Let’s Talk About Flickr
Alright, buckle up friends, because we need to talk about Flickr. And I’m just going to say it:
I hate it. Yes, you read that right. I. Hate. It.
Maybe I’m getting too old and just don’t understand what’s hip anymore (cue dramatic sigh), or maybe—just maybe—I don’t know how to use the darn thing properly. But seriously, someone tell me if I’m doing it wrong: I log in, upload some cute pics to a “Gallery,” and then... what? I just sit there and stare at them like I’m in a sad digital art museum?
Now compare that to Pinterest. Sweet, glorious Pinterest. I can create boards that link to actual websites, recipes, DIY hacks, and downloadable free templates I can print out and slide right into my Lisa Frank binder like the organized chaos queen I am. It’s productive and pretty.
To be fair, I can see the appeal of Flickr if you’re a professional photographer. You’re out here snapping editorial-level shots, uploading your work, and getting showered in likes and validation—which sounds lovely, truly. If that were me, I’d probably be riding the Flickr train with front-row seats and a camera around my neck.
But alas, I’m not quite a pro yet. My mom says I am, but let’s be honest... does she really count? (Love you, Mom, but you’re legally required to hype me up.)
So until Flickr becomes more user-friendly for us casual, non-camera-wielding folks, I’m sticking with my boards, my free templates, and my Lisa Frank sparkle.
Flickr … it’s definitely not EVERYTHING. It’s a good example of a few things, though: 1. There are communities on there. 2. There are CC licensed photos on there, so it’s place to find images you can use or share images for others to use. Overall it’s pretty niche, but if your niche is there it can be everything. AI has kind of ruined it, though … and in its early days, there were even debates as to whether it was okay to share anything other than photos there (e.g., digital drawings).
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