Age Of Selfies: Are Professional Photographers Surviving?

By UbongAbasi Ise

We are in the era where technology has gone out of the way to revolutionize all sectors of human endeavours. Today we have smartphones with user-friendly camera feature that enable individuals take their own photographs by themselves. Those self-taking photos are popularly called selfies. As people are increasingly joining online social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Whatsapp, etc., the use of images to express their mood and social relevance is now made easier by selfies taken by smartphones.  It is now very simple for users to use camera features on their phones to edit image in order to achieve more appealing output, and social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook have developed photo tools that can transform images to the delight of their subscribers. Given this background of technological innovation, there is growing concern that technological cannibalism might occur in the photography industry and do to photo studios what email did to post offices by taking jobs away from photographers. Most young people today have developed strong passion for selfies in that they only remember studios on exceptional occasions. Speaking with our correspondent, Miss Nduyo Abasi Ekanem, a University of Calabar student, revealed that she only depends on her phone for photo-taking and that it is on a rare occasion that she would think of patronizing the services of professional photographers. Also speaking, Mr. Joseph Umoh, a businessman in Uyo, said he usually takes his own pictures with phones and iPads unless at social functions such as child dedication ceremony and wedding event that he would have a photographer take his photograph and print on hard copy for the preservation of memory.

                Ms Fortune Ibok, a staff of Icon Mobile in Uyo, told our correspondent that high-end smartphones are in the market that could give users remarkable photographic experience. She said phones like Infinix Note 5, Infinix Hot 6, Infinix S3X and Infinix Smart can compete favourably with some professional cameras. In this regards, is this the beginning of the end for the professional photographers? Notwithstanding, the Managing Director of Metco photo studio in Uyo, while chatting with our correspondent, said rhetorically that when the going gets tough, it is the tough that keeps going, and that when the work or service becomes more professional, it is only the professional that can deliver.

Are Smarphones Taking Over Photography? Professionals React

Speaking with The Sensor at his office in Uyo recently, the Photomania Studio boss, Mr. Emmanuel Udo, a well known professional with over 20 years experience in the field of photography said although smartphones are affecting the business of professional photographers, the percentage is not too high because the effect is still average. According to him, “we still have people with smartphones still coming to the studio to snap. When they want the touch of professionalism they would come to the studio to look for professional photographer to take the picture. You cannot completely say you want a family picture or maybe you need to enlarge the picture to portrait size and you still snap with a smartphone.” Mr. Udo believes that a smartphone cannot do what professional camera can do because people with smartphones are still visiting studio to print out their pictures.

                Also speaking, Mr. Benaiah Pius, the managing director of Labold Studio in Uyo said all that smartphones do is complementing photographic industry at a professional level but to those who are not professionals, they are facing stiff competition in the market. According to Pius, “anybody can snap picture so far you have a smartphone but for you to be able to create an image that communicates and evokes emotion, it is only a professional that does that.” He added that professionals will take their time, understand the right angle of shoot, know the right ambience, know how to adjust and when to press the shutter. 

                The Managing Director of New Creation Image & Print Villa in Uyo, Mr. Uwemedimo Ekaette acknowledges the threat posed to photographic industry. He noted that the effect doesn’t seem to have bearing on the technology but on the market forces, maintaining that the only determinant of the growth in the photo industry are the consumers. According to him, while smartphones are autofocus, the professional camera uses external lens, specific aperture and light to express what is captured.

Osejames Okojie believes professionals will still have an edge in the competitive photographic sector over other actors because they are trained on how to produce quality images that are sharp and clear. He maintained that professionals understand the basics of manipulating professional cameras to achieve desired result.

How Lucrative Is Photographic business?

Photography is not a poor man’s job, according to Mr. Emmanuel Udo. He believes creativity can attract more fortunes to photographers. “It is creative idea that you need to apply to bring out what you want. If the person behind the camera is not creative enough, he may not attract public patronage,” he said.

Future of Photography industry

Mr. Uwemedimo Ekaette noted that external lenses have now been designed for smartphones. He said “with the introduction of such device, definitely, the amateur photographers stand the risk of losing patronage in future. But for the professionals, smartphone with external lens cannot be equated with what a professional photographer will deliver with his equipments.” Mr. Emmanuel Udo envisaged that photography will change shape a little away from somehow analog and digital setting that currently in use today. In his words, “it will go completely digital and hi-tech and we will then have cameras that could take picture in which image would appear by far sharper than what we have now.” He added that the trend is improving and in the near future photography will be more lucrative and a lot more interesting to be part of.

Source: The Sensor Business Discourse