Before Instagram became an entity of Meta, it was a fun platform for photographers to share images in real-time. In fact, the grid format, coupled with capturing mundane moments, is what made Instagram such a hype amidst the visual arts community. Not only does one get a chance to appreciate the works of contemporaries, but it also gives one a chance to easily connect with great masters of the medium. However, things have been dicey since Meta’s takeover, and now it seems that the photography community is ready to return to their old love, Flickr.
Additional reporting has been provided by Chris Gampat.
Is Flickr the New Great Thing of 2025?
I am not making this up or trying to turn content creators against me. I am simply stating a fact that I recently came across on Reddit. On the r/photography thread, a person recently mentioned how they are now ditching Instagram for Flickr. While it may not seem an ideal solution for those who are sucked up in the content creation role, others who are capturing images for the love of the medium are, in fact, very tired of Meta’s way of monetizing Instagram. The joy of sharing images is now overshadowed by varied factors, and Flickr, amidst the constant changes, is like a breath of fresh air. Here’s a look at why you can reconsider Flickr as your go-to platform:
- Algorithms don’t rule the world: Flickr is that one platform where chronological feed allows users to follow those who don’t optimize posts for visibility. This means you will see the works of your favorite photographers without an algorithm disturbing your feed with forceful content.
- A proper platform for photography: While Instagram has lost its way, Flickr still remains a platform for photographers over other forms of visual arts. This means images get priority, and the interface allows you to interact with stills without being distracted by reels or stories.
- Genuine Engagement: Unlike Instagram, which is too dependent on likes and visibility, Flickr is focused on catering to photographers and their needs. The platform is centric on nurturing the imaging community, allowing one to foster good bonds with other photographers and have genuine engagements and conversations. This could also mean you get a chance to highlight photography techniques, creative inspiration, and constructive feedback instead of running for likes and comments to increase reach.
- Revisiting memories: One great feature is that Flickr allows you to rediscover your old world with a simple search, something that Instagram is still unable to match. This means you can easily reflect on how you used to photograph and compare your journey to where you stand today.
If you’re one of the newer photographers who wasn’t shooting when Flickr was in its prime, then you should probably go ahead and take a look. You’ll realize really quickly that it’s somewhere between scrolling through photo books and social media. You should also explore lots of the groups. For example, the Hardcore Street Photography Flickr Group has been ongoing for years and is heavily curated.
Working Against the Attention Economy
Despite Flick being a more refined version of Instagram, many still gravitate toward the latter due to popular opinions. Many still believe that Instagram makes it easy to connect with people, especially when every gallery, curator, brand, or client will check your Instagram profile right after your website. So, I won’t remove the fact that Instagram still has a cultural footprint. However, on Instagram, you’re competing with a lot more than just photographers for attention. And that’s the big problem: it’s based on an attention economy.
Despite the challenges, Flickr offers you a chance to have a more intimate photography space, which can help you to nourish your creativity. While painting your presence on both may be a challenge, it is something you certainly must experiment with. With features like full-resolution image viewing, zoom capabilities, and the ability to keep Exif data intact, you find Flickr to be an easier way to improve your work than chasing people’s opinions who barely spend a few seconds with your photographs.
Instagram is moving away from what made it great, and now Flickr is becoming the very thing that makes it easy for them to rekindle their love with the medium and find support from actual photographers. Perhaps Flickr’s authentic bonds and sense of community can be the perfect solution to any hurdle you face.
