Less Social Media, More… top Class Media
Well… 2026 is here. And it’s already February.
I’m not quite sure how that happened, or how it happened so fast, but here we are. New year, new ideas, and some exciting things lined up with AJP Automotive. This post is just a way for me to touch base, let everyone know what to expect from me in 2026, and share my aims and goals for the year ahead.
So, let’s get into it.
Less Social Media, More… Top Class Media
As the title suggests, in 2026 I’m going to be focusing on producing the very best images and shoots I possibly can.
Anyone who knows me will know I’ve had a love/hate relationship with social media ever since I picked up a camera in 2016. Wow… that’s 10 years ago. JEEEEZZZZ.
There’s no denying social media is a powerful tool. Some people make an incredible living from it, and fair play to them. What an awesome way to make money. But I think you have to be a certain type of person to really make social media work.
I don’t think I fall into that category.
I’m not a show-off, and I don’t enjoy being the centre of attention. I much prefer operating in the background and letting the camera do the talking. I’ve tried pointing the camera at myself, speaking to social media, doing YouTube… and I’ve hated it. It just doesn’t feel natural to me.
Another thing I won’t do is follow trends or change my vision just to chase likes and follows. If that works for others, great. Honestly, well done to them. But I can’t bring myself to create for an algorithm instead of creating for the craft. I want to stay true to what makes me tick in photography.
I’d describe myself as more of a documentary-style photographer. That doesn’t always compete with flashy, heavily processed images that perform well online. I also gravitate toward the classic car world rather than the hyper-modern hypercar scene which, understandably, pulls huge attention on social platforms.
Those two things combined don’t exactly lend themselves to social media “success.”
And that’s absolutely fine.
Being the Best at What I Love
Which brings me to my aims and goals for 2026.
I’ve already had the privilege of picking up two incredible jobs this year that genuinely speak to me and tick every box in terms of what I want to shoot.
If I were chasing trends or changing my style to suit what performs online, I don’t believe those jobs would have come my way. I think I’ve built a small but solid reputation for the quality of my work and the way I see the car world and that means far more to me.
I want people to think of me when they need the very best images of their cars or their events. Whether that’s:
A studio shoot cataloguing a special car
An on-location lifestyle shoot
A family rally documenting meaningful moments (spoiler alert… watch this space)
I want to be the person people trust to document those things at the highest possible level. That’s what makes me tick.
What to Expect from AJP Automotive in 2026
You probably already have an idea after reading this, but let me expand a little.
Don’t expect daily posts on Instagram or Facebook. That’s not where my focus will be.
I’ll be concentrating on events and photoshoots that genuinely excite me. When work is ready to be shared, it will live on my website, on the blog, where I can present it properly.
You can expect:
High-quality imagery
Strong storytelling
Words that complement the images
A deeper, more considered presentation of each shoot
In 2026, I want to elevate both my photography and my writing to the highest level I can reach. I’ll leave social media strategy to the people who thrive on it and I’ll focus on producing work I’m truly proud of.
Real. Pure. Honest images.
No AI. No over-processing. Definitely not.
There’s already more than enough artificial imagery in the world. I want my work to feel authentic. If a car has dents, scuffs or rust and that’s part of its story, that’s what you’ll see. Cars as they are. Not as an algorithm thinks they should look.
And people! People matter just as much as the cars.
The owners. The mechanics. The drivers. The admirers. The ones who grew up with these machines and built memories around them.
Without people, cars are beautiful.
With people, cars are emotional.
Thanks for Sticking Around
That wraps up my first post of 2026.
Thank you for sticking around and taking the time to read this. And thank you for allowing me to do something that brings me so much joy.
As always, if you have a car, a project, or an event you’d like documented, drop me an email through the website or give me a call. I’d love to be part of something special within the car world here in Thailand and across SEA.
Thanks again,
Arran.
