Why Are We Obsessed With Creating Images That Stand Out and Get Likes?

"He referenced marketing guru Seth Godin, and his book Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable. In his book, Seth tells a story of a family road trip where they drove past a field of black and white cows, and they were so visually impressive that they remarked how fine those cows looked. After driving past dozens of fields of similar cows, they had seen so many of them at this point, all looking the same, that they stopped remarking about them. Seth had the thought that if they came across cows that were purple, they would be remarkable, because they hadn't seen purple cows before. The book goes on to offer very solid business advice about creating a brand and products that stand out. I read the book many years ago, and recommend it to anyone building a business."

"There's a problem I have with this thinking, though, when it's used as an analogy for photography. Most people watching photography on YouTube, or reading articles here on Fstoppers, aren't building a business and trying to make money. Photography is a hobby, something they enjoy pursuing as a leisurely activity. So, that being the case, why the obsession to create photos that stand out, get likes, and spark the desire for people to remark about them?"

"Another photographer on YouTube stated that there is no point in doing photography if you're not going to print images out or at least share them on social media. My first thought was, "What complete tosh!""

Marketing advice promotes making work remarkable and attention-grabbing by being visibly different, illustrated by the purple cow idea. That approach offers solid business guidance for building brands and standing out in crowded markets. Applying that marketing mindset to photography can pressure hobbyists to prioritize likes, shares, and remarkability over personal enjoyment. Some argue that photography has no value unless images are printed or shared on social media, a claim that some photographers reject outright. A long-career commercial and editorial photographer expresses deep, longstanding passion for the craft of photography.

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