I admit, the title for this post is pretty lofty. In fact, it’s so lofty that it’s becoming a burden for the photography industry at the same time that it is helping the photography community come together in ways that I don’t think many of us thought possible. The title for this post is also trendy, but hey, isn’t that part of the point, also?

I recently wrote a post titled, “Connections,” over at good friend Brian Hirschy’s (@bhirschyphoto) site, and I emphasized the value of relationships that really push you (the photographer) to continue down the often bumpy road that this work seems to be built along. That same day, David duChemin released a post aptly titled, “Do the Work.” Coincidental, and at the same time, appropriate, I thought the two just seemed to go together. Getting over creative roadblocks through simply putting yourself to work, as duChemin points out, can be invigorated all the more when you’re making connections with individuals who truly push you to continue working, to see yourself through a photographic/creative slump, and to provide you with the type of perspective only this person can offer up.

A few days later, I saw a Twitter exchange between Jack Hollingsworth (@photojack) and Sephi Bergerson (@fotowala), two photographers I’ve never met in person but communicate with occasionally via Twitter:

Both photographers in this case are great individuals, superb photographers, and advocates of seeing the photography industry and community continue to move forward (I encourage you to follow them on Twitter and visit their sites). At the same time, the statements they made are both eye-opening for some and rather poignant for others. Singlehandedly, social media has allowed us to make some incredible connections–connections that truly push us forward in our photographic pursuits, despite the probability we’ll never meet some of those we connect with. Subsequently, social media has also added to the workload at times, whether we like it or not.

Everyone uses social media for different reasons. I would wager that none of us use it for purely social OR solely business purposes. We’re all at different stages in our careers, and we see our appropriation of tweets, “likes,” links, and posts through varied perspectives. Some of us make our entire living through photography and ancillary activity, while some of us are avid weekend warriors. Regardless of what role you might be occupying, the issue that Jack and Sephi raise is relevant. With the impressive potential for the very young Google+ beginning to shine through the hype, it’s that much more pertinent to consider.

So, what do you do? I’m afraid there isn’t a black and white answer, and who’s to say there should be! If anything, I think this forces us to reflect a bit on our own social media engagement and what and how much we’re shooting. Personally, I can see at times when I struggle to strike a balance. I don’t put much stock in some of the more strategic approaches to social media, because I often consider seeing it as numbers of fans and followers is a little, shall we say, less social? That, and the more I’m tweeting, the less I’m shooting. Consequently, I can see where those numbers put eyeballs on my web site, my blog posts, the images I post on Facebook, and ultimately, expands my brand just a bit more. Not to mention the wonderful community of photographers I’ve been able to be a part of since social media’s been on the scene. There’s the organic and synthetic sides of social media for you, and they don’t always seem to get along. It’s enough to hurt your head.

In the end, though, I’ll grab a camera before a smart phone (which have on-board cameras, touche). I’ll always take the opportunity to shoot and just hope that my Facebook friends don’t hold that against me. That doesn’t diminish my desire to connect with others over social media, take part in an online discussion, or try to get you to read a blog post that just goes on, and on, and on…

Here’s something to mull over:

We don’t become better photographers without shooting. Or studying others’ images. Or getting true, constructive criticism from other photographers. And we certainly don’t broaden our connections (those I speak of here) by completely avoiding social media. Or not asking for that feedback on your new work. Or not placing your very best images in your portfolio for aspiring photographers to delve into via your site’s URL listed next to your Twitter handle.

Do you see the relationship between photography and social media yet? It’s amazing what social media offers the photography INDUSTRY, and it’s just as incredible what your shooting can do for connecting the photography COMMUNITY. Jack makes a good point above when he says it’s getting harder and harder to make photographs when there’s so many social media outlets to juggle. It is! At the same time, though, we’re fully capable of seeing where one might get in the way of the other (this happens to me when I fret over what to say in a tweet, or if I get a headache trying to make 140 characters work for me, at which point I say to myself, “This hoohaa is for the birds”).

Every person’s balance between shooting and keeping up with social media is different, and I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s always evolving. I don’t even think it’s a question of which one is more important than the other (although I know what I would say to that question). This all depends on your goals as a photographer. You know what to do if you have certain goals in mind, and then it’s just a point of figuring out the best way to employ and balance both issues of this discussion.

If you’re juggling both your shooting and social media, I hope you find a balance that helps you reach your goals–a balance that helps you ultimately grow as a shooter (doing the work) AND a community member (connecting).

The question, then, is:

What do you want to get out of your photography, and how do you make your shooting and your social media use coexist (this is both rhetorical and thrown out there for discussion should you feel the urge to offer your two cents)?