Glass: The New Photo-Sharing App - Beyond Instagram

The Evolving Landscape of Photo Sharing and the Rise of Glass

Recent announcements from Instagram, including statements by product head Adam Mosseri, indicated a shift away from its origins as a platform primarily for sharing square photos. The app is now increasingly focused on shopping and video content. This evolution prompts the question of where photographers seeking a dedicated social photo-sharing experience can turn.

A Need for a Photographer-Centric Network

Tom Watson, a former product designer with experience at both Facebook and Pinterest, believes a dedicated social network for photographers has been absent for some time. This realization led him and co-founder Stefan Borsje to develop Glass, an iOS application built on a subscription model specifically designed to serve as a haven for photographers.

Watson explained to TechCrunch his fondness for earlier photography communities, recalling, “I’ve always loved photography, and when Flickr was acquired by Yahoo, it was a disappointing moment. I appreciated that dedicated, technically-minded photography community.” He continued, noting Instagram initially filled this void, but anticipated its eventual trajectory, having observed the dynamics within Facebook following its acquisition of Instagram.

A Subscription Model for Community Focus

The choice to implement a monthly subscription fee – $4.99, or $29.99 annually – may seem unconventional in an era of free, ad-supported social media. A 14-day free trial is offered, however, the app immediately requests App Store payment information. This could present a hurdle for users hesitant to commit, fearing they might forget to cancel before the trial concludes. However, this approach is deliberate.

Watson and Borsje intentionally aim to construct an application – supported by a team of only five – without relying on venture capital or advertising revenue. Their primary commitment is to their community of photographers, and they wish to remain accountable solely to them.

“My intention was to pursue a different path, initiating with a social subscription model and bootstrapping without external investment,” Watson stated. “We’ve witnessed the consequences of seeking venture capital and aiming for expansive growth. It often leads to a divergence from the core photographer community in pursuit of broader appeal.”

Prioritizing the Photographic Experience

Upon launching the Glass app, the focus on photography is immediately apparent. Following photographers results in a feed of images designed to minimize distractions. Photos are displayed full-screen, with user attribution revealed only by swiping right on the image.

Clicking on a photograph reveals its caption and technical details regarding its capture. Social interaction is facilitated through comments, but the deliberate absence of “likes” is a key design element, although Watson acknowledges user requests for a bookmarking feature.

In the near future, Glass will introduce discovery features, including categorized photographs. A feedback board is also available, enabling users to suggest features and vote on ideas, with development progress clearly indicated as “in progress” when a suggestion is adopted.

Technical Details and Community Roots

Even in its early stages, Glass distinguishes itself from platforms like Instagram and VSCO by providing access to EXIF data. This information – encompassing camera model, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and focal length – is highly valued by dedicated photography enthusiasts. This type of data and a strong sense of community were hallmarks of Flickr’s early success.

However, when Yahoo offered free users up to one terabyte of storage, Flickr transitioned into more of a personal archive. SmugMug’s subsequent acquisition of Flickr in 2018 and the reduction of free storage to 1,000 photos further shifted its focus.

Glass also accommodates a wider range of image aspect ratios, supporting up to 16:9, which is standard for many camera formats. Instagram, despite moving beyond its square format, still requires cropping of vertical photographs taken with most cameras.

Safety and User Control

Similar to VSCO, Glass does not display follower counts, though comments are visible. However, users can view who is following their own account. Watson emphasized the importance of safety features, stating, “We thought that was important for safety. If someone follows you, you need to know who that is, and to be able to block them.”

Blocking and reporting functionalities were prioritized from the outset of the app’s development.

Early Success and Future Outlook

While Watson refrained from disclosing specific download numbers, he expressed satisfaction with the initial response to Glass. The app launched with a waitlist in August and recently opened to all iOS users. The waitlist wasn’t intended to create hype, but rather to ensure a stable user experience and prevent server overload. Hundreds of invites were reportedly sent daily during the waitlist period.

“I’ve been involved with the internet for a considerable time, and I once felt there was a more welcoming and secure environment,” Watson concluded. “I hope that by adopting this subscription model, we can recreate that atmosphere to some extent.”