Why You Shouldn’t Post on Instagram

Why You Shouldn’t Post on Instagram: nShoot for Yourself

I had a conversation recently with another photographer that got me thinking. He said whenever he takes a photo, the first thing he asks himself is, “Will this look good on Instagram?”

And I get it. I’ve done the same. But the more I think about it, the more I realise that mindset flattens creativity. If your goal is likes, you’re not taking photos for you you’re taking them for an algorithm. That’s the problem.

In this post, I want to break down:

Why chasing Instagram likes can mess with your creativity
What it does to your enjoyment of photography
Some better places to share your work
And the one question you should always ask yourself before pressing the shutter

Instagram Isn’t Evil But It Can Be Limiting

Let’s be clear Instagram still has some value. I’ve met people through it. I’ve got feedback, made friends, and even landed paid work. But it comes with strings.

It rewards fast content, not thoughtful work. It pushes reels over stills. And it trains your brain to seek validation likes, shares, follows instead of creative satisfaction.

Before long, you’re shooting what’s “Instagrammable”, not what matters to you.

Travel Photography Is the Worst for This

A perfect example? My trip to Madeira.

There’s a spot there called the Stairway to Heaven. You’ve seen it. Everyone’s posted it. I went too. And while it was cool, it wasn’t the best part of the trip.

It was rammed with people. Everyone was lining up to take the same shot. I didn’t even bother taking the photo I didn’t feel like I’d be adding anything to it.

My favourite images from that trip came from wandering around quieter parts of the island. City streets. Markets. Back alleys. Photos that didn’t scream for likes but felt honest to me.

When Likes Don’t Come, Self-Doubt Creeps In

We’ve all been there. You post something you love. It gets ignored. And suddenly you’re doubting yourself.

Why didn’t this do well? Was the composition off? Should I have edited it more?

It’s exhausting. And it’s worse now because Instagram doesn’t even care about photos anymore. It’s all about video.

So if you’re a stills photographer especially street, documentary, or travel you’re fighting an uphill battle on a platform that’s moved on.

Use Instagram, But Don’t Let It Use You

This isn’t about deleting your account. It’s about setting boundaries.

You’re allowed to share work. But you don’t have to share everything. You don’t have to shape your whole process around what’ll “perform”.

Shoot what you want to shoot. Post when you feel like it. Keep control.

Better Alternatives to Instagram for Photographers

If you’re frustrated with Instagram but still want to share your work, here are a few things that actually help:

Print your work — Seeing your images in print changes how you shoot. It makes them feel finished. Tangible. Worth keeping.
Start a blog or personal site — I’ve got a whole video about how to do this. It’s great for building a portfolio, getting hired, or just curating work in your own space.
Try platforms like Glass or VERO — Smaller, photography-focused communities. Not huge, but far more thoughtful.
Enter photo contests — Real-world recognition is a lot more satisfying than 100 likes.
Share work with friends, family, or peers directly — Not everything needs to be public.