Flickr in 2025 - Dead or Alive?

[@SammySantiagoIrizarry]

Flickr is the best place for a photographer!!! Excellent video Andy!!!

[@Andyhutchinson]

Thank-you kindly :)

[@oldtvnut]

I have stayed with Flickr because of its dedication to photography per se and hosting full sized images, rather than extraneous social media crap. I am strictly a hobbyist, so I can ignore the money making aspects of posting to other more widely viewed platforms. My usage falls into three areas: Capital P Photography for the image, the kind of stuff I do in the local camera clubs; documentary photography for other interests like car shows that a few acquaintances will be interested in; and a smattering of images useful in other hobbies, like posting a schematic of an old TV with an arrow saying "check this part" to help some other collector troubleshoot. I never thought of using it to search cameras and lenses, though, and I thank you for that hint!

[@Andyhutchinson]

No worries. :)

[@MartysWhiteSuit]

I've been a Flickr Pro member for a few years now and enjoy viewing Flickr content every day. I tried the Instagram thing for a while, but never got on with it and agree with you that Flickr is in good hands if no real changes are made.

[@eeclass20]

Flickr is a great research tool for those of us that are hobbyists rather than photographers,I visit everyday to search for inspiration. Thanks to the members that are prepared to upload years old collections I've been able to check many pictures to help me model(railways) accurately. I also pay for a subscription so I can pass on my model project ideas to others. If I could have one wish that would be to have sub albums for my Faves collection, it would save a lot of time trawling back through 74 pages( and growing)of my Faves! And to all those past and present who contributed to Flickr over the years, thankyou.

[@RiccardoPareschi]

Totally agree. Flickr is a good place to meet other photo enthusiasts or professionals, always an inspirational place where we can put ours best shots and share them with friends. We (my wife and I) have choose a pro subscription. Thanks for share.

[@alanwainwright79]

I’ve been on Flickr since 2012, still there. I have quite a few “Flickr friends” and really enjoy the interactions. My main reason for staying with Flickr is the viewing medium, not a crappy compressed file on a phone, but a full sized good quality image on a monitor. Nice update, you’re right an attempt to attract new blood would be an improvement. Cheers.

[@Andyhutchinson]

I hear you about the photo quality - was always the main drawcard for me.

[@alx7157]

Thanks, fam. I forgot how cool Flickr is/was 15 years ago. Respect.

[@michaelsussman9577]

Interesting to see your take on Flickr. I reactivated my account on Monday after a 6 year hiatus. I've posted a few photos and have got 40-50 views each compared to several thousand views per photo before I left. I need to rebuild my audience and find new active groups. We'll see how it goes.

[@petercardow2083]

Hi Andy, In that case, I will be joining your group ! Has been on Flickr since the "happy" Covid days in 2020.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Cheers. This video's blown up a bit so it looks like there's a fair bit of interest.

[@stuartsilverman3797]

Excellent video, Andy. When I transfer images from my camera to my iPad, they are JPEG and raw. They then go to Flickr. When I download images from Flickr they are still raw plus JPEG. So, I use Flickr for storage purposes and lose no resolution. Keep up your good work!

[@Andyhutchinson]

Wait, so you can upload full RAWs to Flickr now? Or is that just iPad HEIC images? Definitely going to check it out. :)

[@stuartsilverman3797]

@ When I download a raw file from Flickr, both my iPad and Lightroom mobile tell me it’s raw

[@GordonRunklePhoto]

I went back to Flickr this year. I find that discussions section is pretty quiet, which is fine by me; it's the photos themselves that I'm after.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Nice. Why'd you go back?

[@GordonRunklePhoto]

@@Andyhutchinson The other photo-sharing sites just don't do photos justice, IMHO, and seem much more focused on "social".

[@petermcginty3636]

Thank you, Andy, for all your videos during the year. I hope that you have a great Christmas with your family and friends. Take some great photos in 2025. Cheers, Peter.

[@adrianroyle4425]

Excellent, been a Pro member since 2006, 177k pictures and more added several times a week. I used to photograph athletics with vast viewing figures, but since I gave that up my figures plummeted. Every now and again there are little problems but they get sorted eventually. I never used Instagram and never will.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Woah - that's some archive.

