Getting your images out there once taken can be a complicated affair depending on what you're hoping to achieve. If it's just a simple commission with a client then that's easy, you email them a link (and a password if required) and you're done, they see their images and everyone is happy. It's the other stuff that takes a little more care and attention, especially when you are trying to factor in email marketing and social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook Pages, Twitter, and Instagram. I can be found on all of these by the way, but how do you make the task easier you ask? Well, it's a combination of RSS Feeds, MailChimp and a free app called IFTTT, which stands for If That Then This.

It basically breaks down your online activities (if that) and runs 'Applets' to coincide with your instructions (then this) that you can set up on their website or through an app  on your smartphone.

I've been playing with it for awhile, mainly to help with the distribution of my iPhone pictures from Instagram to Twitter because Twitter in its infinite wisdom stopped the sharing of 3rd party pictures being displayed natively within tweets, to make you use their platform directly basically. I get it, it's a business, it needs users to actually use it, and I did for years, but then I've kind of got bored of it if I'm being honest. However, I'm slowly coming back round it, because I'm trying to build the brand of what I do back up again, and it's a great tool for that.

The First Strategy:

Pictures of 'random stuff' I like the look of or family orientated 'snaps' will go on Instagram and no further. This will take a bit of work, because it means I've to set up a new Applet that looks at my Instagram and if it sees a hashtag in there, for example #twitter, then it needs to be able to cross platform share that and ignore the others that don't have it.

 - Told you this could be complicated.

The Second Strategy:

Any pictures I deem commercially viable for profit will be posted on two separate platforms, the primary being this website through my iPhone Photography section, which in turn will then distribute them to Instagram and Twitter with all the relevant copyright information triggered by and update on the RSS feed from that gallery, those share will contain links to back to source for purchasing (which would be nice). I have some really nice images on there, so there's no reason why someone wouldn't want to buy it. The other platform is a micro stock image resource called Stockimo, which again, if I'm being honest, isn't a massive money maker for me but it never hurts to keep your options open.

So why all the effort?

Automation of processes is what I do. I've been doing this for years for my wedding photography jobs where feedback suggests couples waiting up to 3 months or more with other photographers, just to see their wedding pictures. My couples typically wait 12 to 24 hours depending if I'm back to backing weddings.

With my photography services broadening out into other areas, such as music coverage and press (which I've always done) I felt it was time to expand the automation out to those areas too. There's a great musical culture in Ireland and I want get out there as much as possible to get those images of those artists out there.

As you've probably read in my previous blog, I'm embarking on another service too, the Aerial Photography Business. Much more on that later. But for now, check out my music section, and if you do know of any bands or singers who wouldn't mind getting some new images done (for free), send them my way.