Flickr... is it really worth it?

MattBristow

MattBristow

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Edit My Images
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Don't get me wrong here I use the internet for everything, my main job is running a web development agency, but is Flickr really a good promotional tool or is it more of an expected membership type of thing?

It averages something like 5000 uploads a minute so the chances of any of your images being found are pretty remote aren't they?

I must confess not really investigating it properly these are just my initial thoughts.
 
I use Flickr for hosting and also networking. I've made some really good friends through local groups and also a few new clients.

It really depends on what you put in, the groups you join and how you choose to operate.
 
I love flickr...I find it great to store and share photos and also for feedback and inspiration.
 
I've had websites asking to use photos for free but i've always declined. I've also found websites using my photos without permission (and even hotlinked straight to flickr).

I've made alot of local contacts on flickr and we're planning on meeting up soon so thats a plus.

The critique on photos is usually only positive which is a bit annoying. If somebody doesn't like a photo they usually just don't comment rather than saying why which is why i prefer posting some shots here as i know i'll get an honest answer.

Hope this helps :)
 
clud17 said:
I got an email last week by an online area guide asking for permission to post one of my shots, came as a total suprise as i didnt even submit it to any groups. I'll get no money for it but i get the credit so it is possible.
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This is exactly the kind of thing I probably need to hear, do you know how they found you? was it completely random?

Tomas Whitehouse said:
I use Flickr for hosting and also networking. I've made some really good friends through local groups and also a few new clients.

It really depends on what you put in, the groups you join and how you choose to operate.
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Local groups as in other togs close to you?

rachp said:
I love flickr...I find it great to store and share photos and also for feedback and inspiration.
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agree with the feedback thing. For inspiration surely you dont need to be a member and ther are lots of other sites around for inspiration, here for example.

Storing, I have an endless amount of servers for storing and sharing isn't really an issue for me.

All good and very usefull comments folks keep em coming
 
MattBristow said:
Local groups as in other togs close to you?
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Indeed. A Finnish strobist group called Valaisija, I'm very grateful to come across them as we have a few meets per year and I've made a lot of friends.
It was also a great kick up the arse for me as many of the members are so much better than I am, so now I have more people to ask or seek guidance or tips from.

I think if your signing up for a flickr account to be noticed by or to target potential clients then you may be in for a blow out.

Just my two cents. :thumbs:
 
aligibbs said:
Well, its free unless you pay for the pro version- so why not just try it out? I find it quite useful
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I'm thinking the same I'll probably sign up and just upload a single se and see how it goes.

Tomas Whitehouse said:
Indeed. A Finnish strobist group called Valaisija, I'm very grateful to come across them as we have a few meets per year and I've made a lot of friends.
It was also a great kick up the arse for me as many of the members are so much better than I am, so now I have more people to ask or seek guidance or tips from.

I think if your signing up for a flickr account to be noticed by or to target potential clients then you may be in for a blow out.

Just my two cents. :thumbs:
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definately think the local/kick up the ar$e would be a good thing ideas sharing etc. I'm under no illusion as far as new business is concerned I think its a complete lottery
 
I would agree with Tomas on this one, :thumbs: I wouldn't expect anyone using Flickr to be making large sums of money from it. As already stated there are thousands of uploads a minute, (5282 to be pedantic) I use it completely for the social aspect of it. I've made countless friends and met the lady I second shoot weddings with.

Groups is definitely a large part of Flickr. You can find groups for your area, your town, your camera model etc etc.
 
MattBristow said:
...definately think the local/kick up the ar$e would be a good thing ideas sharing etc. I'm under no illusion as far as new business is concerned I think its a complete lottery
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Go for it then bro, you've got nothing to loose :thumbs:
 
clud17 said:
I got an email last week by an online area guide asking for permission to post one of my shots, came as a total suprise as i didnt even submit it to any groups. I'll get no money for it but i get the credit so it is possible.
Click to expand...

Almost everybody gets those, it's just a computer programme that sends out thousands and thousands of Flickrmails each day.The pics that are "selected" are basically those whose owners reply to the email.....
 
Even though I have my own hosted website, Flickr has done well for me too.

I've had 'Visit Britain' and other organisations approach me for use of images, and have sold a few of this one on Flickr, primarily family members descended from the ancestral owners of the property who are scattered all over the world.
They must have done a Google which took them to my Flickr gallery, then signed up, just to make contact.

I use the Pro account, purely for the extra image storage. (I think the free one is limited to 250 images or so.)
 
JDholic said:
I would agree with Tomas on this one, :thumbs: I wouldn't expect anyone using Flickr to be making large sums of money from it. As already stated there are thousands of uploads a minute, (5282 to be pedantic) I use it completely for the social aspect of it. I've made countless friends and met the lady I second shoot weddings with.

Groups is definitely a large part of Flickr. You can find groups for your area, your town, your camera model etc etc.
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Yeah I'm thinking the social/group side of things probably swings it for me. I'll sign up <opens another browser window ans starts to type>
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Almost everybody gets those, it's just a computer programme that sends out thousands and thousands of Flickrmails each day.The pics that are "selected" are basically those whose owners reply to the email.....
Click to expand...

I guess your're right, mine was from a local online guide for Sheffiled, im not in this for the money so im quite happy for them to use the shot and credit me as the photographer.
 
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