back to top

How to Get Your Photography Noticed (10 Methods That Work)

Last updated: March 13, 2024 - 8 min read
ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little money. Need more info? See how it all works here.
Subscribe Below to Download the Article Immediately

You can also select your interests for free access to our premium training:

Your privacy is safe! We will never share your information.

If you’re a photographer, then you know that getting your work noticed is essential to building a successful career. In this article, we’ll discuss 10 methods that are sure to get your photography noticed. So if you’re looking for ways to promote your work, keep reading!

Get Your Photography Noticed: Make Sure It’s Ready to Share

A lot of people rush getting their work out there even when they’re not ready yet. Remember that you need to have good images if you want to get noticed. Otherwise, viewers will just ignore them.
Of course, it doesn’t mean you have to create National Geographic quality photos all the time. The truth is that even simple images can get a lot of recognition.
What’s crucial is how you present your subject in the picture. Is the composition precise? Does the light illuminate your shot the way you want it? Does the photograph have a lot of visual interest?
If so, then don’t hesitate to share your work with the public.
A breathtaking mountainous landscape photography shot

Experiment with Photo Projects to Get Noticed

If you think outside of the box with your work, you increase your chances of getting noticed.
Try doing photo projects and share them on websites such as PetaPixelGizmondoSLRLounge, and of course, Expert Photography. You can discuss any topics from doing a hidden camera mirror photo, or even making a DIY softbox.
Apart from showing people exciting photos, you also get to show them your skills as a photographer. Teach people how to take pictures in the most creative ways and make them see you as an expert in the field.
Remember that when you share your work online, your name will also be in the byline of the articles. That means people can learn more about your work. It’s a great way to add followers to your social media and even gain new clients!

Printed images on a table
Photo by Pineapple Supply Co. from Pexels

Run a Photography Blog to Build Your Online Presence

Do you want to get noticed more online? Then you should do some photography promotion via your photography blog.
With so many blogs out there, why should you consider making one? The main reason is that the more articles you publish, the more likely people will find you online.
If you discuss interesting blog topics, your articles will show up a lot on Google and other search websites. In turn, more people will end up discovering your website and your work.
It doesn’t need to be an all-encompassing photography blog that takes up all your time. It’s enough to share a few simple tutorials or even behind-the-scenes snapshots. As long as you think people can benefit from what you have to say, then it’s worth sharing.
It may be hard to believe, but Expert Photography started as a simple blog a few years ago. By adding quality articles online, we began to gain traction and are now one of the most successful photography websites.
Do you want to learn how to promote photography business via blogging? Let us show you how to do it here.
A grid of live concert photography shots

Enter Photography Contests to Gain Recognition

Joining a photo contest is one of the surefire ways to get noticed. You can see a whole range of competitions here, and receive an update every time a new one starts.
There are so many contests out there that it’s challenging to choose which ones to consider. To help narrow down your options, always go for the ones that fit your speciality. So don’t enter a wildlife photography contest if your expertise lies in portraiture.
Make sure to read the terms and conditions before entering. Some competitions may state that they have the right to use your photo, where and whenever they choose, without any kind of reimbursement.
If you find these terms unacceptable, then don’t enter the contest. There are always others out there that offer better deals for you as a contestant.
Remember that even if you have the best photos, it doesn’t mean that you’ll win every time. So just be patient. If your work is noteworthy, the judges will notice it. You’ll get the recognition you deserve even if it takes some time.
It is worth a shot submitting your images through contest hosting sites like Picter, LensCulture and Life Framer!
Close up of a man looking through a DSLR camera and taking a photo of a flower

Get Your Photos Published to Attract Clients

Do you ever wonder how to get your photos published? There are so many ways to do it.
The first option is to submit your work online to websites. There are plenty of choices out there that cater to your type of photography.
If you’re into artistic pictures, then you should try My Modern Met or Juxtapoz. If you’re into adventure sports, then Outside Magazine is a great choice.
Take a look at these twelve magazines that are looking for your work right now.
Now, how about if you want to start a career where you live? Then consider looking at local newspapers and magazines.
You can take photos to local papers and start to earn money (always charge them, they have a budget for this sort of thing), and get published.
Pick up the phone and call your local paper today. In my experience, a phone call is a lot harder to ignore than an email.
You’d also be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to get a press pass for local events. I did it so many times, and people didn’t even ask for my portfolio!
A straight on shot of a man sitting on a bench reading a newspaper

Join Photography Forums to Showcase Your Work

If you’re just getting started, then forums are a great place to showcase your photography. I remember reading what Eric Kim said about starting in street photography.
He posted some of his photos in a street photography forum, and that got him a lot of attention.
The images need to be relevant, as does your text. Otherwise, people will view them as self-promotion, and the site will take them down.
Check out our Facebook page if you would like to share some of your photos.
An overhead shot of a man working on his laptop

Sign Up to Social Networks to Reach a Wide Audience

Do you want to know how to advertise photography effectively? Then you need to join Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You’ll find your most significant audience and gain potential clients through these platforms.
Social media gives you an audience of over 4 billion active users. Sure, some users will have all three types of social media pages, but there are three chances they will see it and not miss your photography.
Facebook has 2.19 Billion active Facebook pages. Instagram has 1 billion users; Twitter has 328 Million, and LinkedIn has 500 Million. Just try to imagine how much exposure you can get once you sign up.
A close up shot of a person holding a smartphone

Upload Your Work to Photo Sharing Networks

If you like sharing your photos and receiving feedback, photo sharing is for you. Networking with other photographers and having a potential of thousands of readers are the advantages here.
Websites like Flickr and 500px are great for getting yourself noticed as a photographer. However, these sites require high-quality images.
If you only have photos of flowers in your back garden, they’re not going to send any real recognition your way. Your images will not get a second look.
Apart from 500px and Flickr, there are many other photo-sharing platforms available online. I find Behance to show a professional page to showcase your work.
If getting a job isn’t your primary goal, then focus your energy on Instagram. Since it has millions of followers, you have better chances of gaining exposure there. If you have plenty of compelling images, you might just end up with a few new clients along the way!
A laptop with an image of a bridge onscreen

Dabble in Reddit Forums for Extra Exposure

Reddit is a fantastic example of how a regular person can gain a tremendous amount of exposure with just a single photo.
One of our Top 20 Young Photographers in 2012, Mark Jaworski,  posted the photo below to Reddit‘s pics section. With over 1500 upvotes, tens of thousands of people would have seen it if not hundreds of thousands.
With a very active comment section, Reddit links to both his website and online portfolio. It proved to be an excellent way for Mark to get his photos noticed.

Open laptop on a desk
Photo by Hasan Albari from Pexels

Run Shows at Photography Galleries

Photography galleries are always looking for content. They may have 12+ shows and exhibitions a year, and not all of them planned. They will also be looking to showcase more work in the months after this period.
Contacting them to ask for a small exhibition saves them work and time. It’s not that hard to have your photos hung in small, local galleries.
I’m not talking about huge exhibitions here – just local galleries, selling local photos.
You may find that your local area has plenty of places willing to display your work. You may have to rent wall space. But if your photos sell, then it will more than pay for itself.
Galleries are an effortless way to earn a little bit more money and get your photos noticed. If you’ll excuse the pun, it’s all about exposure.
A wooden table in a rustically designed room with framed photography on the wall

Conclusion

You don’t have to stick to one platform if you want to get some exposure. Feel free to try all methods and figure out which one you like the best.
Contributing to about four or five major sites is a good way to gain recognition.
What’s crucial is that the quality of your work stays consistent.
Learn how to get ahead with social media with our new ebook – Social Success Strategies!