Getting featured on photography community websites

How to create a featured, winning picture on a photography website or platform?

In this blog I will share with you the best ways to showcase your photographs and to understand the way platforms select on featured posts.

Ask yourself the question, why are some photographers always being picked on websites such as 500px or zoom.nl ? I will try and show you some of the ‘tricks’ and key-features, a photography community website is basing its selection criteria on and how to positively influence the websites moderators and photography judges. You can also understand the possible algorithms used by these communities if they are using that, so you as a talented photographer have a bigger chance on getting your work selected and getting featured.

Zoom.nl

In the end of this blog I will share with you 2 examples on photography community website in the Netherlands called zoom.nl Zoom.nl has a very big community and outstanding photographers, so it’s a really cool place to get your work featured (Zoom.nl is not connected to the video conference app zoom.com). It also provides members a magazine. For the community it is also having price-challenges, where you can win some pretty cool prices if you are a winner, so it makes a lot of sense to participate and to understand their selection criterium.

Zoom.nl has got 2 main categories that are used to highlight featured images;

1. Foto van de dag ( picture of the day)

2. Gekozen door ons ( chosen by us)

They include all different kinds of theme’s such as Animals, Landscapes, Nudes, Portraits, Macro, Food, and many more. If you look at the history of the Foto van de Dag, you will be able to understand the kind of pictures being features here and it will give you a clear overview on the theme’s being used the most. Think about colors, lights, subject, season, location etc. When you reach the status of photo of the day, you are very likely to attract a lot of visitors to your photo, increasing the chances of people liking your work. ( for example, I tend to get 10-15 likes on a photo that wasn’t featured, and around 80-100 likes when you are featured)

Tip nr 1: Check the site’s history

So the first tip I will give you is to check the history of your photography community website and analyse the history of previous featured images, to see what categories get the most attention and what style of those images. Is your work suitable for this? Then you are having a much higher chance of getting featured if you post this kind of work.

Tip nr 2: choose the best time to post

Secondly it is of a very high importance to post your work on the right time. That doesn’t only mean at what exact time you upload a photo, it’s very important to understand the timing of your work and the theme’s that are more likely to be chooses. Think of Seasons, Holidays, but also think about the amount of people posting the same work all at once. During Halloween you are more likely to post halloween themed photo’s. But as everybody is doing that, does it make sense to try and win that spot amongst all the other photographers? Quickly scroll down to the bottom of this blog if you wanna know how i did it — >>

Tip nr 3: Only post your best work

Third and most important is of course to post only your best work. Only the best quality photography will be appealing enough for the critical moderators. There are a lot of hobby-photographers out there all posting their work and some of it may get a high amount of likes from their followers and friends; the community likes to like for the sake of getting likes back, and not critical about the actual work they are liking. But we all understand that, when you post really good work, you will get the attention anyway from those scrolling through the community. So if you aren’t posting any good work, try first to develop your skills, both on shooting pictures and on developing them in software, uploading your best work. We like to think we are special but before posting another random picture only, be critical about your own work and allow yourself to grow and get noticed.

Tip nr 4: Write a good short description and tags

Another aspect of getting chosen, is the use of a good description and the use of the correct tags. You can also share your work online because of the sharing buttons on the pages of the photography communities. Get more people to like your work and rate it. If you have a big followers base already, use it to your advantage. Tagging your work on social platforms such as Instagram, will also increase the visibility of your work and getting the community to engage.

Summary

Finally you are ready to upload your work and post it online! But before you do, check how I got featured; I will use 2 examples to explain how I got picked as photo of the day on Zoom.nl. (https://zoom.nl/foto/landschap/3524128/op-de-kade-in-portugal)

Check out the amount of viewers

Using the right tags, a good image, and the right timing is super important, especially on a page like 500px

Did you check:

• What is the theme the website is focussing on?

  • zoom didn’t use a specific theme and although I saw some landscapes, there wasn’t any travel or cityscape images. The perfect moment to add it.

• Are you posting it in the right moment?

  • I posted this image on a friday - the picture of the day was picture of the day all weekend attracting loads of visitors to the page and as I shared my website, I got a lot of extra visitors to my own page too.

• What is the quality of your work?

  • I believe this is one of my better pictures taken. I posted it already on 500px. To see the image and statics, go to the photo page. I also added a screenshot of it in the blog.

• Do you have the appropriate description to support the image and tags so people can easily find your work online?

