Flickr community seems to get stronger again – have you noticed it too? I recently started seeing blog posts and videos from photographers rediscovering the joy of the OG photo-sharing platform. Flickr itself has introduced a new Discover page, helping you find groups and communities, not just inspiring photos.
In addition, in July 2025, I’ll be celebrating 16 years on Flickr. In that time, I’ve seen it flourish, struggle, and now, as it seems, find its way back. So, I’d like to dedicate an article to my all-time favorite platform, explore whether it’s relevant again, and offer my two cents on why you should (re)join Flickr.
The Golden Era: When Flickr Ruled the Photography World
I first discovered Flickr in 2009, when I was just starting out. I had a Samsung point-and-shoot camera, and I would wander around the city snapping everything and anything. When I discovered Flickr, it quickly became more than just a place to post photos. It was where discovered great photographers and photo groups, all of which fueled my inspiration. We helped each other with feedback and constructive criticism, there were many in-group contests, and loads of amazing photographers from all over the world to learn from.
In my personal experience, Flick community was one of the most valuable parts of this platform. Not only did I exchange comments and feedback with other photographers, I met many of them in person. Some of those meetups extended into friendships, and a few of them remain strong to this very day.
The Downfall: Corporate Buyouts and Shifting Trends
When I joined Flickr, it was already a part of Yahoo! Perhaps you remember it as well – at that time, it was mandatory to log in with a Yahoo! account. I already had one, so I didn’t see it as an issue (although it objectively was pretty inconvenient). Anyhow, with time, I saw Flickr slowly sinking. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it felt like it was fading into obscurity. People left for other platforms and engagement dropped significantly. My Flickr community got scattered everywhere, especially Instagram, which took over the spotlight. I myself got more and more immersed in my issues and “adulting,” slowly turning away from Flickr myself.
In June 2017, Verizon acquired Flickr as part of its $4.48 billion acquisition of Yahoo! However, Verizon wasn’t specifically interested in Flickr, and it showed. It was merely a part of a much larger deal where Verizon bought Yahoo’s entire internet business, including other platforms like Tumblr and Yahoo Mail.
After the acquisition, Verizon merged Yahoo and AOL (which it had bought earlier) into a new company called Oath. Unfortunately, Flickr didn’t receive much attention or investment under Verizon’s ownership. The focus was on advertising and content rather than revitalizing older platforms.
For photographers, this was a time when many of us were trying to find THE platform to share our work and connect with others. As for the Flickr community during this time, I feel like it was non-existent. Many of my connections deleted their accounts, permanently migrating to Instagram or places like 500px. The latter turned out not to be that great, though. And we all know what Instagram turned into with time. I never left Flickr, though, regardless of how rarely I posted anything or engaged with the community.
2018: SmugMug to the Rescue
In 2018, a ray of sunshine shone upon our beloved platform. SmugMug bought Flickr from Verizon, and lots of new features and rules came with it. One of the most significant changes was the shift toward a sustainable, subscription-based model. In 2019, SmugMug announced that free accounts would be limited to 1,000 photos. Previously, users had 1TB of free storage, and let me tell you – it was all but sharing their best work. Flickr turned into a public storage of your vacation snaps and some, *cough* other types of private photographs.
Although SmugMug’s move caused some frowns, I feel that it encouraged more people to switch to Flickr Pro. The paid membership offers unlimited storage, advanced stats, better customer support, and some other perks. SmugMug’s goal was to make Flickr less dependent on ads and avoid the mismanagement it faced under Yahoo and Verizon. I personally liked the changes, and I even tested the Pro account for a year. I plan to return to it once I’m near 1,000 images.
So, why Is Flickr Relevant Again?
As I mentioned, it seems that photographers are returning to Flickr. Old users are posting again, and new photographers turn to it as a go-to platform to share their work. I believe there are several reasons for this. First, there’s frustration with Instagram’s algorithm. Not only does it favor Reels, but it also makes it impossible to reach your audience organically.
As I mentioned, 500px turned out to be a bit problematic, in more than one aspect. Platforms like 1x or Behance are decent, in my opinion, but they lacked one thing that Flickr had: meaningful connections. I think we all crave a community and a platform that values photography for photography’s sake: and Flickr offers both (again).
The Future of Flickr and its Community: Possible Improvements
Now that Flickr is gaining momentum again, the question is: how to keep it? The platform needs to evolve while staying true to its identity as a dedicated place for photographers. One key area for improvement is attracting new and/or younger users. Many emerging photographers have never used Flickr, so making the platform more appealing to them is crucial. A crucial step towards this is a better mobile experience. The mobile app still feels outdated and lacks some features (like messaging, which is available on the browser version). Improving the app’s speed, usability, and design would help drive engagement to Flickr overall.
Artificial intelligence could also play a role in Flickr’s future. I mean, it’s apparently here to stay. However, I’d thread lightly there and implement it thoughtfully. AI could help with smarter photo discovery, or discovering Flickr communities relevant to each user. It could also be useful for improved search and tagging features. But turning Flickr into an AI image-sharing site… I really hope we’ll avoid this.
Flickr’s community has always been its biggest strength, and strengthening this aspect could further boost engagement. Highlighting new and emerging photographers and improving group features is one way to go. I’d also really love to see the real-world meetups and photo walks again! I believe it could make the platform more dynamic and interactive. And I hope people still find it useful and fun.
Final Word
Ultimately, Flickr must resist the temptation to become just another Instagram. Instead of chasing trends, it should continue to prioritize high-quality images, meaningful interactions, and photographer ownership rights. It’s a tough balance to strike, but since it’s under SmugMug, I have faith that my favorite platform is on its way to regain its old glory. It seems to be turning into the place to be again, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Do you think Flickr is truly making a comeback, or is it just nostalgia? Either way, I know I’m sticking around. What about you?
