How can you get the best photography critique online?

1 Why critique matters

Critique is a valuable tool for learning and growing as a photographer. It can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, discover new perspectives and ideas, and challenge yourself to experiment and improve. Critique can also help you develop your own style and vision, and communicate more effectively with your audience.

2 How to find critique online

There are many online platforms and communities where you can share your photos and get critique from other photographers. Some of the most popular ones include Flickr, Reddit, 500px, and Instagram. On Flickr, you can join groups based on your interests, genres, or themes, participate in discussions and challenges, and post your photos in the dedicated critique forum. Reddit has thousands of subreddits related to photography, such as r/photocritique or r/photography, where you can post your photos and get feedback from other redditors. 500px is a photo-sharing site with a focus on quality and creativity; here you can upload your photos and get ratings, comments, and likes. On Instagram, you can post your photos and use hashtags or captions to attract followers; you can also follow other photographers and join challenges or collaborations. Finally, Instagram has a direct message feature where you can request critique from specific users or influencers.

3 How to ask for critique online

When you post your photos online and ask for critique, you should be clear, specific, and respectful. To get the best feedback, choose your photos carefully - don't post too many or too similar ones - and provide some context about the photo such as the location, subject, story, intention, equipment, settings, and editing. Ask specific questions about aspects you want to improve or learn more about such as composition, lighting, color, mood, technique, or style. Be polite and humble - thank reviewers for their time and feedback and acknowledge their opinions and expertise. Don't argue or dismiss critique but try to understand their point of view and learn from it.

4 How to give critique online

When giving critique online, it's important to be honest, constructive, and helpful. Respect and support the photographer's work and effort by starting with a positive comment, then pointing out areas that need improvement or could be done differently. Be specific and objective in your feedback by using concrete examples and facts to explain why you like or dislike something and what effect it has on the photo. Don't impose your personal taste or style, but be helpful and constructive by offering suggestions and solutions on how to improve or enhance the photo. Give examples of how to apply the suggestions or refer to other photos or resources that illustrate your point. Finally, end with a positive comment and encourage the photographer to keep practicing and experimenting.

5 How to use critique online

When you receive or give critique online, you should use it to your advantage and learn from it. To make the most of critique, review and analyze the feedbacks, identify strengths and weaknesses, prioritize suggestions, apply and experiment with them, and evaluate and reflect on the results. Compare the different feedbacks for patterns or contradictions, write down main points, edit photos with the suggestions in mind, test different options, assess progress and improvement, and reflect on your experience. This will help you improve your photos and grow as a photographer.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?