How do you compare photo feedback?

1 Why compare feedback?

Photo feedback can come from different sources, such as online forums, social media, peers, mentors, clients, or judges. Each source may have a different perspective, intention, and level of expertise when giving feedback. Comparing feedback can help you identify common themes, strengths, and areas for improvement in your photos. It can also help you avoid getting overwhelmed, confused, or discouraged by conflicting or irrelevant feedback.

2 How to solicit feedback?

Before you compare feedback, you need to solicit it from the right sources. Depending on your goals and needs, you may want to ask for feedback from a specific audience, such as your target market, your niche community, or your professional network. You may also want to seek feedback from multiple sources, such as a mix of beginners, intermediates, and experts, or a blend of formal and informal channels. When asking for feedback, be clear about what kind of feedback you want, such as technical, artistic, or emotional aspects of your photos. You may also want to provide some context, such as the purpose, genre, or style of your photos.

3 How to filter feedback?

Once you receive feedback, you need to filter it to separate the useful from the useless. A useful feedback is one that is specific, objective, and actionable. It tells you what works and what doesn't work in your photos, and why. It also gives you suggestions on how to improve your photos, or examples of similar photos that do it better. A useless feedback is one that is vague, subjective, or unhelpful. It tells you only if the feedback giver likes or dislikes your photos, without explaining why or how. It also gives you no direction on how to improve your photos, or insults your photos or skills. To filter feedback, you need to evaluate the source, the content, and the tone of the feedback.

4 How to analyze feedback?

After you filter feedback, you need to analyze it to find patterns, gaps, and insights. A pattern is a consistent or recurring theme that emerges from multiple feedback sources. It can indicate a strength or a weakness in your photos that you need to emphasize or address. A gap is a discrepancy or contradiction between different feedback sources. It can indicate a difference in preference, expectation, or criteria that you need to consider or reconcile. An insight is a new or surprising idea that comes from a single or multiple feedback sources. It can inspire you to try something different or experiment with your photos.

5 How to apply feedback?

Finally, you need to apply feedback to your photos to make them better. Applying feedback does not mean blindly following every suggestion or changing your photos to please everyone. It means using feedback as a guide or a reference to inform your own decisions and judgments. To apply feedback, you need to prioritize, test, and revise your photos. Prioritize the feedback that is most relevant, important, and feasible for your photos. Test the feedback by implementing it in your photos and seeing the results. Revise your photos by keeping what works and discarding what doesn't work.

Comparing photo feedback is a skill that can help you improve your photography and learn from others. By following these tips and strategies, you can compare feedback effectively and use it to your advantage.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?