What to do with your photos

So you've read all the tutorials, been out and applied all your new knowledge and now you have some pretty decent photos to show for it. Your friends have all looked at them and say they're great and one or two really are quite good, what are you going to do with them now? Just let them languish on your hard drive? Print a few out and stick them in a drawer? Maybe frame a couple and hang them on the wall but there isn't room for very many.

Online Communities

You've got a computer (or you wouldn't be reading this) so why not show some of your best work online? I don't mean start your own website, believe me that can be hard work, but join one of the many online communities where you can upload your photos for others to look at and comment on. This is not as frightening as it sounds, most people are extremely kind with their comments. In return you get to comment on other people's work and, hopefully, you all learn something by doing it.

Your first port of call, of course, should be the member gallery on this site. You can upload as many pictures as you want into your own gallery which is automatically created for you when you upload your first photo.

You will receive friendly criticsm and advice on how to improve your work. You can also comment on other people's work and ask them questions or make suggestions.

A search on Google will reveal many other such communities, Shutterbugs and PhotoPoints are both popular, they all seem to treasure their amateur status and, apart from the odd bit of prize money from competitions, no money changes hands in either direction.

If you fancy a little income from your hobby, have a look at my tutorial on Making money from your Photographs.