tier. AFAIK you can look at every single image on Glass.photo without signing up. That way you can see if you want to join. By having paying subscribers only people who are genuinely interested in photography are the members and not losers who just want to leave smart-aleck comments.
I’ve posted photos on many different sites, but this is the first one where people encourage others, pay compliments, ask questions and generally behave like adults. I have never seen a comment badmouthing anyone’s work, it seems we follow the maxim “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Finally the Glass new message tone changes to a purr if someone posts a picture of a cat! You gotta love that.
I've been a little disappointed with Foto, in spite of me following plenty of other photographers, not many people follow me back again. As for people liking my images that never happens.
Yet post the same images else where such as Instagram and I'm getting likes and follows all the time.
Hey Steve! I believe engagement on Foto will improve as we move closer to Public launch. I think right now many beta users are there more to test the app and help us improve it rather than building community and engaging with one other right now.
Especially since we have allowed anyone else on Foto since September. As we allow more people on and add better discovery features (got a plan for this) then engagement will increase.
Hang with us!
Excited for this platform and the thought behind it. My question is how to bridge the gap between professionals and clients. If a non-photographer joins they will want to share the selfie or food pic but the platform will be more geared around photographers so what will be the benefit for them? And we are all addicted to likes and shares so how do we undo that narrative in the basic consumer mind?
Thank you for your continued support of Foto. I'm sure we'll add local language support in the future.