Why your friends may stay quiet on your posts and why strangers often cheer louder
This has been on my mind a lot. Maybe you have noticed it too.
Why is it that strangers are often the first to support your business, while the people who know you, grew up with you, or see you regularly seem to stay quiet?
When I started Rise Up Creations two years ago, I thought most of my bookings and support would come from family, friends, and the people who already knew me. Instead, the opposite has been true. Almost all of my bookings, social media engagement, and referrals have come from people I had never met before.
At first, I could not understand it. Shouldn’t the people closest to me be the ones cheering me on? Shouldn’t they be the first to say, “I want to book a session” or at least share my work with others?
And here is the question that I know every creative has asked at some point: Why don’t your friends like your content? Why don’t they repost it? Why don’t they engage and comment when they know this is what drives the algorithm to push your content further?
Don’t worry. I have learned this is more common than you think.
Why Strangers Step In
I have thought about this a lot. Strangers do not carry history with you. They do not see “Cass the teacher” or “Cass from back in the day.” They only see the photographer in front of them. They see your work, your posts, and your vision without attaching it to who you used to be.
That kind of fresh perspective can actually be a gift. When a stranger books a session, shares a post, or sends a referral, it is based on what they see now. Not on past roles or expectations.
So if you are a beginner photographer wondering why the people around you are not supporting you the way you hoped, let me reassure you: it is not a reflection of your talent or value. It is just how things often unfold.
Lessons in the Struggle
I will not sugarcoat it. There have been plenty of days where it felt discouraging. Days when I thought, “Why am I even doing this if no one I know seems interested?”
But here is what I keep coming back to. The journey has been bumpy, but it has also been rewarding. Every stranger who becomes a client is proof that my work matters. Every small booking is proof that I am moving forward. Every engagement on my posts is proof that someone is watching, even if it is not the people I expected.
Through this, I have learned resilience. I have learned patience. I have learned to celebrate small wins instead of only waiting for the big ones.
A Word to Other Beginners
If you are a beginner photographer, let me say this directly: keep going. Keep posting. Keep reaching out. Do not let the silence from friends or family make you question your worth. Celebrate the strangers who cheer you on, because one day they may become your biggest supporters and even friends.
Most of all, believe in your growth. I can see my improvement, and I know the bigger wins are right around the corner. You will see yours too.
So yes, it can feel strange when those you expected to show up do not. But it is not the end of your story. It is only the beginning.
— Cass