[@CliffHairston]

I’ve had mine about a year less than you (coming up 19 years now) and use mine as a record of progress for my photography. It’s always good to look back and see where O started with my digital photography and see if I’ve learned anything :) I actively use it, posting once a month or so when I have something mildly interesting to post. One of these days I might even pay for the pro (which is just slightly more than for you here in NZ). If I decide to do it, it will be to purely go past the 1000 photo limit as I really don’t want to get rid of anything. I WANT to keep the less than stellar shots up there with the good ones to show that it is a learning process.

[@tremaincheerful4189]

I joined just a few years ago and love all the features you mention. People are civilized there, which makes me dread it becoming "the hot new" old place..

[@AndyClement]

I've personally met and made quite a few of my personal friends on Flickr. It was great for organizing in person photo strolls/walks. I just haven't been able to let it go. Still a great place to store images and share images from. If you do create a group, I'd love to join.

[@Andyhutchinson]

I'll post on here if I do. Given how popular this video's proving to be I think there's a fair bit of latent interest out there. :)

[@bertreket6666]

Been there for several years and stayed while the short attention span of others moved on to different platforms. Personally, I find it a very interactive site with groups that are active as well as interactive. Best photo sharing site as far as I'm concerned.

[@tdalton854]

Hello Andy, I logged in while listening. Started in 2006 took a rest from 2009 to 2017, then about 1 photo a year since then. Still a couple people still posting from way back. Think I'll give it a more serious go again. Thanks for the inspiration. Maybe see you there. - tim

[@Andyhutchinson]

Cheers Tim. Seems like this subject hit a chord with a few people, for sure.

[@damianip]

Flickr is wonderfully BS free. The troll factor is low and doesn’t pretend anything more than a reliable place to store and display images. It excels at that.

[@c.augustin]

Flickr is the only alternative for me (I do have a Pro account since this year, or maybe the last, I can't remember) - because everyone can access my images without an account (no "walled garden")! It was this way with Tumblr in the past (but they changed that some years ago), and Instagram also requires an account for viewers. I don't care about "social media" as a whole, for me Flickr is just a way to show my images with some added features (like albums and comments). And Flickr reads XMP/exif data in a useful way (for me, as I use camera scans of film negatives and can give those the data that will show in Flickr the way I want it). One not so obvious feature I love: I can re-upload (change) photos at any time (comes in handy now and then)! Groups? Well, not my cup of tea, but maybe at some point in the future I might have a look at this feature.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Yea, the public access to images is an important point.

[@montycraig5659]

I use Flickr to see a lens, or camera, and the quality that was there. I find it to be a great way to do my research!

[@mtbboy1993]

Keep in mind most pics are edited removing imperfections, I use Lightroom, Photoshop. Mine are unless otherwise stated. Bu yes if it's straight out of camera samples it's nice. There are camera and lens reviewers on Flickr doing this. Keep in mind blacks are compressed on the preview, very noticible on a wid egamjy monitor, but if you look at full size that's not the case. But that's the only compressing I noticed.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Yep - it's great for reseach.

[@lucky_spyke]

Think I might give flckr a go, thanks Andy!

[@Andyhutchinson]

No worries :)

[@thedarkslide]

Flickr is still the best. I'm clocking in at 18 years on Flickr now. This week, I actually deleted by Instagram account permanently. Done with the social media crap. Done with the crappy Only Fan bots. The shit people with their toxicity. Done with Meta's ridiculous content moderation.

[@Andyhutchinson]

I've come close a few times. I only keep it open because I have contacts on there in the tourism industry that I sell photos to - otherwise I'd have deleted it a long time ago.

[@ronmasters751]

Flickr member since 2007, very active most years since, running several active groups. Walrustexas 😎

[@Andyhutchinson]

Nice one. Are they active old groups or active new groups?

[@ronmasters751]

@ Some I made, some I took over. Not very much discussion, except “in explore”, which I co-lead. Flickrology and the new unofficial Help Forum (neither mine) are the most active discussion groups. There are also some critique groups, very active challenge groups with weekly themes, award ladder groups. Several groups have threads with variations on Chain Gang; e.g., “get the picture”, where whoever posts a photo on the requested theme gets to ask for the next one. I asked to see successful afforestation once. 😃 I made 20% Solution (only Faves/Views > 20% with at least 20 faves), Verticality (only portrait orientation), Anthropocene (each photo showing both Nature and Culture). Rescued Karma Photography (people), Sublime Shapes (geometry), Architecture Unlimited, Fast Glass, Visual Haiku. Flickr has fixed a few things, but the prevalence of Zombie groups-still open, but with absentee admins who don’t enforce the group theme-is annoying. Drop in and say hello some time!

