Sharing our work is a big part of being a photographer.

But most photographs on social media exist for just a few short minutes (if that). They appear briefly in somebody’s feed, collect a handful of likes, then disappear beneath an endless stream of newer content.

Despite its incredibly short lifespan, social media can have a profound influence on the photographs we choose to create. It subtly shapes what we shoot, how we compose, and how we edit. Even what we consider worth photographing in the first place.

The problem is that while other people may only glance at our photographs for a few seconds, we often live with them for years. And if those photographs were created primarily to impress other people, they can eventually start to feel strangely superficial.

Develop Your Own Taste

If we want our work to feel more meaningful — more personal — we first need to understand what we like.

Not what is popular, or most likely to gain attention, but the sort of photographs that resonate with us most deeply.

Taste is a very personal thing. Progress as a photographer comes from developing a clearer understanding of what makes a good photograph. This is, of course, entirely subjective.

What separates great photographers from the rest of us is often not technical ability, but vision. They’ve taken the time to develop a strong sense of what they are drawn to, and can recognise a meaningful photograph when they see one.

This begs the question: How do you develop taste?

Be Open To Inspiration

Really, the only way to develop taste is to expose yourself to the work of others.

This is one reason social media can sometimes be creatively limiting. It tends to reward what is popular and immediately eye-catching, rather than what is meaningful. The two are not necessarily the same.

For that reason, I rely heavily on books. Masters of Landscape Photography has become something of a bible. Featuring examples from 16 leading landscape photographers, it showcases a wide variety of styles and approaches.

The Great LIFE Photographers is another favourite, introducing the work of photographers outside the landscape genre, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and Larry Burrows.

But inspiration should not become imitation. The goal is not to copy the work of others directly, but to develop a clearer understanding of what resonates with you personally.

Trust Your Instincts

It’s not just validation we need to be careful of.

Much photographic feedback is shaped by personal taste. And if we rely too heavily on the opinions of others, we risk creating work that reflects their vision rather than our own.

Of course, feedback can be extremely valuable. But sometimes, the photographs that resonate with us most deeply are the very ones other people understand the least.

Part of developing an authentic voice is learning to trust your own instincts.

Creating more authentic work is not just creatively liberating, but also far more rewarding.

Every day, social media algorithms overlook some of the very best photographs, favouring those that immediately grab attention, but ultimately lack the depth that gives an image lasting meaning.

Photography is a vehicle for self-expression. Therefore, our ultimate goal should be to create work that speaks to us before we worry about how it might be received by others.

In that respect, authenticity trumps popularity every time.