In January of 2014, photographer Joan Le Jan created a brand new 500px account that he said was just for sharing what he really liked, with no thought for Pulse.

This was going to be a place where he’d share portraits he liked, and if they didn’t get to Popular, so be it… that’s not what this account would be about. Can you predict what happened next?

That’s right, the account BLEW UP, becoming one of the most popular portrait photography accounts on 500px, earning Joan a Guest Editor spot in August and a ton of Social Media features on the 500px Facebook and Twitter accounts as we discovered photo after photo of his that we absolutely loved.

Ange?line by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

There’s a lesson here, and if it’s not obvious already we’ll put it in writing and bold it for good measure: shoot for yourself.

Don’t take pictures you think other people will like, and don’t hunt down subjects or compositions or processing techniques simply because you think it’ll get you to the top of Popular.

Take photos you love, share them, and let the rest take care of itself. If Joan Le Jan’s experience is any indication, you get a whole lot more popular when you stop aiming for it…

Face the tempest by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Classy by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Disenchanted by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Blue by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Sweetness by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Meeting by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Burn by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Russian Mode by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

What do you want? by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Divergente by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Dunes by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Style by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Sweet thoughts by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Good Bye My Love by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Muslim female by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

The Happiness Is in the Field by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Sacrifice by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

To see further by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

Date by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

autumnal portrait by Joan  Le Jan on 500px.com

To see more from Joan Le Jan, follow him on 500px, give his Facebook page a Like, or go say hi on Twitter.