Shifting the Socials: Sharing Still Frames Again
I used to love Instagram.
It felt like a quiet gallery — full of artists, thoughtful makers, visual people sharing beautiful, small things. A sketch. A painting. A corner of the studio. It felt slow and inspiring — like a walk through someone else’s process.
There was a time when the biggest decision was which filter to use on a square photo. You could leave the edges of the story untold and let your art do the talking. That was the magic — hiding stories in the work, not in the caption. My Secret stories.
Then it changed.
Somewhere along the way, Instagram stopped feeling like a place for artists. What used to be a quiet, creative community turned into something else entirely — especially once the rules of engagement started showing up. Post more. Show your face. Film it. Cut it. Talk over it. Perform it. And then do it again tomorrow.
I’ve heard those rules in passing conversations and tucked into courses meant to help creatives grow. But instead of feeling supported, I walked away feeling smaller. Not because the advice was wrong — but because it wasn’t made for someone like me. Someone working solo. Someone who shares slowly. Someone who hides her stories in the work, not the captions.
That one short conversation about Instagram — it stuck. And not in a good way. It made me feel like what I loved about the platform had already passed. Like I had missed the window — or failed to play the game.
So now?
I’m pretending it’s the old days again — back when a square photo said enough. I’m sharing like it’s still a gallery wall, not a stage. Because I think my art — and my heart — should speak for themselves. And maybe, just maybe, by doing that… it’ll come back in style.
A single post often takes me an hour or two — between photographing, editing, writing, tagging, linking, and responding. And on average, only a small portion of followers ever see it before it disappears into the feed within 48 hours. That’s not failure — that’s a sign. A quiet nudge to stop chasing and start choosing.
Did You Know? Instagram launched in 2010 as a photo-sharing space for creatives. Two years later, Facebook bought it. By 2015, ads had arrived, and the following year brought algorithm-based feeds and the introduction of Stories. Then came 2020 — and with it, Reels took center stage. That’s when many artists quietly began posting less, or disappearing altogether. More time started going into planning and performing, and less into making art. Even your own followers stopped seeing your posts unless you played the game or paid to be seen. If you’ve felt that shift in your bones — you’re not imagining it.
So I’m sharing in real time again. No editing, no pressure — just one square at a time. You’ll find these posts under #danielledonaldsoninspired — a soft place to scroll or share, if it feels right.
Instagram isn’t what it used to be. But I can still choose how I use it.
-Danielle
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CONNECTING THROUGH COMMUNITY
You can find this series on Pinterest — a quiet board to return to when the world feels too loud. Save, revisit, or explore more reflections as they’re added. If something in this post resonates, I’d love for you to save or share it there. I’ve quietly turned off comments here — but I hope the conversation continues in the ways that feel right to you. No pressure. Just a place to return to when the world feels too loud.
You’re also welcome to join my Newsletter — it’s where I share thoughtful updates, first looks, and occasional peeks into my studio. And if you’d like to stay up to date on my latest posts and stories, you can follow me on Instagram.
If you're a student in one of my courses and would like to share your artwork in a gentle, non-performative way, I’ve created a simple PDF called “Connecting through Community.” It walks you through how to post your work on Pinterest and Instagram using hashtags, no Facebook required. It’s meant to encourage quiet connection, not overwhelm.