I love the fact that the toy photography community on Instagram is so incredibly supportive. Most people are generous with their “likes” and comments and it’s a wonderful place to play. But occasionally it feels a little insular and it’s nice to branch out into other communities. It’s always fun to make new friends and expand peoples understanding of toy photography along the way.
When I joined the photo sharing site Streamzoo (RIP), I was introduced to the wonderful world of macro photographers. Now that Streamzoo has ceased to exist, many of those same photographers have migrated to Instagram and I have continued my relationship with them. Sure this community has a penchant for bugs, flowers and water droplets, but they also recognize and support toy photography.
If you are interested in branching out beyond the regular toy community tags, here is a list of the macro communities on Instagram that I am aware of. Feel free to check them out and see if there might be a good fit for your own work.
@BNWMacros
@Colors_Hub
@Flair_Macro *
@Flawless_Macros
@Global_Nature _Macro
@HDMacros *
@IG_4every1
@IG_Closeups *
@JJ_JustMacros
@Macro_Champ
@Macro_Perfection
@Macro_Premier
@Macro_Secrets
@Macroclique *
@MacroStalking
@MD_Macro
@MyDailyMacro
@Nature_Obsessions
@TGIF_Macro
@Visual_World
The communities marked with an asterisk have been the most receptive to my work, especially @HDMacros. If you are looking for exposure beyond the toy community this is a great place to start.
~ xxsjc
Are you involved in any communities on Instagram other than toys?
If so, what are they and why?
Bunnies and flowers! What is there not to like??
There are some book people–reviewers, authors, and editors–on Instagram, but they really haven’t formed much of a community. Part of it is that IG isn’t the kind of reader resource that, say, Twitter has become, but part of it is that it’s an intensely competitive field and people aren’t all that supportive beyond their small circle.
Lyn That is too bad about the authors. As we both know we are stronger together than apart. Maybe people who are attracted to the writers life style are solitary by nature?
You’re definitely right about the “solitary by nature” and it’s led to some really exploitative working conditions, as well as the continued racism and classism of the industry, because people don’t band together.