Join me in the FlakChat?
I'm launching a photography chat group for FlakPhoto subscribers
Just what you need — another app!
Hey folks, a quick update from FlakPhoto HQ: I’m adding a new feature to my Substack — a private photography chat group for FlakPhoto subscribers.
I’m calling it the FlakChat.
I’ve been hosting photo community conversations for years — on Facebook and Twitter, mostly. But hanging out in a private space not policed by Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg sounds pretty good right now. I hope this chat group can be a pure signal of photography goodness and an easy way to talk directly with each other.
As with this newsletter, the FlakChat is an experiment. I’ll ask questions, show photos, recommend books, and share links, opportunities, and community news, and you can jump into the discussion and share your thoughts if the urge strikes.
Does this sound interesting? I hope so. You can join me here.
I’ve wanted to experiment with a FlakPhoto chat group for a long time, so I’m excited about this new direction. My chats will be the kind of thing you’ve come to expect from me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter over these many years. As I wrote in my reboot post, I’m trying to use those apps less these days.
Ideally, the FlakChat will be all photography signal and no extraneous noise. None of the junk that comes with those other social nets will be part of this experience.
I expect this group will be small, which is just fine. I’ll use the FlakChat to share ideas and keep in touch. And with the big three social nets imploding, this will be a nice ad-free and algorithm-free place to look at pictures and think about photography together.
Some of my chats will only be available to paid subscribers, so please consider upgrading to a paid subscription if you don't want to miss out.
Here’s the catch: you need to install the Substack app to join (chats are sent in the app, not email). I understand if you’re reluctant to install another app. I am too! I’m giving it a shot, because I’m desperate to do my thing without so many reels, ads, censors, and algorithms mucking up the place. This chat seems like a way forward.
No worries if you decide you don’t have the bandwidth for this. I get it!
If you’d rather not join, you don’t have to do anything, and it won’t impact your newsletter subscription. You’ll still get these emails from me in your inbox from week to week. Substack tells me that, eventually, these chats will be accessible from the Web, so you can hold off until that happens if you want.
I’ve already started my first FlakChat, so come on over and say Hello!
How to get started
Download the Substack app by clicking this link or the button below. Chat is only on iOS for now, but it’s coming to Android soon.
Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.
Toggle your notifications. Make sure you turn on push notifications, so you don’t miss anything. You can turn notifications on and off for select chats.
That’s it! You should be all set. Let me know if you have any questions or if there’s anything else I can do to help. See you there?
Anything to get away from the Muskovites as I’ve dubbed them now or the Zuckers!!
Hi Andy! I believe it will be a pleasure to follow you here too. For me, it is better to add an app but to gain serenity in communication. I hope that the chat will also be made available on Android as soon as possible.