[@andycakebread7663]

Hey Andy, you know you might just have hit on a good idea there.... I'm in and can see it being a great adjunct to the channel and a solid two-fingers to the Zuck stuff etc. I only recently didn't renew my sub, simply because of all that tumbleweed.

[@GrahameHall]

I've been a dedicated Flickr user since 2007. I’ve looked at, and dabbled with, a few of the others but none of them provide the same enjoyment for me that Flickr does.

[@Andyhutchinson]

It's had a few pretenders over the years, that's for sure.

[@mtbboy1993]

I've never left Flickr. I was there for years. Even stayed past the 1000 pic limit. And pay for Pro. I have Deviantart too, but I only upload my designs and drawings. Uploading process isn't great, so I don't bother duplicating everything. But on Flickr I upload everything. I love Flickr. There's a massive user base too, I see car photography is massive there. Even trucks, firetruck, and various vehicles. Plenty of groups. I love that it has a map, so one can see where pic was taken.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Just clocked up 23 years on DeviantArt. Used to upload app skins for Stardock customisers back in the day. And wallpapers. Loads of wallpapers.

[@dillank3240]

I continue to support Flickr. I've been a "PRO" member since 2010. It's great for photo sharing, hosting and viewing. It's also great that a lot of the photos have full exif data. It's not great for conversation other than discussing the photos. The terrible part is the proliferation of unmoderated zombie groups. You win some, you lose some, I guess.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Yea - those dusty groups aren't a good look.

[@dancetweety10]

I never left Flickr it is better than Instagram with its minimal possibility to place photos.

[@Sven-R]

Everything you said about the status of Flickr is true, especially the bad situation about finding active groups. Discussions are not used in almost any group, no matter how active the user base in this group is. It’s mostly used, when people complain why their image was rejected in a moderated group. If have always had Flickr as my main sharing site. Archiving inactive groups is not as simple as it sounds. For moderated groups, yes. If the Admins has not been active for more than 12 months, maybe. But there still could be active moderators. For all other groups? Just impossible, because discussions are not a good way to measure how active a group is. I will stick with Flickr although I wish there were some serious improvements. But I really like the non-algorithm driven concept. VERO and glass use this as well. The groups are a good concept, but just look how many macro groups are there, it's insane for someone new. Also I wonder, how many new users are coming to Flickr these days (and stay for longer than 3 months. I haven’t found a site which is better for my needs though. The coupon code might only be available for users without an active subscription. My subscription ends at Dec 27th right now and I can’t use it

[@stevebarnett5048]

I’ve always been with Flickr based on the idea that the nob heads would bugger off to trendy sites, but the world will ultimately always moderate itself and ‘steady as she goes’ will always be the best option.

[@cdl0]

Good suggestion! My account has been inactive for ten years, and I checked it is still there, and I can still login.

[@arunakalu]

I've been a memember since 2009 with a love-hate relationship. I feel that Smugmug hasn't done much for Flickr, other than upping the fees. They changed the interface a little here and there, but nothing much. They keep milking the service. I really like the big photos, and real photographer user expericence in Flickr. I am also a member of Smugmug, and I may stop paying for that soon, it is quite expensive. I hope Flickr will improve and become valid in 2025 and onwards.

[@erichaas]

I've been a Pro member since 2005. Still regularly upload photos.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Nice one. :)

[@stevearcher50]

I've gone back to Flickr this year. Instagram sucks. What I enjoy most is seeing people from poor countries posting photos using 10 year old cameras and learning photography for themselves. It's amazing some of the results they get with such old kit and it's nice to look at something that hasn't been taken by someone who gets a new camera every month and over processes their photos to death. I've even noticed film photographers starting to use it which is great. Coming from the first world myself I've been more inspired to concentrate more on the photos than getting new gear. I followed a mother in India who found a beat up Canon T3 in the landfill next to her neighborhood and she's learning photography in her 50's. There's nothing like that on Instagram.

[@WillNewcomb]

I've been a Flickr user for >15 years, mainly as an archive and diary. I love the albums and groups though disappointed Smugmug haven't improved it. Some things you have to do on a computer.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Could do with some TLC.

