bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

Photographers today face a troubling predicament – essential software that can only be accessed through expensive subscriptions plans. While I'm not a professional photographer, it appears that many on UHH are professional.

https://fstoppers.com/business/someone-please-save-us-photographers-all-these-subscriptions-649634

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Well, I'm definitely not a pro then...
My stand-alone editors (no subscription) are from 2003; 2022; and 2022.
I normally don't do/need subscription programs, save a couple.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Alex, the author of that article, must be young. He does must not have the photographers life experience to judge value.

The Adobe photographer's plan has abundant tools stuffed in for $10 a month. I don't count the cost of a computer because I need one of those anyway. We don't buy film anymore.

If Alex had the experience of a full, film and paper based darkroom, he would know that $10 a month is cheap. It has been awhile, but my color capable darkroom of the '70s cost me thousands. Chemicals were more than the Adobe subscription.

Alex also whines about the Adobe $60 a month Professional Plans. That is not photography! It includes all the tools for videography and high end graphic arts and production. Anybody want to guess what movie editing used to cost? The graphic arts part is for people paid to make things like wine labels, brochures and magazines. In other words, if you have the skills, you can be in a real business with software costs of only $60 a month paid to Adobe!

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Full of misinformation.

Adobe software (PS) cost hundreds of $$$ before and the updates were expensive. Since the subscription for all (it existed before for pros) the price has been reduced to about $120.00 per year* and includes all the updates. It was such a bargain that all who were drooling or using bootleg software sprang for it. That is WHERE the sudden income came from. Millions of folks worldwide went for it, far more than the ones 'owning it'. Do the math.

Not only that, but the price has stayed the same. There is no loss here, just benefits.

The other software on the other hand (end?) are expensive, even on a subscription basis, and do not offer the flexibility of Adobe.

Addressing the 'compatibility' issue if one stops using any software... TIFF (format) is not made for the dogs and offers straight forward compliance with other titles. Loss of data is only (!) plain lack of planning. This is a non issue when using the provided link.

Pressure to add other stuff for the 'latest and greatest'... A self-inflicted wound in my opinion, as if folks took the time to learn their software, they would not need add-ons or even other software (regardless of title). This article is misleading if anything, if not simply disingenuous.

Love the plug-in for Affinity. THAT says everything.

As to the diversion toward heated car seats, streaming and gaming? WTH?

The writer should stick to mounting real horses... He is said to be an equestrian...

--------------
* The price is higher outside the US.

Hip Coyote

Save us from a 20 something writing about subscriptions. Skip one day a week at Starbucks or a favorite kolache shop and I’m sure he’ll come out ahead. I do not use Adobe’s cloud beyond what is offered in the photographers plan. But even at added expense being able to edit photos on the move and have them edited and avail on a desk top or across platforms. Amazing deal.

120 bucks for the power of consistently updated leading edge software? A bargain. Want open source, meaning free? What’s next, student loan forgiveness? Oh wait…

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Developers develop/maintain software.
One wants to use it, buy or subscribe, depending on their business model.
Easy.

tdozier3 Loc: Northern Illinois

I'm more than happy with my Paintshop Pro 2022 and Aftershot Pro 3 from Corel that I own without a subscription. It does everything I need and more.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Adobe's version of "buy it, don't rent it" is Photoshop Elements. This time of year it is on sale for $60 and good until you wear it out.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

THAT kind of software I like.
e.g. WS-FTP'95 and Quicken 2007...

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Save us photographers? Give me a break. There are plenty of photo software programs available for a one time charge. I'm one who started with the first version of Photoshop and knows it was much more expensive before the subscription, and considers the $10 a month plan for the best photo software available a great bargain, especially in light of everything included in the plan. No need to save me.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

"No need to save me."

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Perhaps "Essential Software" is down to opinion. However, I stay away from subscription plans.
I'd like to recommend Affinity as a top of class main editor, which is "buy and own with free updates" and generously inexpensive. If you can't do it with Affinity then you don't need to do it. There are also legacy editors from the same stable - PhotoPlus v7 or v8. (I love v7). Or how about PhotoFiltre? No need to add to the riches of Adobe and Zoner etc.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Mine cost me a mere $9.99 a month. And I have so much fun with it. Probably cost me around 10 cents an hour with all the work I do on it for a month.
No, I am no longer a professional. My guess is most of the folks here are amateur's, not professionals.
You can pick up old copies of adobe photoshop elements for cheap.
In fact, bobbyjohn, private message me and I'll send you my copy of adobe photoshop elements 14 for free. How about that for a troubling predicament.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Software is like any other technology these days. It has bugs...becomes out of date or incompatible with new OS and hardware platforms/devices....and developers often think of new features and capabilities that can be added, often at user demand, especially in these social media days. Software requires maintenance as it adapts to the world around it. Years ago we thought of software as a book or a hammer that would not change over time....and that mentality carries till today...."Hey I bought it and OWN this box!" Good, just keep in mind what you own needs to be maintained occasionally.

I recall the days when the Adobe CS was over $1500 and it actually came in a box! When Adobe introduced the software suite subscription for only $50/month or less, I knew a revolution was coming...that was less than a decade ago.

BebuLamar

It's the photographers themselves can change it. Should not be the government. The subcription model is so popular today because the majority of photographers prefer it. Mainly they want to pay a small amount monthly rather the than a large sum at one time. In a society the whole have to follow the majority.