Nostalgia will make fools of us all, and there are many things in life we look back on with fondness that they do not deserve. But if there’s one thing that really, truly was better in the old days, it’s Instagram — if you’re a photographer, at least.
Instagram used to offer an interesting service that may sound foreign to younger readers. Essentially, you would post a photograph, and then people who had elected to subscribe to your photographs (these were known as “followers”) would see it on their feeds. If they liked it, they could give it a like. And so things went.
Okay, fine, I’m being glib, but in the days where Instagram is dominated by algorithmic feeds and obsessed with chasing short-form video content, and parent company Meta is desperate to farm user content to train its AI models, it’s not surprising that photographers are looking for an alternative. I mean, unskippable ads?! Come on.
There are lots of social networks out there vying for your eyeballs and your signup, but which ones are actually worth it for photographers? The different options all have their own pros and cons, so here, we’re going to take a look at the state of play in 2024. What are the main Instagram alternatives, what are their pros and cons, and which ones are worth decamping to? Read on and find out — though if you’re determined to stick it out, see our guide to how to gain followers on Instagram.
Threads
Threads was launched in 2023 as Meta’s Twitter-killer, and for a brief shining moment it looked as though it could be. Following the takeover of Twitter by Elon Musk in late 2022 (more on which shortly), more than a few users started looking for an off-ramp. The desire for a new micro-blogging site was something Meta was eager to accommodate, and development of Threads began in earnest in early 2023. The app launched in July of that year.
We’re now a year out from that launch, and it’s safe to admit that Threads is… fine. Bordering on dull. Meta’s decision to prioritise launch for Instagram influencers meant that the text-based app launched with a pre-built userbase of people who make themselves interesting via pictures. Consequently, in its first few months, Threads was mostly a source of low-effort engagement bait, crushingly dominated by the big accounts who were all posting things like “what’s everyone having for lunch?” Things have improved since, somewhat.
But what about photographers? Well, the Threads interface works well for posting and viewing photos. They can be stacked in slideshows of up to ten just like Instagram, and unlike Instagram, the interface is tolerant of images in variable aspect ratios, so there’s no need for adding those prissy white borders around everything, thank god.
There are “Topics” you can tag your photos with, sort of like hashtags, such as “Film Photographers of Threads”. However, you can’t choose to follow a Topic, meaning you won’t see other images posted there (and others won’t see yours) unless you actively search for it. And how often are you realistically going to do that?
There is some fun photography discussion to be found on Threads. You do have to be willing to tolerate an amount of moaning about the Instagram algorithm and its effect on post reach — this is still rife, though not as bad as a while ago when it seemed to be quite literally the only thing anyone was talking about. Threads may not be tremendously exciting, but it’s not a bad place to start.
Pros:
- Simple, clean interface
- Active photography userbase
Cons:
- Topics can’t be followed, only searched
- It’s a bit dull
X (formerly Twitter)
As you almost certainly know, Twitter was bought and taken over by Elon Musk in late 2022. Since then, the site has mostly oscillated according to Musk’s moods, revolving around things he likes, e.g. AI, cryptocurrency, replying “wow” to right-wing politicians. The reshaping of the blue-tick verification scheme to a paid-for perk, with a corresponding boost in the algorithm, means that every conversation is now dominated by the kinds of people who would pay to get their posts noticed. Bots (the thing Musk claimed to be concerned with stopping) have made the place absolutely endemic with crypto spam and — let’s not mince words — unsolicited explicit pornography. On the whole it’s not great.
And yet! And yet. Like those bacteria that live in radioactive waste, communities on Twitter (now, ugh, X) have endured — including photographers. While the site is markedly worse under Musk’s tenure, it hasn’t undergone the full-scale implosion some were predicting, and there’s plenty of scope for sharing photographs and conversation with like-minded people. The algorithm is nowhere near as punishing as Instagram’s for actually letting your followers see your stuff — there’s even a chronological timeline option.
Pros:
- Still one of the livelier social networks
- Enduring community of photographers
Cons:
- Practically overrun with spam
- A fair few users have abandoned it
Cara
You may not have heard of Cara. Though it launched in December 2022, it has only gained traction somewhat recently, bolstered by the swelling ranks of artists looking for an Instagram alternative. It got to the point where Cara was gaining as many as 600,000 new subscribers in a single week. Cara was founded by Zhang Jingna — herself a photographer — and has attracted some press coverage for its resolute stance against AI-generated art. They don’t condone it, and don’t want it. Indeed, Jingna herself has been involved in the class-action lawsuit against generative AI companies in the US headed by Karla Ortiz, which we recently discussed with British wildlife photographer Tim Flach.
