Let's really be honest here, Facebook and Instagram have changed the rules enough times now that it's driven most of the fun out of the social media platforms and it's long been time for a change. Instagram used to be great for photographers but has since become an almost pointless endeavor for anyone that doesn't already have 100,000 followers or more.
We could probably speculate for hours as to the reasons behind many of the changes that the Facebook overlords have made to both platforms, but the reality is that neither Facebook or Instagram is a very business-friendly (or photographer-friendly) environment anymore. At the start, business profiles on Instagram seemed like a great idea and came with lots of supposedly neat tools and analytics for businesses. But now the algorithms seem to be skewed against those working hard to cultivate a solid, reactive audience. This topic seems to come up often enough, both in social media circles, here on Fstoppers, and even us as Fstoppers Staff have been discussing the merits of using Instagram anymore because it feels like engagement across the board is dropping off for most people that aren't willing to fork over massive amounts of money to Facebook.
A sample screenshot of how images are viewed within the app. Images are displayed full screen, with the option of tapping to pull up image and author information as well as any comments on the image.
Realistically, Instagram has every right to engineer their app however they want, but it's impossible to deny that the user experience just isn't what it used to be. The number of sponsored posts is rocketing up and the number of engagements from actual fans is dropping dramatically as users are pushed to sponsor more and more of their own posts just so people will see them. The frustration that many users feel towards Instagram is precisely the reason why Dayflash came into being. They have built a social media experience that encourages users to share and engage freely without worrying about having to convert profiles to 'business' profiles or sponsor their own posts.
In a nutshell, Dayflash is a place where shared photos and videos take the spotlight, literally, since each post is designed to be seen full screen. It's not about promotion or paid engagement as neither followers or post engagements can be bought. The only way images make their way into public popularity is simply by producing and sharing high quality and visually engaging imagery. Dayflash sent me an invitation to join back when they were first launching and I've been a user ever since. Gaining a following is done through hard work and consistency, the way it used to work on Instagram back when Instagram was fun.
At this point in my career and social media presence, I can honestly say that I spend more time on Dayflash than I do on Instagram. I am tired of trying to cultivate an audience within the Facebook realm and I really appreciate the simplicity of the user experience on Dayflash. At some point, I will probably drop my Instagram altogether as interaction with Dayflash picks up. Right now, the app is only available on the Apple App Store, but according to the company an Android version is in process to be released in the future. If you have grown tired of the games and ever changing rules of Instagram, it might be worth your time to try another option that is growing in popularity with each day. You can learn more about the app from the Dayflash website and can download it onto Apple devices through the App Store.
Thanks for the suggestion Daris, I'll share this with the tech team.
It's always good to see new apps coming to market. It baffles me, though, why IOS would be the focus initially as OS user base is dwarfed by Android. From a business perspective it seems that it makes more sense to begin with the largest user base.
Hi Rupali,
If you are serious about overthrowing IG then waiting and developing apps for both platforms would have been the prudent thing to do. If its only another sharing app that you are interested in creating then just stick with iOS, otherwise you are marginalizing a good part of the community you are trying to establish. I do wish you the best!.
Thank you for your kind words. We definitely plan to release an Android version in the near future. It's one of our top priorities. Feel free to sign up on the following typeform to receive an email invite to join Dayflash when the Android version is available: https://dayflash.typeform.com/to/N902E8 Thank you again!
Depending on what your shooting and who its for, the main problem with moving away from IG to a service that is great for photographers to show their work is that the only people seeing it are photographers. If you want your work to be seen by non-photographer possible clients then it doesn't matter how much better the new service is, you need to be where your possible clients can find you.
Hi Rob, I'm one of the co-creators of Dayflash, and appreciate your feedback. There are many different types of users on Dayflash today—not just photographers. The users on Dayflash today are many who value being visually inspired or entertained by a community of people who share their world through photos and short-videos. If you get a chance to check out the app, you'll see many different people sharing across different interests, such as music, photography, fashion, beauty, fitness, dance, illustration, food, art, travel, pets, etc. Feel free to check it out, and by the way, we plan to release an Android version in the near future. It's one of our top priorities. Thanks again for your feedback!
Not good enough, not when you are trying to be exclusive and for iPhone only.
As stated many times, Android is on the way.
It's not even optimised for iPhone X, I have huge black bars top and bottom... So I deleted it (after remembering the Vero fiasco anyway, I don't believe any such app has a chance unless Instagram simply disappears).
