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ON FEATURE SHOOT

François Brunelle’s Doppelgänger Photos Changed His Life

“This project made me realize who I was,” François Brunelle tells us. Since 2000, the artist has been seeking out—and photographing—unrelated “look-alikes” who could pass for identical twins. Most have never met before stepping into his studio, and some live thousands of miles apart.

As it happens, the artist eventually found his doppelgänger while working on the project. “Perhaps we all have a desire to be close to someone who looks like us,” he reflects. “I think maybe we hope that this person is, in fact, a little bit like us.” The project has traveled the world and led to scientific research: last year, one study revealed that the “look-alikes” who look most similar share more genes than those who look less alike.

“This project has helped me to find at least five hundred new friends (the look-alikes in my collection), plus a lot of interesting people (journalists and scientists),” Brunelle says now. I’m Not a Look-Alike! has caught the attention of multiple generations now; in the internet age, where everything seems fleeting, this is one project that endures.

Brunelle’s portraits present questions about what it means to be human and how we relate to one another. Sometimes, the project has even gone so far as to answer those questions, though it almost always sparks new ones along the way.

Read the entire interview on Feature Shoot.

PhotoVogue Festival 2023 Will Exhibit Both AI and Photography, Stirring Debate

In the ever-evolving world of photography, the decision by PhotoVogue to showcase AI-generated imagery alongside traditional photography in its upcoming festival is stirring debate. Curated around the theme of “Image in the Age of AI. What Makes Us Human,” the program has photographers (or should I say “image-makers”) divided. I’m old enough to remember the fierce “film vs. digital” debate, and while I think AI is more of a threat to some photographers’ livelihoods than digital cameras ever were, I can’t help but be reminded of that time.

The festival, set to take place from November 16-19, 2023 in Milan, is a testament to the rapidly changing landscape of visual arts. Alessia Glaviano, Head of Global PhotoVogue and Director of PhotoVogue Festival asks us to consider the following: “How can one have a definitive stance on something as vast and novel as AI-generated content? This very uncertainty is why we’ve chosen to focus our festival on this theme. I believe that diving deep into every facet of this conversation is essential, and I hope our festival serves as a platform for enriching dialogue that advances our understanding.”

I recommend checking out this post on Glaviano’s Instagram if you want to join the conversation.

To learn about the issues many photographers have with the festival and the impact of AI on photography (in general), read Feature Shoot for a quick rundown.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Be your own algorithm.

A year ago, I was invited by Meta to join a private Facebook group called “Meta Creators Community.” I had given up on social media as a significant traffic source for Feature Shoot, but I was curious, so I accepted the invite. I figured out pretty quickly that the group mainly consists of creators with large followings complaining about the ever-changing algorithm on Instagram. This was kind of comforting in that it reinforced that it’s not about our content not being good enough or popular enough; it’s simply the algorithm that’s the issue. And it’s an issue that everyone is dealing with.

This a sentiment echoed in Linktree's newly released "2023 Creator Report”. While the report confirms the known struggles with algorithms and tries to give a few solutions, it also sheds light on lesser-known monetization strategies on social media like tips, gifts, paid requests, and affiliate marketing (all facilitated by platforms like Linktree or Beacons (if you’re looking for something more robust)).

The report encourages creators to "be your own algorithm," something I strongly agree with. I think photographers (especially those without huge followings) must think about how to reach and connect with audiences outside of social media to remain visible in this highly competitive and fast-changing space.

We believe newsletters are the answer for photographers and creators looking to “own their audience.” And after trying five platforms in the last five years, we’ve moved Feature Shoot’s entire operation to Beehiiv and have not looked back.

Want to know how Beehiiv can help you? We have put together a guide on “21 Ways Beehiiv Can Help Photographers Grow Their Business” that is free when you sign up for an account. Additionally, when you opt for a paid plan, you'll get a complimentary 20-minute consulting call with me, Alison Zavos, to discuss custom strategies for starting (or growing) your specific newsletter.

Click the link below and then forward your welcome message to [email protected], and we’ll send you the guide. These tips can be applied to many different fields as well, so even if you're not a photographer, you'll get value from them.

Here’s how you can gain access:

1. Register on Beehiiv at no cost.

2. Opt for a paid plan (available from just $49/month).

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NEWS

• Getty Images to launch a new image generator trained only on images from Getty's library of licensed photos. Getty will also pay creators if it uses their AI-generated image to train current and future versions of its AI. (link)

• ChatGPT gets more powerful by the second: can now mimic voices, discuss images, and search the internet in real-time. (link)

• Ready or not, Meta is bringing in new AI features to Instagram, including AI image editing, AI stickers, and an AI assistant to start. (link)

• One of the UK's most photographed trees has been cut down by a 16-year-old boy. (link)

• Photographer Phillip Toledano’s AI feature in Photograph Mag did not go down well on Instagram. (link)

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