So is Cara good for photographers? Currently, not especially. Despite Jingna’s photography bona fides, the site is currently hugely dominated by illustration, anime art and that kind of thing. However, the platform itself has loads of great features, allowing you to curate a portfolio as well as a chronological timeline to show off the work of which you’re proudest. All Cara really needs to be good for photographers is, well, more photographers. So maybe that’s an ideal excuse to jump in.
Pros:
- Militant anti-AI stance
- Option to create a portfolio on profile
- Fast-growing userbase
Cons:
- Not many photographers (yet)
Tumblr
If you are above or indeed below a certain age, you may not have ever really spared a second thought for Tumblr. This venerable blogging site, based around text and images, has been chugging along for more than a decade and a half, and if you thought it was still just for sharing gifs of Doctor Who and Sherlock, you should know that there is a lot less of that these days.
As Anna Bitanga writes on Petapixel, Tumblr actually has a lot going for it as far as photographers are concerned. There are no enforced aspect ratios on photos, so you can upload whatever you like. Starting your own blog means getting a fully customisable homepage you can really make your own — especially if you know HTML/CSS — which is nicer than a one-size-fits-all Instagram profile. The platform’s venerability means there’s a big userbase out there to discover your stuff; however, as Bitanga notes, your follower count isn’t publicly viewable, so there’s no perceived social pressure to Make Number Go Up.
You can arrange your feed chronologically if you prefer, and not only can you subscribe to tags, but you can also mute ones you don’t want to see. It’s also worth noting that you can set up your Tumblr to automatically cross-post from your Instagram — however, Tumblr’s compression is much kinder. You’re better off just uploading natively.
Pros:
- Highly customisable profiles
- Extensive feed customisability
- Photos look great
Cons:
- Lots of quite “niche” content (make use of those filters!)
Bluesky
Another Twitter alternative, Bluesky drew considerable attention following the Musk takeover, especially given that it was backed by Twitter’s former CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey (he has since departed).
For a long time, this network was invite-only — you needed a code from a pre-existing user to get in, and these were handed out in limited batches. In late 2023, when Twitter felt like it was in an inexorable decline, these codes were clamoured after like spots on the last lifeboat off the Titanic, smuggled around in JPEGs to avoid Musk’s pitiless banhammer. In February 2024, Bluesky finally did away with the invite system and opened up to all users, whereupon the unwashed masses were finally able to see behind the closed doors, and learn that being on Bluesky is: a bit boring.
Okay, that’s mean. Bluesky is fine; it’s basically Threads for people who feel they are too cool for Threads. It’s quiet. Similarly to Threads, you can tag your posts to Feeds — these are user-created topics with names like “Photography”, “Street Photography” or whatever else. However, Bluesky allows you to pin these to your home feed, making them much easier to casually browse. Joining a feed as a contributor is generally just a matter of finding the person who owns it and asking nicely. You can also “like” Feeds with the little heart — I’ve done this a few times now, and I’m honestly not sure what, if anything, it does.
Pros:
- Good customisable Feed options
- Relaxed atmosphere
Cons:
- A bit lifeless
VSCO
The VSCO editing app has been rumbling along since back in 2012, but you may not have been aware that it also has a fairly small but dedicated community of photographers sharing images. These days, it’s one of the best editing apps you can use for mobile photography, with full manual adjustments as well as the classically cool preset filters that are great for giving images a vintage look.
Lauren Scott at TechRadar was full of praise for VSCO’s community features, singling out the “palpable sense of quality over quantity among VSCO users”. There isn’t much in the way of conversation, as the interface doesn’t allow for comments or chat. If Instagram these days feels like being dumped in the middle of the floor in a packed trade expo, VSCO is more like a walk through a quiet gallery space on a Sunday morning, with nothing between you and the art but the sound of your own footsteps.
This minimalist approach won’t be for everyone — and, as Scott notes, you do need to sign up for a premium subscription to get the best out of VSCO. However, this quiet and thoughtful space is ideal for photography purists.
Pros:
- Lovely calm atmosphere
- Brilliant photo editing features on mobile
- Slick, well-made app
Cons:
- May be too no-frills for some
- Paid subscription all but required
About the Author
Jon Stapley is a London-based freelance writer and journalist who covers photography, art and technology. When not writing about cameras, Jon is a keen photographer who captures the world using his Olympus XA2. His creativity extends to works of fiction and other creative writing, all of which can be found on his website www.jonstapley.com
