What I look for in “friends”, “Likes” & +1′s

So, I look at my profiles on g+ and also Facebook. I see a lot of people trying to add me on G+ and also on facebook. I look at these areas very differently because each group has a different purpose.

Facebook. To me there are 3 kinds of people on facebook.

1. Potential clients. People who keep an eye on my work and want to work with me but don’t know how to ask. They are probably afraid I will judge them as not being good enough for my work. The truth is, I work with new people all the time.
2. People from a distance that like to keep up on what we’re doing. They look at my ideas and sometimes use them for inspiration – or even what not to do in a photo shoot – LOL
3. Guys who want to look at the pretty girls I work with.

How I see Facebook. I like to stay active on FB so I can keep people aware of me. I want to stay relevant in the industry in the CNY area. I accept most friend requests from potential clients, however if some guy tries to friend me from Canada, I will most likely ignore or delete the request as it’s a waste of my time. If you are someone I know or someone I SHOULD know, shoot me a message and I’ll add you, but for the most part, I’m not here to feed your need to see a pretty girl.

I also have a small niche of real “Friends” & “Family” there and I keep in touch with them.

What I’m looking for on Google+. The photography community is very active on G+ It’s very humbling to be on there and listen to well known photographers from Photoshop User magazine like Scott Kelby and RC Concepcione. These guys have the skills, knowledge and contacts that help me to learn as much as I can.

I think the thing I appreciate the most is their willingness to share and teach on a daily basis. These guys live and breathe what I love to do.

There are so many other people out there who have inspiring photos and are very skilled. It’s humbling to look at some of their work and the try to emulate their skills.

What I’m NOT looking for on Google + So, I get a lot of circle requests. I look at people and I have to decide if I want to add them. My main criteria is do they have an interesting and ongoing portfolio of work. If the answer is yes and it’s not just a bunch of snapshots of them and their drinking buddies, I will add them.

I also tend to go out and delete people who are no longer relevant or doing interesting work.

Inspire me

I want to feel emotion. Show me the way with your art. I want to wake up every morning and feel good about what I do. Is there anything that gives us more freedom than our expression?

Show me a study in lighting and different expressions. I want to see passion and fire. It’s that unattainable something that stirs my creativity. I see it out there and hope that I can find it, but I never quite reach that point where I can feel it.

The hair and makeup are always perfect. You look beautiful and, I know it’s my own fault that I can’t quite get it, so I keep plugging away.

It’s a frustration. Frustration is good because it tells me there is something I can correct. But, I’m just not sure how to correct it.

Movement. I want a dancer who will dance like no one is watching. I want a model who smiles and cries and laughs and can do intense emotions in front of the camera.

I look at 1000′s of photos a week and still I can’t see that one thing I’m looking for. Many shots out there, take my breath away, but they’re not mine.

I want to be inspired. To look at my photos, and laugh and cry and feel intense emotion.