Chasing Likes: Why i photograph for me and NOT the algorithm.

By Marcus, Cornwall on Camera

Have you ever posted a photo you absolutely loved... and it flopped?

You know the one — the image you hiked for, waited hours for the perfect light, poured your heart into… and then, crickets. A few likes. Maybe one comment (from your mum).

It happened to a friend of mine recently — a talented photographer — and it really got me thinking.

When did we start letting likes tell us if our photos are good?

Photography is personal. The algorithm isn’t.

We live in a world where numbers have become the measure of success — especially on social media. But landscape photography is not fast food content. It’s slow, intentional, emotional.

Some of my favourite images — the ones I’m proudest of — haven’t “performed” online.
But here’s the thing: they still mean the world to me.

Because I remember being there. I remember the light, the silence, the smell of sea air, the moment that made me press the shutter. Instagram doesn’t know that.
But I do. And that’s enough.

Mental health and the magic of the outdoors

Photography, for me, is more than a creative outlet. It’s a lifeline.

As a single parent and full-time carer, life can be… full on. Getting outside with my camera gives me headspace. It’s how I breathe again. It’s peace, perspective, and presence — all wrapped into one.

And when I’m out in the Cornish landscape, I’m not thinking about likes. I’m just there. In the moment. Alive.

Not all your best photos will do well online (and that’s okay)

Social media doesn’t always reward artistry. It rewards attention.
And let’s be honest — the algorithm doesn’t care about your heart, your hike, or your healing.
So if a post flops? That doesn’t mean your photo isn’t powerful. It just means the algorithm blinked and missed it.

Let’s celebrate photos that feed the soul

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Yeah, I’ve felt that,” then you’re not alone.

Here’s what I’d love:
Share a photo you love — one that didn’t get much attention, but you still hold dear. Post it, tag it with #StillMyFavouritePhoto, Let’s build a community where the experience matters more than the engagement.

📺 Watch the video

I’ve put all these thoughts (and more) into a new video on my YouTube channel — “Why I Stopped Chasing Likes | Photography for the Soul”. You can watch it here:

Please give it a watch, drop a comment, and if it resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it.

A little update from me

Going forward, I’m going to be posting on YouTube a little more regularly — aiming for at least once a month.
This gives me time to create something meaningful, well-paced, and true to what I want this channel to be: honest, unfiltered landscape photography from Cornwall — with soul.

Thanks, as always, for being here. Whether you like, comment, or just quietly watch — it means the world.

See you in the next one.
— Marcus