  • On a late summer day (actually well into autumn) I found this amazing reflection on the water and a village perched on a hill next to an ancient bridge. ( right)

    This drop has a wonderful location on a quiet river that generates beautiful images with reflection due to its slow current. Tags:

    • amarante portugal

      portugal

      reizen

      reflectie

      water

      rivier

      brug

      dorp

      zonsondergang

      wolken

      herfst

      zomer
      

Example 2:

This is a post from a little while ago: Visit the beach waterfall on the island of Bali

This too has been picked as photo of the day. It’s unique scene, that hasn’t been shot before and the style is dreamy and speaks to a lot of people. It doesn’t need much explanation but still I used a good descriptive text to support the image. This images was also posted on a friday, so that is a good time for getting featured on Zoom.nl. Use it to your advantage next time your about to post something online.

Share this article to help others to understand the importance of the above tips and tricks to get noticed as a photographer.

Thanks and keep on shooting! Rudolfo Dalamicio

Discover Portugal and live in Porto. Portugal's nr 2 city

A photo excursion in Portugal’s nr 2 city and travel destination

Hi again and Bom Dia! Today I want to take you on a photogenic excursion in Porto and some incredible locations around the countries second biggest city, Porto. We will visit some village’s, beaches and of course we will see landscapes that are a must see when visiting the North of Portugal.

Porto

Most people cheer for Lissabon when talking about a city trip to portugal. But I would definitely choose Porto over Lissabon. Hack, I even moved from Indonesia to Porto! Not only is the city of Porto vibrant, full of surfing, small streets, historical buildings and a foodlover paradise, but it’s also the capital of portwine. The best wines in the world have found their origin in the valleys of the Douro River and are amongst worlds best wines, not just by my taste, but by wine critics from all over the world. 

A great colorful view of wines during the autumn season in the Douro

Today I don’t want to have your mouths running with water just yet tho. No, I'll be focussing on my trip in, and around Porto. Because Porto is in the north of Portugal the location is very unique. It's surrounded by mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and is close to Spain as well ( just little over 1 hr drive up north and you're already crossing borders - No problem for travelers within the EU), it has so much to offer. 

When I moved to porto for 2 months, I was planning on staying here for 5/6 months, after giving birth to our son. But unfortunately, systems don’t always agree with my lifestyle so I have to move back to The Netherlands soon. Before I am leaving Porto, one of my favorite city’s of Europe, I’ll leave you with my top list of places to visit and what to shoot with your camera.

Here is my list of places you must visit whilst you are in porto:

Cemetery Colosseum;

Visit a rather spooky location, at a cemetery, in the middle of porto. You will find this place a bit creepy perhaps, but I can assure you, it's beautifully decorated, simple and has amazing light from the top glass like roof, making it a light place to be. The wagons they use and trolleys are still very old and authentic making this place one where you can feel like stepping back in time.

Porto Cementery

Inside the colosseum shaped building. Look at the old metals used and the structure of the building. The trolleys are super old but still functional and give this place a authentic look

The Gardens:

Jardim dos Sentimentos,Torreão do Jardim do Palácio, House of Rose Garden, Jardim do Roseiral, Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

These gardens are quite a catch! Strolling through the many small alleys and streets in porto, these gardens are located around the Super Bock Arena, and have, not only incredible views over porto, vila nova de gaia and the douro river, they also host a great variety of animals, birds, and tropical flowers and plants. You for a minute forget that you are actually walking in europe. 

A very well located garden with curious pattern shapes overlooking the douro river and vila nova de Gaia

At some point you can’t overlook the viewpoint; Miradouro da Ponte da Arrábida It’s location is at the perfect spot to see the beautiful Art Deco Bridge, connecting Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto on the west side, near the ocean. The bridge, Ponte da Arrábida, was built in 1955-1963 and back then the bridge had the largest reinforced concrete arch.

A very Lush green garden with the best view on Ponte da Arrábida and the Atlantic ocean

Intersection

On a late autumn night, at the end of October, I went to spot this twisting curly intersection of roads, coming from Vila Nova de Gaia and looking towards the city of Porto. What I love about this image is the movement you have in Porto. It feels super cozy when you are walking in the city center, and within its ring, the streets are not wide and big, making it a relaxed city, where traffic isn’t that disturbing. The height difference in porto is quite big and that also makes traffic slow down a lot. 

Moving cars on a highway in porto, creating the perfect lighttrail effect

A little bit outside from the city, you can see some highways. This one is going towards the stadium of the FC porto football club. The tail lights and headlights create a motion of energy, vividness and of transportation.

Soft lights during the bluehour. Shot from vila nova de gaia. FC porto stadium is also to be seen in the background

Capela do Senhor da Pedra 

A panorama from the Capela do Senhor da Pedra with a nice sunburst effect

A little south from porto, crossing part of the Vila Nova de Gaia, you will find a breathtaking beach with rocks and on the big rock laying in the ocean, arises a landmark called the Capela do Senhor da Pedra. This little chapel has been built upon rocks and stood the test of time with many hundred of years of ocean waves breaking on the rocks to not hitting the beautiful hexagonal structure.

