Why Are Photographers Devalued?

[@lawrencelunsford6028]

I was a wedding and portrait photographer from the mid 1980s to early 2000s and I considered myself a "part-time professional". It was a side job but I was a member of the Virginia PPA and I attempted to run my business as a professional. My prices were close to what full time photographers charged. I wasn't the most expensive but I certainly wasn't the cheapest. Back in the "film" days we could protect our copywritten images. The client HAD to come to you for reprints and extras. When scanners came out our reprint orders declined. How do photographers protect their copywritten images now?? Do they sign them away to the client?? I quit photography for about 15 years and just recently got back in to it for the love of it. I just shoot what I want to, when I want to. I think digital photography has been a blessing and a curse, especially for the wedding and portrait photographers. I'm enjoying photography for the first time in years. I feel like people don't respect photographers like they do doctors, lawyers, etc. because of the lack of a required education or license. It's definitely a tough business when anyone with a couple digital cameras and lenses can call themselves a photographer. Just my two cents, didn't mean to ramble! :)

[@boostedmaniac]

At 4:25, I’m glad there’s no governing body for a photographer. We don’t need another bureaucracy to tell us all what we can and can’t do, and how to take a pleasing photo. I agree anybody can claim professional. But like any restaurant, florist, or any other business, let people decide with their money who is a “pro” and who is not.

[@photoloco]

Completely agree!

[@vorpaledgephotography]

I think this is something that plagues artists, in general. As you were saying, a person can begin making art as a child. It causes that “anyone can do that” mentality. With photography, phones have given everyone the ability to be a photographer. And, the results are instantaneous. Also, because everyone can take photos with their phone, I think many have settled for a “good enough” attitude because the majority of the images they see are more phone photos from friends, rather than professional photos. That’s why many balk at typical professional rates, because they instantly think, “Screw that, I can get *insert random friend with a camera* to do it for a quarter of money… maybe even for free!”

[@photoloco]

Very true. Accessibility is a huge factor!

[@JaredDoyle76]

The hobby factor exists because nobody dies or goes to jail when a hobbyist photographer misses the mark vs open-heart surgeons and lawyers. At worst they miss a once in a lifetime moment. Because photography is output driven, it's a purely merit based craft, regardless of any clout surrounding the photographer. At the end of the day people want results, and to your point, the photographer's credentials don't matter - only the deliverables.

[@photoloco]

Very good points Jared!

[@widam]

well.. I think devaluation of any job is because there is to much offer against demand, but is particularly bad now because the economic situation, there been huge amount of layoffs in tech, film, gaming, etc lately that makes any other profession or hobby a source of money, "my profession became my hobby and my hobbies my source of money", this is even worst when AI begins to replace jobs, and the only thing you end is what is real, taking photos of a wedding is real, is a client, makes money, nobody is going to ask you to make an AI wedding.. I think we are just going back to the basics..

[@jbtubman]

Hmm, I'm kind of like the dabbling uncle, but I also have an adult daughter who has a university degree in fine arts and works as a professional photographer, so I hear that side as well. (So even though I have never shot a wedding (and never intend to), I've heard from her the stories about bridezillas and drunken groomsmen/bridesmaids etc.) I shoot events on a pro bono basis for churches and small non-profits; they don't have the budgets to hire true professional photographers. Does this devalue the work of the professionals? I hope not. There are lots of other lines of work where most people don't know about all the preparation and post-production that specialists do. For example, my son-in-law was a chef; chefs do a lot of work with menu planning, ingredient sourcing, kitchen and restaurant management that customers know little or nothing about; cooking is just a part of what they do. Similarly, I daresay that most people know little or nothing about photographic post-production work and the effort it requires. You can attempt to educate your clients about the value you provide, and that's probably it.

[@jonathanjones4566]

Photography for me is and always will be hobby only. Everyone out there has a camera (phone) with them 24/7 and I'm inundated with photography everywhere. Photos just are not anything special anymore. A recent example is the solar eclipse that happened recently. How many photos of the total solar eclipse did you actually look at for more that a second? There are so many of them out there, they are not special, regardless of the difficulty or skill it takes to make those photos.

