Comments on: Photography is Headed for an Industry Storm

By: Hasta La Vista Baby (Until September) « The Art & Business of Filmmaking & Photography

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:05:44 +0000

[…] Photography is headed for an industry storm […]

By: Jerry Horton

Jerry Horton — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 02:58:42 +0000

Well I think that as photographers its up to us to set the standards. If our equipment manufacturers produce equipment that anyone can use to produce an acceptable image then we must educate them on how much better a image crafted for their specific purpose is and that the price is worth the difference to them.
After all its the manufacturers business to sell equipment, and they educate their consumers that anyone can use this and produce good pictures. That’s what they do.
Now we must do the same, educate our clients that what we do will produce more return then just thumbing though a catalog. So far from what I’ve seen we just go “The bar is falling, The bar is falling.” These people who buy photos know that images make the sale, we need to remind them that there is a world of difference between a good image and a perfect image. That’s our job.

By: Ron Dawson

Ron Dawson — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:12:52 +0000

In reply to selina maitereya. Selina, how would you define the education that costs $20,000? It's a bold statement to say a person needs to still get a $20,000 education to be a professional photog when the overwhelming photogs I know (many of whom are quite successful) did not have that education.

By: Ron Dawson

Ron Dawson — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:10:31 +0000

In reply to PEGGY MORSCH life photography. Don't know about the lottery ticket Peggy :), but I bet you can expect the labs to be changing/adding ways in which they serve photogs in order to adjust to the consumers needs.

By: selina maitereya

selina maitereya — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:09:06 +0000

I feel you are a bit reactive.The educational freebies you site are helpful tools (ive created a bunch) but they dont replace true education which still costs $20,000 and up for 4 year ventures. It s great to have educational opt that are for free it helps everyone
But they do not substitute and are not meant to replace assisting and eduction.Yes some folks will take short cuts they always have and pros know that they are not competing with wannabes. Iv e been in our business for 30 years , instead of worrying about this years model of negativity, photographers would be best advised to focus on what they can do to improve THEIR craft and service.

By: PEGGY MORSCH life photography

PEGGY MORSCH life photography — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:52:15 +0000

I opened two emails this morning from professional portrait studios in Wisconsin. They are going out of business and selling their equipment/business. Then I opened Ron’s blog. Time to buy a lottery ticket Ron!

For those that are ready to retire, now seems like a good time. For others, stay true to your brand/style/service. It’s the reason your clients seek you out. I agree that the capital expenditure to opening a photography business is significantly less these days. The web learning opportunities and decked out tour buses cruising to cities across America is a quite phenomenon. Seems like there’s a lot more money to be made teaching photography than actually doing it – at least in the portrait world.

No doubt there will be a contraction in photography providers, labs, and suppliers. This year I’ve seen more labs and suppliers having more sales. Could there be a slow down in the sea change with a disruption in the supply of gear from Japan?

By: David Jay

David Jay — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:53:41 +0000

So true Ron! Thanks for always leading the charge and encouraging photographers.

Keep rockin!
dj

By: Ken Wilson

Ken Wilson — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:16:14 +0000

In reply to Michael ONeill. I like this guy. Well said, Mr. ONeill.

By: Ken Wilson

Ken Wilson — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:11:33 +0000

In reply to Ron Dawson. Ok. I replied but it ended up attached to the comment prior to this one. My bad.

By: Ken Wilson

Ken Wilson — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:09:01 +0000

In reply to Ron Dawson.

We as media production professionals (photography, film, video, design, audio, multi-media, take your pick) are a reflection of the media industry and the industry as a whole is a reflection of ourselves. It matters how we are, and our work is, perceived by our clients and the public both as individuals and as an industry.

By mentoring others (newbies and veterans alike) we raise and improve the perception of the media industry as a whole. A perception from which all of us benefit, newbie and veteran alike. I don’t want my prospective clients to view my work and surmise that they could do equivalent work no matter how unskilled they may be. I want them to view my work and the work of my colleagues and realize that the only way to have that level of work themselves is to hire us. The goal is to cut through the noise of YouTube et. al. and show our industry and ourselves as the most desired alternative.

So by mentoring (newbies, veterans and ourselves) and creating a benchmark that clients perceive as attainable only through ‘pros,’ we all benefit. That’s why I say “mentor unselfishly.” Those who can learn from you will, and the rest… well…. There’s a storm a-comin’. Those willing to learn (whether it’s new skills or basic skills) will raise their personal benchmark and the benchmark for our entire industry.

As I like to say; “Why hire the rest when you can hire the best.”