When you say you don't care, do you really mean it?

Simon Pole

I wish people would stop trashing IG. If you don't use it properly, it will feed you trash. It's been the sole platform that works for me and it's where you meet people across the board for the type of modelling that I do, as well as meeting ( yes, physically meeting) some incredible artists, musicians, tattoo artists, casting directors.

I couldn't possibly meet those in PP. PP is a different platform.

I really don't care anymore, as I have come to the conclusion that my work is s**t

ANDY00 said

Tim Pile said

This is meant as a genuine question, what do you think the “brief” is that the images have to meet to be considered for an FPI?

I think this was all covered at the beginning of this thread, Tim, to be honest. Most people who have been on the site for a few years have a very good idea of what will and won’t make it to an FPI just by looking. Personally, I think I’m pretty good at spotting images that will make it to the front page. They stand out in quality above the norm, show inspiration or uniqueness, and have a thumbnail that acts like clickbait, begging the viewer to click on it. In brief.

What he said! I think a lot of people underestimate the importance of the thumbnail, it's no good having a wonderful image if no-one is tempted to look at it.

Tim Pile said

This is meant as a genuine question, what do you think the “brief” is that the images have to meet to be considered for an FPI?

One cluster of appearances is illustrated rather well here

https://purpleport.com/portfolio/timpile/fpis/

;)

MidgePhoto said

Tim Pile said

This is meant as a genuine question, what do you think the “brief” is that the images have to meet to be considered for an FPI?

One cluster of appearances is illustrated rather well here

https://purpleport.com/portfolio/timpile/fpis/

;)

Touché my friend 😀

I was wondering whether FPI pickers are actually given any written guidance over what to pick, or whether it’s the old “you will know one when you see one” sort of thing?

I can never guess which ones of mine will get one, so I don’t think I would make a good picker myself!

I sometimes play a game on seeing an image that I find interesting from a photographer I haven't previously been aware of and on that one viewing, decide whether they have none. some or a lot of FPIs

I am surprised by how often I am right.

But sometimes I see a portfolio that I think is terrific and there will be no FPIs nor much attention either.

Today's FPIs are a good example. All roughly the same style and aesthetic and one of the models is an FPI regular.

Just some diversity of styles and models would be nice.

JME Studios said

Today's FPIs are a good example. All roughly the same style and aesthetic and one of the models is an FPI regular.

I agree, but a couple of days ago they were all different. It's just luck of the draw.

Edited by Gothic Image

JPea said

I sometimes play a game on seeing an image that I find interesting from a photographer I haven't previously been aware of and on that one viewing, decide whether they have none. some or a lot of FPIs

I am surprised by how often I am right.

But sometimes I see a portfolio that I think is terrific and there will be no FPIs nor much attention either.

I do the same thing, and am also right virtually all of the time.

If I see a portfolio that I feel has fewer FPIs than it deserves I will usually suggest one or more images, and I’ve been pleased when shortly after they have received an FPI. So it does appear that the pickers do look through the suggested list.

JPea said

I sometimes play a game on seeing an image that I find interesting from a photographer I haven't previously been aware of and on that one viewing, decide whether they have none. some or a lot of FPIs

I am surprised by how often I am right.

But sometimes I see a portfolio that I think is terrific and there will be no FPIs nor much attention either

 If you have not seen them before, I'd suggest there is a low probability they have many FPIs. 

However there are people who have posted plenty, some which look FPI standard and have never got much traction; you will see people with good work, few followers, few if any FPIs, and they can't get into double figures for loves; some (young, female, conventionally attractive) models have male members queuing up to love anything they post and could get 50 loves for a blank frame.   

CalmNudes said

JPea said

I sometimes play a game on seeing an image that I find interesting from a photographer I haven't previously been aware of and on that one viewing, decide whether they have none. some or a lot of FPIs

I am surprised by how often I am right.

But sometimes I see a portfolio that I think is terrific and there will be no FPIs nor much attention either

 If you have not seen them before, I'd suggest there is a low probability they have many FPIs. 

However there are people who have posted plenty, some which look FPI standard and have never got much traction; you will see people with good work, few followers, few if any FPIs, and they can't get into double figures for loves; some (young, female, conventionally attractive) models have male members queuing up to love anything they post and could get 50 loves for a blank frame.   

 

I’d definitely agree with that, I see some very ordinary, even poor, images of some models with a huge number of likes and fawning comments, but that’s not really unexpected!

We need a “hidden gems” group where you can showcase underrated photographers and models you come across. Maybe the site could showcase one such creative every week to get them more support.

