Peering into Periscope, The Private TV Broadcast Channel

The trends in social media change so quickly and yet so glacially that it’s always tricky to predict what’s going to stick and what will fall by the wayside, but Periscope, it seems, is here to stay. Jeremy Cowart, who spoke at PhotoPlus Expo this year about building social media followings, calls it “the most disruptive and most futuristic platform yet. I mean, we all now have private TV broadcasts on our phones!”

Photo © Norton Zanini

It’s certainly taken off since its launch earlier this year, no less among photographers who can teach and share knowledge live, as if they have their own CreativeLive channels. “People thousands of miles away can tune in and have a conversation with you in real-time,” says Chase Jarvis, who was on the same PPE panel—he uses the platform to share insight, answer viewers’ questions and give an insider’s look into what he’s up to. “That’s awesome, and I think it will push us to evolve our ideas and iterate more quickly.”

Having the photographers you look up to in the palm of your hand certainly makes Periscope more alluring, says Cowart, who does his best to add as much value to his live broadcasts as possible to keep his channel interesting, authentic and to “not bore” his viewers. “I think [Periscope] breaks down a lot of the mystery with people you admire—that can be both good and bad, depending on who the photographer is.”

It’s also a change of pace from the more editable visual channels like Instagram and Facebook. “A lot of social media is a curated version of our best selves, and that’s an unrealistic view,” Jarvis says. “Just like everyone else, I spend a lot of time at 3 a.m. looking at the ceiling listening to the gremlins in my head telling me I’m not doing a good job. That’s real life, and I think it’s just as important (if not more) to share, and by sharing that, we change the face of what ‘success’ really is.”

PERISCOPE POINTERS

Add Value

“If you want to get above the noise and make a lasting impact, add value to someone’s day,” Jarvis says. “Share something meaningful.”

Interact

“Answer your viewer’s questions, but try to do it all at once,” Cowart advises. “Deliver your content and finish your thoughts, and then answer questions at the end.”

Be Presentable On Camera

“I’m already seeing horrendous screenshots of myself pop up everywhere,” Cowart says. “It’s a very vulnerable platform, but that can be a really beautiful thing about it, too.”

Keep It Conversational

“The fact that you can see and respond to comments in real-time is really the golden nugget of the platform,” Jarvis says. “Having a conversation and making it personal will help elevate what you’re sharing.”