I Am Not a Social Media Influencer — and I Never Wanted to Be.
I’ve been a professional photographer for 40-plus years now and counting. That alone puts me in a very small percentage of people who chose photography as a career and actually stayed in it.
Most don’t.
The reality is that many people who enter this line of work are gone within five years or less. Burnout, inconsistent income, chasing trends, or realizing that turning a passion into a profession requires more than a camera and a following – all of that takes its toll. Longevity in photography doesn’t come from likes or algorithms. It comes from experience, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the craft.
So I want to be clear – I am not a social media influencer. I never wanted to be one, and I never built my business around that model. Heck I was in the game a decade before that term was even coined.
Photography existed long before social media, and it will exist long after the current platforms fade or change form. Over four decades, I’ve watched trends come, go, and come back again, slightly rebranded, renamed, or repackaged for a new generation. Gear changes. Styles evolve. Platforms rise and fall. The fundamentals, however, remain constant.
That’s where experience matters.
My work has always been grounded in understanding light, composition, timing, visual storytelling, and – most importantly – people. Whether I’m creating portraits, commercial imagery, editorial-style work, or teaching photography, I approach every project with intention and purpose. I don’t photograph to chase trends. I photograph to create work that is solid, thoughtful, and built to last beyond a scroll.
Equally important, I am not just a creator. I am an educator.
Teaching photography has been a significant part of my career for decades. I don’t just know how to take photographs; I know how to explain why something works, how to repeat it, and when to apply it. In my professional, day-job world, there’s a term for that: Subject Matter Expert, or SME.
When it comes to photography, that’s me.
Being an SME isn’t about ego. It’s about depth of knowledge, problem-solving, and the ability to guide others through complex concepts with clarity and confidence. It’s about understanding the “why” behind the “how,” and being able to adapt that knowledge across genres, environments, and technologies.
Most of my business has always happened offline. Real clients. Real conversations. Long-term relationships. Repeat work. Referrals. Many of my strongest professional relationships were built long before social media became part of the equation — and they’ve endured without needing constant online validation.
Social media, for me, is simply a tool. A way to occasionally share work, communicate availability, or provide insight into what I offer. It is not my identity, and it is not how I measure success.
Success, after 40 years, looks different than it does at year one. It looks like consistency. Trust. Longevity. Students who grow. Clients who return. Work that still holds up years later.
I am not here to perform for algorithms. I am here to create, teach, and serve.
I am not a social media influencer. I am a professional photographer and educator with 40 years of experience.
And that distinction matters.
As a professional portrait photographer with 40 years of experience, Mark Knopp has dedicated his career to capturing the perfect portrait. His work spans Hampton Roads, Richmond, and central New York—wherever the vision leads him. Contact him today at mknopp1(at)cox.net.
Photography by Mark K 