Being an Introvert With an Online Presence

How I’m Putting Myself Out There (and Surviving It)

I’m going to start by saying, I’m not even sure I’m an introvert at this point. But I do know I have this weird fear of putting myself out there in front of people I know personally. I don’t think that’s an uncommon thing, though. The people closest to you tend to build a version of who they think you are. So when you step outside of those boxes, it can really catch them by surprise.

I’ve wanted to have a more front-facing online presence for a long time. I have so many ideas and life experiences that I think others could draw from. I’ve traveled the world, lived in my car, hiked and camped in the woods for over two months straight, and currently live on the road while camp hosting (when I’m actually home). These are stories I want to share with the world.

But the fear of having an online presence especially knowing that people I know will see it sometimes feels stronger than the desire to put myself out there. It’s not that I don’t want to share these things. It’s more that I get stuck in this mental loop of What will people think? What if I’m just not good at this? That loop has stopped me more times than I can count.

Putting Yourself Out There for Strangers? Not So Bad.

For me, the idea of putting myself out there in front of strangers doesn’t really feel scary at all. Strangers have no expectations of me, they don’t know my backstory, my job, or what I look like when I’m pissed off that a stagehand ran the SMPTE cable the wrong way (Thats a camera cable for non video produciton people). They’re just here for whatever I decide to share.

And honestly, that feels kind of freeing. With strangers, there’s no history, no weird assumptions about who I’m supposed to be. If I say or do something that doesn’t land, they’ll scroll right past it and move on with their day. No big deal. There’s a kind of blank-slate magic that comes with sharing online with people who don’t already know you.

But when it’s people I know, it feels different. They’ve known me for years, and it’s like everything I share could be measured against who they think I am. Suddenly, posting something feels less like sharing and more like stepping into a spotlight I never asked for.

That’s when the real anxiety kicks in. These aren’t strangers scrolling by; they’re people I know. Some I know on a very personal level. And the thought of them seeing this version of me, one they’re not used to, feels way more vulnerable.

Learning To Deal With The Anxiety

In all honesty, most people you know are probably going to be supportive of whatever you do. But that doesn’t mean the anxiety doesn’t still bubble up when you see a close friend like a story you wrote or a reel you made on Instagram. Are they liking it to be nice, or did they actually enjoy it?

Over the years of putting myself out there in front of friends, I’ve learned something important: it doesn’t really matter what they think. Harsh? Maybe. But hear me out.

I write about photography, shoot photos, while living and breathe this stuff when I have the time. Most of my friends don’t. Sure, they can probably appreciate a nice photo, but do they really want to read a 2,000-word essay I wrote while sitting in my underwear about how I pick which camera to take on a trip? Yeah, I’m guessing the answer is no.

So this brings me to the title of this section how do I deal with that anxiety. Well I just keep sharing, It’s that simple. I’ve found the more I share the more that pressure and uncomfortable feeling just kinda goes away. I know everyone is different and this might not be the fix for you so I’ll list a few things you might be able to do.

• Make a Whole New Online Persona
  Come up with a fake name or a stage name and go to town. I think this is probably the easiest way to get rid of that fear of sharing. No one will know it’s you (unless you tell them), and it gives you some space to create without feeling that pressure of being watched.

• Set Boundaries for Yourself
  You don’t have to share everything. Be intentional about what you post. If something feels too personal, keep it for yourself or share it later, when it feels less raw. Having boundaries takes some of that pressure off and helps you stay in control of your own story.

• Remember Why You’re Sharing
  Whenever the anxiety creeps in, I remind myself that I’m not sharing for likes or approval. I’m sharing because I want to. I’ve learned that when I focus on what excites me, that anxious feeling starts to fade. If even one person connects with what I post, that’s a bonus.

Closing Time

At the end of the day, putting yourself out there is always going to feel a little uncomfortable, and that’s okay. What I’ve learned is that the fear and anxiety might never completely go away, but it gets quieter the more you keep showing up. You don’t need to be an extrovert to share yourself with the world, you just might have to do it a little differently.

You have to remind yourself why you’re doing it in the first place. If it’s something that excites you or makes you feel more alive, that’s reason enough to keep going. Not everyone will get it, and that’s totally fine. You’re not doing it for everyone, you’re doing it for you.

So if you’ve been holding back because you’re worried about what other people think, take a deep breath and start small. Share something that matters to you, even if it’s just a little thing. The more you do it, the easier it gets. And who knows? You might just inspire someone else to step outside their comfort zone, too. For me, the most rewarding part of sharing is knowing it might inspire someone else.

Thanks for reading and letting me share a little bit of this journey with you. If you’ve ever felt this same anxiety, I’d love to hear how you’ve dealt with it.

In Case You Missed It

So, if you didn’t know I started a podcast! It’s called Between the Frames, and so far, I’ve recorded two episodes but just released my first one a few weeks ago. The idea of the show is pretty much like these posts: I talk about personal struggles as a creative and share some thoughts on how to overcome them. And, of course, there’s a lot of talk about photography.

If that sounds like your thing, you can check it out below!

Or find it here to listen on your favorite podcast platform.

Between The Frames W/ Josh Tomlinson

Sharing What Inspired Me This Week.

James is one of my favorite photographers. Not only does he create beautiful work, but he also explains things in a clear and relatable way. In this video, he talks about the fear of sharing your work and the worry that people won’t like it. He points out that if you’re putting yourself out there, it’s inevitable that some people won’t connect with your work. I think this video ties in nicely with this week’s post, and I’m glad I rewatched it.

Lucy has become both a mentor and at this point, I would say a friend. She runs a fantastic podcast and I recently went back to listen to this episode again. It touches on some great points about building an online presence beyond just photography. I won’t spoil it because it’s such a good listen, but let’s just say I walked away from it fired up to share more of myself alongside my photography.

See You Next Week.

Thank you for joining me this week. I hope you’re enjoying this new format. I’ll be sharing more of what inspires me and giving you a deeper look into what makes me tick, hopefully sparking some new ideas or introducing you to things you haven’t seen before.

I’m super grateful for all your support. If you’d like to support me further, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack or picking up a print. It truly means the world to me to have you all on this journey with me.

Imagine we're still hanging out at our favorite cafe, cameras on the table, digging deeper into the conversation about photography. If you've enjoyed this little coffee break and feel like getting me a cortado with oat milk, hop over to my Buy Me a Coffee page. It genuinely keeps the conversation—and creativity—flowing. Cheers, friend!