I remember when I first started as a local guides, I guess I was shy about giving reviews so my reviews were short or sometimes will just grade with the star grading system, but as I started visiting more places, seeing other people’s reviews and being challenged by gaining a higher level in the program, I started making more meaningful reviews, you can see some of them in the attached image. I would love to always give great reviews, but sometimes of course the product or service is not as great and that has to be mentioned and to be known by owners in a way to improve their offerings.
The Local Guides program allows me to promote and recommend small businesses so that they can make an impact to their clientele. It is hard for small businesses to stand out from their competitors in the city I live (Guadalajara), because people from around here find it hard to try out new things. So I like taking part, changing that paradigm, visiting new places, talking about them, giving them good reviews so that more people become aware of the good things these places have to offer. That is what the Local Guides program means to me; giving back, solidarity, and fellowship, helping entrepreneurs stay in the business.
Quoting Steve McCurry here: it is also about sharing “the urgent need to wander and observe”, using the camera as a medium. As a photographer, this is a great way to share my everyday adventures in a way that they can be used for the service of others.
