What is the impact of ever changing technology?
Camera get smaller, lighter and better quality. The ability to take a well exposed image with accurate colors and good dynamic range is no longer a learned skill as it comes at the click of a button. Even composition could be automated, though it doesn't seem to have been explored recently, my second Sony camera, (Sony a57 SLT) had a mode in witch it would analyse the photo and crop for better composition using a built in algorithm. Admittedly I found it never to be that great, but the proof of concept was there and I am sure we cant be too far from this again.
Technology is also getting cheaper, and this means more people own phones and cameras than ever before. When I was growing up, it used to be a rare thing to see a "Proper" camera as we called them, that had a big lens and took photos with blurry backgrounds. My farther invested a lot of money into a home camcorder, and because of this, he was constantly asked by friends and neighbors to film weddings and christenings as he was the only person anyone knew who could do such a thing. Now weddings are filmed on multiple phones, pocket cameras and SLRS by family and friends.
What challenges has this presented you with?
As a professional wedding and portrait photographer it has made gaining customers far more difficult. Its not a matter any more that you simply go to the photography studio in town, because even in a small town there's probably at least 4 established studios, and many more photographers working with home studios in there backroom. In addition to this, thanks to the internet and youtube, photography training is incredibly easy to access, so many of these home photographers can produce high quality images with a great finish. As a studio, we now rely on reminding people that we are an established business witch means we are not going anywhere, that we have protocols in place for the protection of images, and the quality is garunteed. We have to fight harder than ever before.
How have you embraced (or rejected) changing technology?
In terms of photography equipment, we still use DSLR camera's, but we are increasingly looking to switch to mirrorles. The new Sony mirrorless cameras, for example, are far lighter and the quality is just as high. We continue to upgrade bodies because the ability to shoot in dark situations gets better with every upgrade. I can now easily shoot at 3200 ISO all day without worrying about a drop in quality (At least not one the average client will notice).
In terms of software, processing and editing images is faster than ever, I can edit and publish a wedding of over 500 photos in one day should I need to. Its worth mentioning that part of this speed increase is also due to advances in hardware, particularly in lighting which is now more portable than ever and means that I do not have to edit some images so heavily.
Social media has meant that my reach to potential clients is far bigger and quicker than ever before, we probably take most of our bookings through facebook now.
How do you think the way cameras are marketed affects people’s perception of the value of professional photography?
People very often now have the idea that anyone can take a professional picture, this is perpetuated by camera manufactures marjeting there cameras as user friendly, and even worse by phone manufacturers who continually try market their phones as pro tools, Apple being one of the worst for this with their advertising. Apples latest adverts show films made using Iphone, but fail to make mention if any other tools, such as steadicams, external lighting, and other professionals have been used. Giving the impression that all you need is an iPhone to make a professional film, and never mind the planning, expertise by various professionals and other equipment that is commonly used.
What is really possible, is that they can take a professional "Looking" pictures and film. That is to say, it may look as though it was created by a professional i.e. it may be exposed well, sharp and have good dynamic range, but on closer inspection there will be problems, and not just with the image itself. Being a pro photographer is about more than just the look of the image, its the entire service, the reliability and the experience. So our job now as professionals is to show people what they gain in those terms as well as in quality.
In regards to Instagram changing the truth l, think of how in mirrors edge the colour red was demonized and removed from society, parent were told to watch their children Incase In case they began to wear red clothes. What if there was a feminist uprising using the old colours of green and purple. Instagram might issue an update that could secretly role out an algorithm to reduce green and purple when found together in a photography, and thus begin to wipe out the colours, and thertherefore the representation, of feminism on Instagram.
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