I am an ANTI-'SOCIAL' photographer

sthompsonnz
Oct 8, 2024
2 min read

I used to have 3000 followers on Facebook.

Does that make you think of me differently?

Today's mad world seems to believe that we will only be deemed "successful" if we see lots of people following our social media pages, or collecting digital 'smiley face' stamps.

The world is too noisy for this wee poppit.

To me, social media is another grabbing noise that takes me away from where I am and what I really love.

For me, existing away from it—more often than not—is how I stay feel better in life.

In todays' mad world it might not be the conventional path, but I'm not conventional, I never have been, never will be. As a photographer it’s expected that I should constantly post my work, engage with followers, and showcase my latest shoots to feed the algorithm. This is just not for me.

I don't want to be tied to my phone,

I want to forget where it is,

I don't need to read comments,

I want to spend time reading faces and books,

I don't need little dopamine distractors,

I want snuggled up talks with friends on my couch,

I want to create my way.

I want to just do the good stuff,

not the 'should' stuff when it comes to work.

To me, this choice isn’t about strategy or trying to outsmart the "system" it's just more aligned with my values and keeps me true to who I am as a photographer (and human). —it’s about preserving the things that matter most: human connection, quiet reflection, and a slower, more meaningful way of working.

Some might call it unwise or counterintuitive, but for me, it’s a matter of ethos.

A Revolution in Honest Photography

My approach to photography comes from the way I experience the world, it's also my personal revolution. My desire to bring more human-ness and authenticity into a world filled full with filtered fake masks (try saying that fast!).

I want my work to show real life. The marvelous mundane moments. The full expression of existence, the gladness, the sadness and the madness of life.

Trusting the Right Clients to Find Me

I don't need for constant online validation or attention. The people who appreciate my work will find their way to me, not because I’m constantly showing up in their feeds, but because they’re seeking something genuine and may have found out about me through word of mouth, or Google search.

My art, my terms

In a world where everything feels fleeting and instant, I choose depth over reach. Connection over clicks and discussions over distractions.

For me, photography is about creating something meaningful from something meaningful, not something that is consumed and forgotten in a matter of seconds, save that for TikTok.