Reply To: The state of the industry in the digital age

[kbee]

I’m not a pro, I don’t get paid for it. I’m an enthusiast. I’ve been taking digital photographs for about 10 years, creating galleries and displaying them as a hobby. I got my first DSLR 7 years ago, and my first Canon EOS 60D 2 years ago. My background is in media and graphic design, with some college education behind it. I have no formal training in photography.

Pros and/or cons of digital photography: I feel the digital aspect has made it extremely easy for people, like me for example, to get into the photography scene. With the low cost of decent equipment and the empowerment of fast and easy media sharing through sites like Facebook, Flickr and such, just about anybody with an interest in the field can give it a shot without the relatively prohibitive costs of yesterday, such as film, development and equipment. This is undoubtedly a positive side to the digital age of photography.

In a way, however, the ease at which casual enthusiasts can get started in photography has, in my opinion, somewhat cheapened the experience. You have the MWAC (mom with a camera) phenomenon, and I’ve witnessed it myself in my circle of friends and family. I have no less than three family members/friends who own brand new SLRs who have not used them, and have no clue on how to use them, yet they wave them around as if dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars onto a camera makes them the family photographer.

So hence, you have a market that’s become saturated with people from all walks of life. From enthusiasts to fauxtographers to genuinely talented professionals. Keeping in mind this is a profession that doesn’t require accreditation or education; it is not like going through law school and passing the bar exam. By it’s very artistic nature, it is open to all individuals with a passion and those who (should) have a talent for it. Sadly, in the latter, that no longer seems to be the case for many.

When running a ‘business’ is as easy as setting up a Facebook page, or a shop on Etsy, people can and do find some niche to settle into as a way to make money. And the more they’re competitive, the better. (Or so they believe.) The quality of goods may not be up to a professional par, but in an age where people want it fast and easy and cheap, professional and quality sometimes isn’t the focus.

Also, how do you feel the industry can be improved in a time where DSLRs are relatively affordable, and the Internet provides a platform for unprofessional behavior?: I feel the best way to at least preserve the integrity of the professionals in photography is to maintain a personal level of responsibility for the quality of work. Continue to learn and grow, challenge oneself and accept criticism along with praise.

Maintain a professional attitude and rapport with clients. It shocks me to see photographers using grossly inappropriate language when dealing with clients or critics, or to see them neglecting their clients by failing to deliver on goods or services. The latter I see quite a lot, with clients posting regular Facebook wall updates asking when their prints would be ready, or when the photographer will return their call.

Educating clients on the true value of good photography. By all means, don’t hit them over the hit and preach about the evils of cheap photography, but be proactive in detailing how priceless a treasured memory is in the years to come, and the insurance a client pays to make sure that memory is preserved with all the skill, respect and humility it deserves is truly a small price to pay.

Do you think education should be a priority for someone going into the industry?: I wouldn’t go so far as to say yes, all photographers should have formal education and be accredited nationally before being able to practice their art. After all, many incredibly talented photographers did not get a formal education.

I do, however, think that a photographer of any caliber – enthusiast or professional – should take it upon themselves to learn as much as they can, however they can. This digital age has hurt photography in some aspects, and yet, it is full of information just waiting to be accessed. Nobody has the excuse that they “didn’t know” or “couldn’t find it” these days. If a person has a passion for photography, I would hope that passion extends to bettering oneself and diving deep into learning from others. Whether that be from online tutorials, formal classes or learning under the  guidance of a professional, there are ways to educate oneself.