I think that the one thing people hope for when they send some type of feedback to a person or business, or do something such as comment on a post, is that there will eventually be eyes reading and digesting what they wrote. I know I sure hope for that when I comment on something … I mean, why even comment if no one is even going to read what we wrote? Just the thought that someone looked at it is enough to satisfy most people … and if we’re lucky, we get a reply.

As someone who prolifically posts photos and articles online, writes books, and also stays connected with the community through social media, I make a very concerted effort to read every comment that is directed at me or one of my posts here on my blog, Google+, Facebook, YouTube, etc. I’m sure I’ve missed a few, and some have been lost in the shuffle, but for the most part I do read every single one. It’s not too difficult, really, and it’s not like I get hundreds of them every day, so it’s definitely not a chore. With a combination of Gmail filters and notifications, it’s actually quite easy to stay in the loop.

Now, just because I read every comment doesn’t mean I reply to all of them. However, if I am asked a direct and relevant question (and one that wasn’t already answered in my post) then I almost always reply. I guess I just feel it’s important to stay connected to the people I’m reaching out to, as well as portray a sense of personalization with me and my work. My passion is not just photography, but it’s also about teaching others how to be better photographers, artists and visionaries. Having a dialogue and conversation about something is much more preferable way to communicate than having all of the information come from one direction. Social media and sharing is not a one-way-street … I give, you give, I give back, etc.

So, yeah, I just wanted to set that straight. Leave a comment, here or anywhere else I post, and I promise I’ll read it.

I think that the one thing people hope for when they send some type of feedback to a person or business, or do something such as comment on a post, is that there will eventually be eyes reading and digesting what they wrote. I know I sure hope for that when I comment on something … I mean, why even comment if no one is even going to read what we wrote? Just the thought that someone looked at it is enough to satisfy most people … and if we’re lucky, we get a reply.

As someone who prolifically posts photos and articles online, writes books, and also stays connected with the community through social media, I make a very concerted effort to read every comment that is directed at me or one of my posts here on my blog, Google+, Facebook, YouTube, etc. I’m sure I’ve missed a few, and some have been lost in the shuffle, but for the most part I do read every single one. It’s not too difficult, really, and it’s not like I get hundreds of them every day, so it’s definitely not a chore. With a combination of Gmail filters and notifications, it’s actually quite easy to stay in the loop.

Now, just because I read every comment doesn’t mean I reply to all of them. However, if I am asked a direct and relevant question (and one that wasn’t already answered in my post) then I almost always reply. I guess I just feel it’s important to stay connected to the people I’m reaching out to, as well as portray a sense of personalization with me and my work. My passion is not just photography, but it’s also about teaching others how to be better photographers, artists and visionaries. Having a dialogue and conversation about something is much more preferable way to communicate than having all of the information come from one direction. Social media and sharing is not a one-way-street … I give, you give, I give back, etc.

So, yeah, I just wanted to set that straight. Leave a comment, here or anywhere else I post, and I promise I’ll read it.

Stay in touch

Stay in touch and get the latest updates by subscribing to my newsletter below:

Nicolesy Newsletter: Homepage Form

Nicole is a photographer, published author, and educator specializing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and photography. She is best known for her books on food photography but is widely versed in various photographic genres, including landscape, nature, stock, travel, and experimental imagery.

6 Comments

  1. Erika Thornes June 23, 2013 at 10:47 pm - Reply

    That is why you are successful. You get people who adore what you do, and feel comfortable talking with you. It is important.

  2. barbara walker June 24, 2013 at 12:29 pm - Reply

    I love your work and am amazed at how organized you are with all the social media. Do you worry about photos being stolen from social media sites?
    I would like to post my work on Flickr, Pinterest, Google+ as well as make my Instagram public but am unsure about how secure they would be on these sites. Thanks for your help.
    Barbara

    • Nicole S. Young June 26, 2013 at 6:56 pm - Reply

      I don’t worry about it too much. I register my work quarterly with the US Copyright Office, so anything legitimately stolen can be prosecuted properly (which I haven’t had to do, yet). I don’t sweat the small stuff, not that I give people permission, but I just don’t waste my time with the worry. :) Plus, I’d rather share my work than keep it hidden, and I’ve had a lot of cool opportunities because people were able to find me and see my work online.

      Trey Ratcliff actually had a post on his blog about something like this recently: http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2013/06/25/why-i-dont-use-watermarks/

  3. Andrea Cimatti June 28, 2013 at 2:14 pm - Reply

    Just curious, but why did you choose this photo for this post? The focus is just prefect!

    • Nicole S. Young June 28, 2013 at 8:23 pm - Reply

      Thanks! No real reason for using it, just wanted to add a photo with it I guess :)

      • Andrea Cimatti June 29, 2013 at 1:33 pm - Reply

        I think that no real reason is the absolute best reason! Came back ’cause the photo is just amazing. Had to show it to my eleven year old son.

Leave A Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.