Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred for The New York Times
Interesting article in The New York Times:
For Photographers, the Image of a Shrinking Path
By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD
Published: March 29, 2010
Amateur photographers, happy to accept small checks for snapshots, are underpricing professionals.
Here's a permalink to the article: For Photographers, the Image of a Shrinking Path
6 comments:
It is the situation with the written word and journalism I'm afraid.
this is so true. As of late it just seems that everyone has an SLR and well as a professional they stand right next to you taking the same picture you are with the same camera or an even better camera so how do you sell them pictures. That is where real skill comes it and giving them something they can't get on their own. Unfortunately the pallet of the average person couldn't distinguish between quality photos or just plain snap shots..after all, art is in the eye of the beholder.
I think there is always an untapped market it just takes one person to pioneer and make then everyone else will follow.
I think it's wrong to say "Amateur photographers, happy to accept small checks for snapshots". It's more of a democratization of the tools needed to do a successful photo shoot. Anyone can buy a DSLR, the strobist movement means good-looking lighting for cheap and excellent post processing tools are available for free.
This means that amateur photographers in many cases can do just as good a job as a professional. It's pretty much the same reason why magazines and newspapers are declining, the internet and social networks have lead to a democratization of news.
To be successful as a professional photographer, you have to offer more than what amateurs are capable of, and in addition be able to educate your customer why you're worth the extra cash. As always, it's about staying competitive, instead of weeping over the past.
Interesting that the camera manufacturers who produce a camera “so easy that a cave man could do it” take no responsibility for creating the demise of the revered professional photographer. The quantity of professional camera equipment sold annually far exceeds the number of professional photographers by a long margin. Give those same “dreaded amateurs” a battery-less camera and the dilemma would quickly resolve itself. Then there are all of those workshop instructors and photoshop guru’s promising the professional results that takes bread right off the table. There were countless story tellers out there who couldn’t use a camera...until now. I also find it interesting how few consumers equate the cost of advertising to the price paid at the check out counter. The advertising tax...the cost of a bottle of beer is in direct proportion to the obscene salaries paid professional athletes, or the production cost of sending the chic to an exotic location. While it is inconceivable that an amateur golfer could thump Tiger Woods on a consistent basis, it is entirely possible on any given day.
I disagreed with that article, the buyer first is looking at images if it happens to be an amateur with no pricing policies, it's a bonus for the buyer he didn't choose anything from a professional because no professional didn't have the image he was looking for.
This sort of discussion is similar to brand X vs brand Y, there is no right nor wrong just compromises.
Scott Bourne wrote rather candidly about this subject on his blog.
http://photofocus.com/2010/01/25/and-you-call-yourself-a-professional/
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