[@johnmehalick]

I am on as a pro. I wish more people would make comments.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Maybe it'll happen. :)

[@Sven-R]

Most comments are something like "Seen and admired in group xyz". Do you give individual comments on many images?

[@johnmehalick]

@@Sven-R I did, now a days just check the box!

[@Ozone280]

After being recommended by a photographer friend, I tried joining last year. TBH I found it so complicated all round and in the end I just gave up.

[@gruagach1]

Flickr is dead I have been posting there since 2007 still do. To test in 2019 i started a second account after seeing an interview with the guy that runs it. It was as dead as I thought if you are lucky an image gets one view. The 2007 account is almost the same in the past six months I have almost stopped using it.

[@Sven-R]

As Flickr is not driven by algorithms, no one will see your photos, if you have no followers and if you are not posting them in groups. Posting them in relevant, active groups is the only way until you have a base of active followers. Flickr is not dead by any means. You need to use it in the way it’s supposed to be used.

[@gruagach1]

@@Sven-R Thanks for the comment. Yeah my first account I have followers and I do still post to active groups. The second account I deliberately do not post to groups and have very few followers both account perform very similar. Because of this I set up a website which generates more traffic than Flickr I do not like the you follow for follow thing and do prefer sites that do not rely on algorithms. Thanks again.

[@danielrao3120]

I've been a Flickr contributor since 2012 during which time my enthusiasm for ccoFlickr has waned. But I admit to adding a few protographs quite regularly. Importantly, no longer do I subscribe to other photographers, and I have made it clear that I'm no enamoured with other photographers boldly eulogising the merits of "Likes", joining "Groupa" in large numbers, and repeating meanigless "comments", and taking humbrage when "comments" are challenged. However, Flickr, and this is for me the rub, insists on dreaming up more, and more, irritating means of trying to convince it's non "PRO" contributors to part with their hard earned money. Much like your commentary in this video and the blazing hot red, orange landscapes hanging on your walls, the video does little to convince me to reconsider. I'll probably, God willing, around to witness whether Flickr will reinvent itself and succeed in attracting new contributors in the numbers to make any difference to Flickr's present woes. If so I'll drop you a line and extend my hand in concilliation.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Certainly going to be interesting to see if they ever get round to a redesign.

[@whiskyandlemon]

Good idea !

[@MichaelToussaint0111]

I still use my account for sharing photos including posting links on Facebook

[@Andyhutchinson]

Certainly far better quality than FB

[@colinhothersall8343]

Yes I would love you to create a Flickr group as I would join it.

[@smooth111012]

I might look at my old account too

[@Andyhutchinson]

Blew the cobwebs off :)

[@VGScreens]

I don't like the current page layouts is my only issue with Flickr. They've made it increasingly a clunky chore to navigate and parse. Their design choices probably increase page time interaction and appeal to iPad users or something, but for many it's just annoying to use.

[@Andyhutchinson]

That's a shame - maybe the desktop-first thing isn't always best.

[@michaelhassall6821]

i loke flickr . i have had account since 2010 , i wish it luck.

[@Andyhutchinson]

Me too. It deserves to carry on.

[@SilverfoxJB]

I have just re-downloaded it after this video. Now, can I remember my log in details?

[@Andyhutchinson]

lol - my password had appeared in about 20 hack lists. :)

[@SilverfoxJB]

@ and I have already re-delivered it

[@jimmiebrewer5776]

I am so tried of ads they are everywhere

[@JohnZolla-bp7tl]

Flickr has been threatening me for months. I'm not as active as I have been so I don't need to pay for an upgraded account. I wish they would just cancel my account and be done with it.

[@tomcat7525]

Blockbuster. 😆

[@Andyhutchinson]

The one and only. :)

[@smooth111012]

VERO can accept raw files

[@mtbboy1993]

Somehow I got unsubscribed it seems. 🙄

[@Andyhutchinson]

lol - welcome back :)

[@frontstandard1488]

Flikr is 99% full of shitty amateur photos. oo find any serious photos is a chore. I long gave it up

[@commonwunder]

There're three types of photographer... A) The professional : They will shoot anything for cash. B) The creative : They push the boundaries of what defines photography. C) The hobbyist, who produce the same polished, yet inert images every other hobbyist produces.