These android folks just don’t understand the differences of building an app for an iPhone (just about 1 and done) vs Android (20 different versions of the same app)
I understand the difference, but if you're purporting to build a social media app, then it doesn't really make much sense to release it without including as many people as possible. Having bodies using your service is entire point of social media.
Pffft, what's with being iPhone only? Instagram would never do that. /s
Actually, Instagram was iPhone app only for full 18 months but they really became big when they developed the Android app.
The "/s" means end sarcasm in internet speak ;)
I am not into Internet lingo, good to know. Cheers.
Difference is that IG was a pioneer in the space. You can't realistically hope to draw any significant number of average users away from it at this point without at least matching what they offer. Unless this app can draw a significant number of average users away, all you're doing is engaging in a circle jerk with other photographers who use IOS. We have plenty of sites to do that already whether its 500px, Flickr, or even here.
Hi Michael, I'm one of the co-creators of Dayflash, and appreciate your comment. There are many different types of users on Dayflash today—not just photographers. Dayflash is introducing a new kind of photo & video sharing experience that's aiming to unlock the full potential of public expression & building community. If you get a chance to check out the app, you'll see many different people sharing across different interests, such as music, photography, fashion, beauty, fitness, dance, illustration, food, art, travel, pets, etc. We also have lots of users who enjoy the new style of sharing photos and keeping up with friends and followers. Feel free to check it out. Thanks again for your feedback!
How many users does your platform have?
Sounded great up until I saw it is Apple only. Unfortunate. BTW Rex, I live in St. George too.
Don't worry, Android is on the way.
It's funny to see how those big app that are insta and other oldies have change the way we promote/diffuse our work ... and everybody is running to the next big one .... hopping to have a great place to rise and shine.
I feel so fed up with this ! I've gave up all those false god a while ago. I'm still very happy to show and share my work now and then, mostly toward my "fans" on FB ... but as most of my work is nude based I've also been fed up with the last century censorship every time that there is a shadow of a nipple and get banned for weeks !
So now I'm back on showing my work only on my website and f*** all those false gods that are so time and energy consuming.
The run to be popular was already annoying when we were in college ... now I can't stand it any more at all.
Like few mentioned there was Vero, before that app was a few more that supposed to be next best thing if you fed up with FB or IG. The thing is Mr Zuckerberg literally controls social platform market, if you want to make big god knows how much money you would need to pump in...that i suspect developers of such apps simply doesn't have, weather we like it or not IG is here to stay.
I have to disagree with your understanding of Instagram. IG is actually at a point where you can have a post go viral simply because it’s interesting and people engaged with it. Back in the day you had to be touched by the IG gatekeepers to get anywhere. I think a lot of photographers don’t like that their “quality images” don't get the love they feel they deserves. The truth is we all have image fatigue. A lot of the time good photos just don’t stand out.
I got on dayflash just to check it out. And I plan on posting my work on it. But to me it seems more like the Wild West of Instagram than some kind of Make Instagram Great Again platform. It just seems fast and based around likes and not engenments. I saw a lot of bad photos with a lot of likes. And it seems easy to game. But who cares, I joined just to be an earlyish adopter. Time on the platform is always worth more than we want to admit.
Oh, IG already grates enough.
I agree. It is just like Facebook. It started out as a really nice platform but in the end, my timeline got swamped with commercials. The same is happening with Instagram.
Please help me out regarding some statements in this article that I didn't understand. Why is Instagram "an almost pointless endeavor for anyone that doesn't already have 100,000 followers or more."...and this one...Why does "it feels like engagement across the board is dropping off for most people that aren't willing to fork over massive amounts of money to Facebook."
So, what benefit is there to having many thousands of Instagram followers, other than having many thousands of followers?
Also, are you guys paying massive amounts of money to Facebook for something? What is that all about?
I'm asking sincerely.
Instagram is not pointless. The people who complain about it just have to high of excitation and have not put in the work they need to see results. But it’s a very small percentage of people who feel this way. And most of them are photographers.
Instagram is definitely got to the point that it is pointless and most people have every right to complain! Celebrities and corporations do not have to "put in the work" to see results, and I am very sure they are well protected from the algorithm. Anything popular comes out of the United States of America is totally worthless in the real world.
let's ignore 80+% of the global smart phone market on launch. http://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide
This is just going to be another flash in the pan. At worst it will die and at best, it will become yet another platform where creatives get to enjoy an echo chamber with other like-minded people. The value of social media platforms like IG lies in the fact that regular people use it not just to be "inspired", but as a standard part of their daily interactions. By injecting yourself into that, you become a part of those daily interactions.
