Both, neither, people who make me laugh, people who have something interesting to say, who experiment, make me think, who knows, it not just about the photographs. Or you could just pay people.
Participating in competitions, thread conversations, etc ...i spent a lot of time early on following others with little regard to my followers as I saw it as an opportunity to enjoy the work of others. But then again I spend hours in Art galleries on a regular basis just immersed in the work and my own thoughts.
personality and heart. photos eventually become boring, meh, how many moon shots can you look at. But if the person who posted the moon shot is a dude who sends you a birthday card from the other side of the world on your birthday then you tell them its the best goddam moon shot you ever saw. If you comment loads you the man too.
Basically if you just post amazing pictures and don't do the rounds, you's gonna have no friends.
;(
And use the site/discussion threads to give some love. advice etc. and when you need love and advice back you'll get it because you've earned it. consistency in posts and comments also better than consistency in theme, concept or quality.
After being here a year I'll tell you what I've observed. Those with the most followers might be posting some truly astonishing shots that attract attention (and therefore follows) but I've found they're also generous with their comments and participate in discussions. The rest of us who are learning can also build great follower bases. It takes time to view and comment but it's what builds followers.
If you're going to stick it out for a whole year, I doubt that you'll find the motivation just from seeing great shots every day. You'll get motivation and keep it and weather the rough times and the lost mojo, through the relationships you build on here. It's the comments and the encouragement for the shots you do post, that keep you going. And you get these comments by making your own. I can't keep up with all my followers every day, but I try to comment on the shots of those who follow me, even if it's only a couple of times a week. And if I spot a new person commenting, I go straight to their page and take a look and comment back. It's all about communication and in the end, that's what helps you out the most!
Oh, actually, I can - I am much more likely to follow someone who gives a bit of information about themselves in their profile. I particularly like to know where somebody lives because it often helps to give their photos context.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
Basically if you just post amazing pictures and don't do the rounds, you's gonna have no friends.
;(
And use the site/discussion threads to give some love. advice etc. and when you need love and advice back you'll get it because you've earned it. consistency in posts and comments also better than consistency in theme, concept or quality.
IMHO
If you're going to stick it out for a whole year, I doubt that you'll find the motivation just from seeing great shots every day. You'll get motivation and keep it and weather the rough times and the lost mojo, through the relationships you build on here. It's the comments and the encouragement for the shots you do post, that keep you going. And you get these comments by making your own. I can't keep up with all my followers every day, but I try to comment on the shots of those who follow me, even if it's only a couple of times a week. And if I spot a new person commenting, I go straight to their page and take a look and comment back. It's all about communication and in the end, that's what helps you out the most!