The Weekly Frame #6: When The Algorithm Just Doesn't Care…
Hey friends,
This week was one of those reminders that you can do everything ‘right’ and still feel invisible online.
I've been doing something interesting this week - posting on Instagram every single day. Some of my best work from Japan, content I spent hours editing, shots I'm genuinely proud of. (I’ve added them throughout this email in case you’d like to check them out.)
The results have been... mixed so far. Some posts do well, others just drop off. And I've noticed something about myself when that happens - when you put work out there that you're proud of and it doesn't land, there's this voice in your head that starts asking questions. Is the composition actually worse than I thought? Is my editing off? Did I miss something?
It's interesting how quickly external validation (or lack of it) can make you second-guess yourself.
The 30-Day Challenge (And What It's Teaching Me)
I'm 7 days into a 30-day posting challenge. You know the theory everyone talks about - post daily, the algorithm rewards consistency, your reach explodes.
I wanted to test it for myself. And honestly, the most interesting part so far isn't whether it's working for the algorithm - it's what it's revealing about how I think about my own work.
But here's what I'm reminding myself (and maybe you need to hear this too): the algorithm doesn't determine if your work is good.
I know that intellectually, but emotionally it's a different story. When you watch a post you poured your heart into get buried while some mediocre content goes viral, it's really hard not to internalize it.
So I've been trying to focus on what I'm actually getting out of this challenge instead - I'm refining my editing process, getting faster at creating, building a deeper archive of work I'm proud of. I'm staying connected to my craft and proving to myself I can commit to something even when it's not immediately rewarding.
The algorithm can't take those things away from me, and that matters more than any vanity metric.
Tip of the Week: Creating Content When Motivation Is Low
This challenge has forced me to shoot and create even when I’m feeling less inspired, so here's what's been working for me:
Lower your standards (temporarily). Not every post needs to be absolutely without flaw. Progress over perfection. I'm posting things I normally would've sat on for weeks trying to make "perfect."
Batch your editing. Although I’ve been editing something new almost every day, I’m trying to switch gears into 3-4 days of content in one sitting instead. Makes the whole process way less overwhelming, and then other days I can focus more on things like administrative tasks, writing this newsletter, important brand deals, etc.
Lean on your archive. You already have incredible content you've never shared - dig through it and tell the story behind it.
Accept that not everything will hit. Some posts will flop, and that's not a reflection of the quality of your work. It's just the reality of social media. The algorithm is fickle, but your work isn't.
What's Happening in Photography Right Now
Instagram quietly changes how Reels are ranked. Instagram confirmed this week they're prioritizing "original" content over reposted videos in Reels recommendations. If you've been wondering why your reach dropped, this might be why. The platform is cracking down on accounts that primarily share other people's content. Good news if you're creating original work - it should get more visibility. Eventually.
Camera shipments hit 3-year high CIPA released October data showing digital camera and lens shipments hit their highest point in the past three years. After a terrible August, the bounce-back has been steady. Seems like people are still buying real cameras despite the "phones killed cameras" narrative.
Lightroom's new Reflection Removal tool Adobe just rolled out a "Remove Reflections" feature in the December update of Lightroom and Camera Raw. It's designed to remove window reflections from photos - useful if you've ever shot through glass and gotten unwanted reflections. The slider lets you adjust removal strength, though Adobe recommends applying it before any other edits since the changes can be pretty significant.
Gear Worth Mentioning: Synology DS923+ for Long-Term Storage
After months of nonstop travel - Socotra, Japan, Colorado - I'm finally home with time to dive into editing the massive archive I've been sitting on: Socotra, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and all the Japan content.
When you're dealing with this much footage, organization becomes pretty critical. I use a Synology DS923+ NAS (network-attached storage) for long-term storage and backup. It has 4 drive bays, and all my RAW files from trips get stored here. It's accessible from any computer in the house, which makes editing way easier.
It's not cheap and definitely overkill if you're just starting out, but if you shoot a lot and travel often, having a centralized storage system that automatically backs everything up has been worth it. No more juggling a pile of external drives or trying to remember which one has which trip.
Not the sexiest gear to talk about, but good storage is what actually lets you use all that content you worked hard to capture.
(Full transparency: I earn a small commission through this link. It helps keep this newsletter free and my coffee mug full. Thanks for supporting!)
One More Thing…
This 30-day challenge has me thinking about why we create in the first place. Is it for the algorithm? The likes? The validation from strangers? Or is it because we genuinely love making things - because the process matters, because creating is who we are regardless of who sees it?
I started this newsletter because I wanted a direct line to people who actually care about the work. No algorithm deciding who sees what, no wondering if my content is "good enough" for some AI to show it to people. Just me showing up every week, sharing what I'm learning and creating.
So thank you for being here, for opening these emails, for caring about the work even when Instagram doesn't always show it to you.
If you're feeling that same frustration with the algorithm, or if you want to join me in this 30-day posting challenge, hit reply & let me know you’re doing it too.
Sometimes it's easier when you know someone else is in the trenches with you - let's figure this out together.
See you next week,
Paige
P.S. Interested in Lightroom Presets? Check out my Preset Packs below, made specifically for travel, landscape, & nature.