Photography Shorts vs Long-Form: Which Works Best in 2025?
What’s up! I hope you’ve been having a great day. My name is Evan Olbricht, and I’m a professional surf and lifestyle photographer here in San Diego. Today we’re diving into a big question for creators in 2025: Should you focus on short-form or long-form content?
The truth is, both have their place. They just work in different ways. Let’s break it down a little more.
The Power of Short For Content
Short-form content (Reels, TikToks, YouTube Shorts) has absolutely exploded in recent years and for good reason.
Explosive Reach & Discovery: Shorts are incredible for getting in front of new audiences. The algorithm loves quick, engaging clips, which means you can grow fast without a big team.
Perfect for Short Attention Spans: In 2025, people want quick content. Quick tips, gear hacks, or behind-the-scenes moments do really well.
Great for Awareness: Shorts help you grow your audience, build brand visibility, and drive people to your longer content or other platforms.
👉 If you’re just starting out, Shorts are the fastest way to get attention and get your brand in front of a huge audience.
The Strength of Long-Form
While Shorts help you get noticed, long-form content is where you build deeper trust and credibility.
Authority & Trust: Long-form videos and blogs let you dive into tutorials, case studies, and real storytelling. This is how you show your expertise.
Higher Watch Time: Platforms reward long-form content with better monetization and stronger audience retention.
Professional Perception: Clients and brands take you more seriously when you can teach, explain, or tell a story in depth.
👉 Long-form is perfect for building community and turning viewers into clients.
How Creators Are Winning in 2025
The smartest creators in 2025 aren’t picking one or the other, but they’re actually using both together.
Use Shorts to Hook: Grab attention with quick, engaging content that pulls people into your world.
Use Long-Form to Retain: Once people find you, keep them around with deeper content that shows your skills and personality.
Repurpose Your Content: Take one long-form video and cut it into 3–4 Shorts. One shoot = multiple pieces of content.
Balance & Consistency: At the end of the day, format matters less than showing up consistently.
👉 Think of Shorts as the gateway, and Long-form as the foundation.
Conclusion
So, which works best in 2025? The answer: both.
Shorts = explosive growth and reach.
Long-form = depth, authority, and income.
The real power comes when you use them together. Shorts bring people in, and Long-form keeps them connected.
If you’re a photographer looking to grow in 2025, don’t limit yourself to one format. Use both strategically, and you’ll build an audience and a business that lasts.
Thanks for reading. If you want more photography insights, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content, make sure to check out my other blogs and subscribe to my YouTube channel.