[@cwill6491]

That's why I don't bother with scenes that you can look up easily. It needs to be something unique

[@BGTuyau]

"The hobby factor" is indeed among the issues of particular concern to professional photogrsphers. Photoloco is also on the money when he points out that the quality of delivered results is to a large extent a product of the editing, not mere shutter clicking. Credentialing and barriers to participation -or their absence- are also at issue. Photography is an art which, like most other arts, requires no credentials but, for various reasons, remains the Rodney Dangerfield of the arts. "Anyone can do it." Thus photographers face a special challenge.

[@photo2000]

We are devalued because, the industry is unregulated (meaning you don't have to have a certification to undertake the work), we rely on disposable income (photo's are not a necessity), and there is always an over supply of photographers full time or part time. Add all these things up, the only way to make a living doing it, is have a rusted on clients and/or a style technique that is ultra unique and sort after.... otherwise keep it as a hobby

[@dangilmore9724]

I think it's the cheapskate factor. I had a potential customer who wanted a commercial product shoot who complained about my pricing (i always ask a customer what they want and then i ask them what their budget was and then told them what could be done within the confines of their budget, etc.). They dais they could hire a kid with an Iphone for $20. I told them, "you do that. How did you ever survive in marketing?" 🤣

[@stevenbamford5245]

The recent phenomenon of the Northern lights covering most of Europe last week spawned a million social media images, mostly taken with phones and the images were on the main terrible. The images that stood out were well planned compositions taken by photographers, and you could see the obvious difference in quality. When a business or individual engages the service of a photographer, they do so because they want something more than uncle Joe and his smartphone, they are looking for ideas and a higher skill set.

[@photoloco]

Great point, I agree. I could certainly tell who was pro and who was using their phone, most could.

[@vernonr7404]

I'm a lawyer and we don't get no respect either: despite my license and accreditations, clients call me up all the time and expect free legal advice. They wouldn't expect that from their physician.

[@photoloco]

That's a good point, the potential for being devalued can be anywhere and everywhere.

[@412foto]

comparing open heart surgery to photography is a little silly of a comparison. ever since the beginning of time, there have been professionals and people that do the same activities as hobbies especially anything in the creative arts. As far as the results of photos, I know plenty of side hustlers, hobbyists, and dabblers that create images I'd consider far superior than anything 20 year full time photographers create. and also know professionals that are ok at photography but crush the business side and make 10x what higher skilled photographers make

[@photoloco]

My point exactly, photography is not the same as open heart surgery, yet some photographers speak of it as if they are on the same level, that's why I used the analogy! You're absolutely right about everything else too.

[@deanvm9158]

Because cameras are becoming more and more powerful. And they keep asking for more. And they hate the imaging companies, usually Canon, if Canon fails to meet their expectations. Like the R1 is not enough for them. Less and less skills is needed.

[@godsinbox]

everyone rides a bike. everyone takes a photo. everyone writes a story. the best can make money. but photography isnt a serious business. its a pastime all humans go though. lets talk about science. we need science to improve every aspect of life, yet this is devalued. science is no longer funded by impartial third parties (ie government). and with constant university students needing to be trained, labour is essentially free. so why would you do a minimum pay job with no job security, just to be ridiculed on facebook? without science, stupid people do stupid things to the environment and their own bodies. some things in life are important. perspective is one of them.

[@photoloco]

Curious about the data on which you're basing your conclusion that science isn't a serious business. It certainly is, and professionals make serious money conducting that business. To the rest of your comments: I don't disagree with your comments about science, but you're a bit all over the map with your thoughts and some of them appear to be blanket statements e.g., I don't see how government would be an impartial third party by any stretch of the imagination, not all university students need to be trained (again, on what data are you basing this?), and even if that was true I don't understand how you would think that would equate to "free labor," and then your statement about minimum pay job with no security: what are you referring to here? Instead of answering my questions though you might start your own KZbin channel with these concerns. My channel is about photography.

[@lilstonerdiva5235]

cause it's easy

[@photoloco]

It can be for some.

[@stevenbamford5245]

Kicking a football is easy, but it doesn't make you a good footballer, and on and on... Everything takes a certain level of skill to be good at it, just walking around clicking away with your phone is the equivalent of kicking that ball around the park with your kids.