MaristarOxley said

Simon Pole

I wish people would stop trashing IG. If you don't use it properly, it will feed you trash. It's been the sole platform that works for me and it's where you meet people across the board for the type of modelling that I do, as well as meeting ( yes, physically meeting) some incredible artists, musicians, tattoo artists, casting directors.

I couldn't possibly meet those in PP. PP is a different platform.

It is OK not to like something it is not compulsory to like something because someone else loves it, one person's junk is another person's treasure. ;) 

I used to love Insta, and now I think it is just a junk fest, that's how social media works, it targets you to make the most money it can from it's users, it is a business tool, now, just like Fb and Youtube etc. 
I'm not trashing it, it is merely how I feel about it. Many people love it, but I don't. 

Tim Pile said

CalmNudes said

JPea said

I sometimes play a game on seeing an image that I find interesting from a photographer I haven't previously been aware of and on that one viewing, decide whether they have none. some or a lot of FPIs

I am surprised by how often I am right.

But sometimes I see a portfolio that I think is terrific and there will be no FPIs nor much attention either

 If you have not seen them before, I'd suggest there is a low probability they have many FPIs. 

However there are people who have posted plenty, some which look FPI standard and have never got much traction; you will see people with good work, few followers, few if any FPIs, and they can't get into double figures for loves; some (young, female, conventionally attractive) models have male members queuing up to love anything they post and could get 50 loves for a blank frame.   

 

I’d definitely agree with that, I see some very ordinary, even poor, images of some models with a huge number of likes and fawning comments, but that’s not really unexpected!

We need a “hidden gems” group where you can showcase underrated photographers and models you come across. Maybe the site could showcase one such creative every week to get them more support.

It would be easy enough to do that. I have a collection "The 1%" which are pictures that when I see them I think are great even if they're not always front-page-suitable, they're front page calibre. I have a private collection "notes" which are pictures I want to crib things from, and the public "inspiring images". It would be great if we had a way to say "This persons such-and-such collection is a great collection to view / be in".  I've suggested that but it's never gone anywhere - collections are a way that someone can show their ability as a curator rather than creator.  I can see a problem with the site trying to pick people who seem to have been passed over by the site but a curator of the day would be a good thing IMHO. 

Tim Pile said

...

We need a “hidden gems” group where you can showcase underrated photographers and models you come across. Maybe the site could showcase one such creative every week to get them more support.

We have the blog, which we promote on PP and all of our social media, and there are scheduled interviews weekly into March 2025. We do a lot to highlight great work through image collection blog posts, but there is only so much we can do to highlight people who do very little to promote themselves.

Making a share-a-shoot is trivially easy using image manager, and contacting Penelope - The Purple Blog & Social Media to be interviewed about their amazing work takes moments.

I love the idea of the community creating a new group and linking to the hidden gems they see. I think it would be wonderful.

Simon Pole said

MaristarOxley said

Simon Pole

I wish people would stop trashing IG. If you don't use it properly, it will feed you trash. It's been the sole platform that works for me and it's where you meet people across the board for the type of modelling that I do, as well as meeting ( yes, physically meeting) some incredible artists, musicians, tattoo artists, casting directors.

I couldn't possibly meet those in PP. PP is a different platform.

It is OK not to like something it is not compulsory to like something because someone else loves it, one person's junk is another person's treasure. ;) 

I used to love Insta, and now I think it is just a junk fest, that's how social media works, it targets you to make the most money it can from it's users, it is a business tool, now, just like Fb and Youtube etc. 
I'm not trashing it, it is merely how I feel about it. Many people love it, but I don't. 

I think this is something that most people don't get about any platform that exists to sell eyeballs to advertisers, facebook, IG, Twitter/X (not bluesky yet, but it's bound to come). They show you the stuff that will keep you on the site. Not necessarily what you like - twitter found that actually making people angry and post about how stupid other people were was a good way of keeping their attention and selling more ads. If in doubt show people stuff that gets a reaction from other people - the best way to get extra views is to already be getting a lot of views.  Bluesky learned quite quickly what my work account is interested in and shows me stuff I want to see. IG has got me a ton of people who click like or follow WAY too easily and shows me a strange mix of women writhing around in sexual way (but with their nipples covered), otters whales and other sea life, and adverts for electric cars and "try to make a claim against car makers" schemes. And it know I will coo over the otters long enough to count as a view for a get rich by suing ad. Like most purveyors of junk they've worked out how to people coming back - getting clicks from lovers of junk on the one hand is something we should hate ourselves for on the other keeps us coming back and supplying free content for Mr Zuckerberg to show people between the ads.