lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

Digital cameras have made "good enough" photos available to everyone. Everyone now thinks he is a professional. There will still be a discerning audience which appreciates quality portraits, but I fear that too will erode and snapshots will become the new standard for display. Earlier in the week there was an article bemoaning the downsizing of the wedding photography business.

Dennstedt Loc: Ciudad de Merida, Yucatan, MX

I agree 100%.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

Not worried in the least bit. People still buy Lexus, Mercedes.
99.99 percent of photographers will never be able to build Mercedes/Lexus quality photos. This site is proof of that.
Like anything you get what you pay for.

Producing a snapshot is easy.
Creating a world class image in a particular style that no one else can do... Priceless..

Russ

lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

Pretty much the point I was trying to make. If one enters the business, do so with the intent of creating a unique product for a unique audience. Having said that, there should still be a concern that the standards for what defines a "photograph" will become whatever comes out of any digital camera. Sears and Walmart may have produced a product that was a mere pretense of what a good portrait should be, but it was still better than what most people have on their iPhones. While most people may not be able to afford luxury cars, they still would like to have one ( probably for the wrong reasons, but at least they perceive a qualitative difference in automobiles). My concern is that we will get to a point where people won't even know or care what constitutes a good image. Great photographers will still earn a good living, but they will exist in world where few appreciate them.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

Well won't that be all the better for photographers though? I mean if people think that they have amazing pictures that are really snapshots won't that allow for professional photographers to show what they produce and have people say "Hey that's awesome, I can't do that in a million years. I think I would rather have your photos that look better." Or am I dreaming?

lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

But people are not doing that as evidenced by the shutting down of the (albeit very mediocre) Sears and Walmart studios, and by the fact that wedding photographers, as reported by the N.Y. Times, are seeing incomes dropping and the sales of albums decreasing. People aren't saying "I can't do that" but instead are saying the stuff coming out of my pocket camera looks just about as good as what I have to hire a professional to accomplish. Perhaps part of the problem is cost in our down economy, but I don't think so.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

Ok, yes I see what you are saying. No I don't think a lot of it has to do with the economy. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that there are those people out there who think that they will go pick up a camera and make some money by being a photographer. What customers end up getting from those people are snapshots so they are unaware that there is something better out there. That's what I'm saying. Those who really know what they are doing need to try and get out there more and say "Here's why my prices are what they are. I do everything I can to take the best photos of _____ (Wedding, family, etc.) so years from now everyone will still be talking about how amazing your photos look."

Eventually I feel that people will want the more professional looking photos for lifetime events and for memories and they will seek out those talented enough to give them what they want. Maybe I'm being crazy here, but I really think that even though our society is becoming all about now, now, now, and they can take snapshots and see the results right away and have them for a lifetime they will say "I wish I had better photos of this event to show my grandchildren and be passed down even farther."

shutterbug64 Loc: Colorado

People buy Lexus, Mercedes, etc. because there is advertising that pushes their quality. What has happened to Kodak, PPofA, Canon, Nikon, etc. advertising the benefits of hiring a pro compared to doing it yourself. Dollars and cents. More money in selling everyone a product than to promote the ones that use the high end product. Where are the companies that use to promote professional photography? We have to attempt to toot our own horn and try to make a difference. Had a client that I did a 1 year portrait of their child and then that child became a Senior and they had the new up and coming photographer (and already gone) do their Sr. Picture (not portrait). Told me they hung the new picture (not portrait) next to the 17 year old portrait I did & there was no comparison in the quality of the print as the new one already looked faded compared to my 17 year old one. They learned the lesson of quality but sad that to much of that happens today in photography and us quality people are being pushed out of the business because no one is helping us toot our horn and my tooting seems to go to deaf ears. Want a good quality car, buy a Mercedes. Want a portrait that will last a lifetime, hire a professional! And just like the Mercedes, a professional that will be here tomorrow and years to come.

obeone

Part of what makes a great photo follows the old adage. "F-8 and be there." With the advance and development of better and newer point and shoot devices, the number of photographers who can make a living through photography only is going to drop every year. I don't think the public perceptions of what a great photograph is has changed. They can see hundreds of photos every day on the inter-net shot with things as low end as cell phone cameras.

edgorm Loc: Rockaway, New York

Just as well that they are closing down. They have hurt real photographers by flooding the market with what they call "portraits". I worked at Sears for ten years in a different department, but I know that all the training they give these underpaid kids, for the most part, is minimal and solely based on formula. They do not promote creativity at all. Anyone who gets a job at a place like this with the idea of learning photography is a fool. They teach no theory, composition or lighting techniques. They are trained to pose a subject a certain way in a certain situation, put the lights here here and here and set the camera to this or that. All post is done off site by some other hack who has no familiarity with the shoot who is also following a formula. I say good riddance.

Eveline

I agree however, Sears and Walmart did fill a gap for those who wanted a formal portrait but couldn't afford a professional photographer. I used them when my kids were little and our budget was tight. Those pics have not faded and I am glad I have them. At present people who can't afford a photographer just take the pics themselves, or get a friend to do so. So the loss of Walmart and Sears photographers is not a big deal. I do believe that those who could afford a photographer will still continue to use them as the photos are much better quality.

Dennis

You can have all the photographic know how in the world but if nobody wants to buy your work then what good is it.
Art is based on appeal and perception of the work.

DugE Loc: Windham, Maine

The vanashing of these "studios" is a so called blessing because of the snap-it and go attitude that came with them, more sittings equals more money, sell them the bigger package, regardless of how well the potrait was done,
the second part of this discussion is the same thing thats been stated before equipment is out there in consumers price range that makes them feel that after a month of shooting with it and people saying "you should go pro" they start doing weddings for their friends and then they feel that they are getting word out and soon they have their own "business" and they quit their day job and start becoming a "professional"....mind you no formal training no more than a couple of months shooting digital, maybe reading a book or two...then comes oneday when they are asked to shoot a very formal shoot for big money and end up botching the gig. All their "business" goes out the window, mean while they have stolen several jobs from true "pro's" that have been trying to make a living in the profession,

Word of mouth is one of the most easy ways to get business, do a good job at a reasonable price and satisfy the customer they will tell ten people, do a crappy job or be difficult to work with at a high price and they will tell a hundred to stay away.
It really all boils down to good customer service and prove that you are a "great" photographer

normsImages Loc: Alabama for now

Now if only Olan Mills (life touch) would do the same. After Olan Mills sold out to life touch they have become just as bad as wal-mart.

JayMo Loc: Milton, Florida

Amen