We don't need yet another social media platform for creatives to pat each other on the back. We need another social media platform that will capture the imagination of the soccer mom who just bought a new minivan or the tween that wants to post a photo of themselves vaping to their friends. It's only when you capture those users that you platform BEGINS to have any value. Then if you can highlight truly creative works alongside the daily stream of disposable content, THAT'S when you start to bring the type of value that MIGHT take a bite out of Instagram (for creatives). Of course, Instagram will likely just copy whatever successful formula that you have long before you make it to that point just like they did with Snapchat...
For a social media platform to release as IOS only in the current environment is insane. At least make it so that everything can also be done from a web browser or something (maybe it is... I haven't bothered to check)... The social media landscape has matured so much that it would take something incredibly novel to make a dent. From everything I'm reading, this isn't it.
I know that the last time i commented on one of your posts I jokingly told you I hate you (bathwater girl). But I agree with this statement completely. Any platform that caters to creatives getting more exposure needs to consider who they want that exposure to be for.
LOL! #gamergirlbathwater
That was a hilarious story. xD
So I can't upload images to this app which I took with my DSLR or Mirrorless camera and edited on my desktop ?
But the writer acknowledges that "the only way images make their way into public popularity is simply by producing and sharing high quality and visually engaging imagery"
Just how many of us believe that iPhone images are "High Quality" ?!?
Do you seriously not know how to transfer your photos to your iPhone? Unlike most desktop monitors, iPhone screens are all calibrated to be very accurate. So yes, you can get high quality images on iPhones.
Do you seriously think that everybody in this world owns an iPhone ?
Do you not know how to upload to dropbox on your computer , or some other online storage service, and download it to your phone and share from there? Don't bash a company for you being technically challenged. It just makes you look bad, no matter the amount of rage you have within you. Level-up your skills or get of the Internet, guy.
Have you tried doing that on your android phone ? How well did it work for you ?
Never heard of it and was kinda excited to check this out but the fact it's only available on iPhones is disappointing to say the least.
That definitely seems to be a consistent response. I’m sure the developers are taking that feedback and using it appropriately.
Love all Android users being annoyed for being left behind. Get over it. It’s too hard to launch on Android. You have hundreds if not thousands of different devices, and multiple manufacturers to cater for all with their own quirks and design differences and for all that trouble the typical Android user spends far less because the choice to use Android is often one by the wallet. Yeah sure I know there are exceptions - they prove the rule.
For the most part sales are driven by people who earn money and spend it and iOS has an overwhelming market share in this demographic - the demographic that matters for revenue.
Lets support any initiative that diversifies our channels to promote our services. Put all your eggs in one basket and be prepared to be broke. Sure, it's IOS only, but Android will surely follow. I work in software and this is the smart way to do it. Build a MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and see how it used and incrementally update it. Building for every mobile OS at once isn't cost effective for start-ups. Tap one vein, build a strong feature set, move onto the next OS. If you're successful in the first OS, demand will build, and users will be waiting when you launch on their platform. Don't be butthurt they didnt choose your platform first, just listen to the feedback from users on the other OS and see if they like it, if they do, jump on when they come to your platform. Or don't. It really is "All good."
For me the best is
https://ello.co
A site build around Art, with the artist in mind…
Another good one to check out is Pixegram (https://pixegram.com). It's more of a Instagram + Patreon combination.
I've tried the program for several days and uploaded some 30 photos. I love how the images are displayed huge on the screen and you can also have the option to fill the whole screen (with some border cropping) or full size for the images.
However, the biggest problem I have is, colours for some of my photographs became desaturated after upload and look dull. Why is that?
It could be your color profile. Should be "sRGB".
They fixed it. Now my horizontal shots are as vibrant as my vertical ones! Thanks Dayflash.
I think I'm leaving this site... it's all paid infomercial content instead of real photography news. This is clearly a paid ad in disguise as "news" for a social media platform that NOBODY has heard about that's only on iPhones. LOL! ALSO, this ap is not even remotely aimed at REAL photographers. This is aimed at 15 year olds who want to post their lives online. Fstoppers has been really bad about this lately. They must be hurting for cash.
No android version exists, EPIC FAIL!
PLEASE let this happen, I used to really enjoy instagram, more and more people where flowing and loved more people seeing my work! Then boom growth just stopped and hubs, and big account photographers just went more massive and myself and So many amazing photographers I follow just sit in the shadows! got be good at the game not just a creative!! Or my pictures could just be sh*t hahahaha please have a look and say hi !Insta- brownhillphotography.art
They fixed the problems with my desaturated colors when uploading. Great app.