An impressive sunset and reflections from a small creek nearby the beach.

The beaches here are wide, clean and during autumn, warm enough to go strolling around them and catch that atlantic breeze. 

Vila Nova De Gaia: Portwine Cellars

Welcome to my world! Ohw what gold you've struck when entering one of the man lagars of the fine wine brands of for example Fonseca, Taylors, Churchills or Grahams.

Grahams has an incredible wine cellar for the public to visit. With wines over 150 years old!

The Lodge that we’ve visited was the one of Grahams. Back in 2016 I already had great memories visiting this place and I wanted to come back. To have another look at some of the treasures it holds and taste some delicious wines. 

Ponte Luís I

A picture perfect view of Porto, Ponte Luís I and the Douro river during an incredible sunset

Much has been written about this famous landmark in porto, so i’ll keep it short on this one. 

The bridge naturally catches the eye whenever you visit porto. The eyecatcher is so famous that its the best and most important tourist attraction of the city. I find it most beautiful when shooting it during the sunset, from the bridge more land inwards, called the Ponte Infante Dom Henrique.

From this point you can catch a different view of the douro river, the sunset and the Ponte Luís I.

Misty evening glows. This is the Maria Pia-bridge. Made completely out of steel.

From the Ponte Infante Dom Henrique you can also catch a railroad bridge, called the Maria Pia-bridge. The design is almost the same and during some foggy evenings, one can catch crazy moody pictures here. 

Viseu

We decided to visit this town, after having been traveling on a very rainy day to Coimbra. The rain was so strong that taking pictures wasn't worth our while and we decided to move on to find a dry town. This time we went to Viseu. A town that has beautiful old historical buildings, a small chapel with eye-catching stairs and as the autumn set in, I found myself making some leave-pictures too.

The main square in the old towns center of Viseu

The old town also has got a beautiful museum called museu nacional grao vasco.

This is situated at the hearth of the center on top of the hill and overlooking the surroundings of the old city into the new.  Also, if you visit the old Viseu Cathedral, you can have a look at the inside square, full of old details and in the church, you will find some hidden chambers that have a dark atmosphere.

hidden rooms inside the church. Be mindful and humble

Lamego

On our way to the Douro, we made some incredible tastings along the way and had a very good lunch at the famous Quinta Nova Nossa Senhora do Carmo. This place breathes romance. The views over the river Douro are spectacular and the quietness is addictive. 

But after our lunch, it was time to explore a sunset at Lamego. A town famous for its never ending stairs from down at the bottom of the city center up to the cathedral. It's a famous style of stairs that you can find all over portugal. These stairs have a whopping 686 to be climbed, if you want to see the church at the end of the climb. 

Autumn colors and the Lamego stairs up to the cathedral

The Cathedral on the top of the stairs. More than 650 stairs to climb.

People stroll down the square in front of the stairs. Making it a place to come together during the weekends.

Viana do Castelo

The mystical and spiritual Santuário de Santa Luzia

Now this was on my bucket list of places to discover when I was living in Porto.

A city at the foot of a mountain range Monte de Santa Luzia that almost touches the ocean. 

What a picture perfect place! discover this gem on top of the mountain, overlooking Viana do Castelo

Most people climb the stairs to the highlight of this place, or take the cable car Elevador de Santa Luzia, but I came from the north and I took a lovely road through mystical forests and drove by car. Arriving at the Santuário de Santa Luzia, I was a bit overwhelmed by the view, the mood and the quality of the buildings. Low hanging clouds were sweeping in from the valley and made it sometimes difficult to see the cathedral, but it was a real picture perfect place at that moment.

This has been well worth the trip: pools creating reflections, mystical clouds and the church that shines

Here you can see some of those images from that morning.

Amarante

A place I was before but without my camera, is amarante. Just a quick 45 min drive from Porto, you will find the river Tamega, meandering trhought the mountains of porto and creating breathtaking views next to the river banks, and on top of the hills.

One of my best shots from the last trip to Amarante. An impeccable reflection from the old town

The old town of Amarante is a very cozy and tiny place, but its river is wide and there is a lot to see and do around the river. During the summer you can easily take a small wooden boat and peddle around the river banks, constantly seeing the beautiful bridge with historical arches and reflection on the water. The water really runs smoothly here so picture perfect reflections are easy to catch

Thanks again for reading and sign up to get the first new visions from your favorite photographer, Rudolfo Dalamicio