I have always worked on the basis that I want to control the camera and not the camera control me. In the days of film it was critical to understand all aspects of the camera and lighting and how to use and control that equipment to work for you.
For professional photographers, 2025 will present both opportunities and challenges as the industry evolves rapidly due to advancements in technology, shifting consumer demands, and new business models. Here’s an outlook:
1. Enhanced Tools and Technologies
In today’s competitive photography industry, commercial success requires more than technical camera skills. A photographer must combine artistic talent with business acumen, adaptability, and technical expertise. Here are the key skills essential for commercial success:
1. Technical Proficiency
• Camera Mastery: Deep understanding of camera settings, lighting, and lenses for diverse situations.
PU considers it vital that all professionals have a website to showcase their work. Online portfolios, through a website, nowadays seems to be the way to present your portfolio to a prospective client, as well as social media outlets.
To join PU you have to show your website showing your commercial work.
Here are a few considerations, not all applicable, when constructing a website:
In Photographers United we are very aware of the mental health issues that there are in this profession as with many professsions. That is one of the reasons PU was started, to offer support to Photographers and film makers. To connect with fellow professionals, re-kindle old friendships and make new friends and connections. To have a platform where everyone is in a similar situation and those with years of experience can share those experiences with those new and just starting out or beginning their Photography, including students, graduates, post graduates and assistants.
Having a photographer’s agent can be valuable for several reasons, particularly if you are a professional photographer looking to expand your business or focus more on the creative aspects of your work. Here are the key reasons:
1. Access to Opportunities
Staying fit is important for photographers because the job often involves physical demands that can impact performance and overall health. Here’s why fitness matters and some tips to stay fit:
Why Fitness Matters for Photographers:
1. Carrying Heavy Equipment: Photographers often lug around cameras, lenses, tripods, and lighting gear. Being physically fit helps prevent strain or injury, especially to the back, shoulders, and neck.
Tim is a Photographers United Member. Follow link to project and website. https://www.timwillcocks.com/the-door-photographic-portrait/
“ The Door "
The Door represents a metaphorical threshold through which life crosses from one state to another.
In photography, plagiarism refers to the unauthorized use, copying, or close imitation of another photographer’s work while claiming it as one’s own. It is both a legal and ethical issue that varies in scope depending on jurisdiction and context. Here’s an overview of the law and general consensus regarding plagiarism in photography:
Legal Perspective
1. Copyright Law:
AI is not inherently a threat to photography, but it is transforming the field in ways that can be both disruptive and empowering, depending on perspective and use case. Here’s a breakdown of how AI impacts photography:
Threats or Challenges
1. Automation of Creative Processes: AI tools can generate photorealistic images or edit photos with minimal effort, potentially diminishing the perceived value of traditional photography skills.
Photographers can make their businesses more sustainable by adopting environmentally-friendly practices, reducing waste, and being mindful of their resource consumption. Here are several ways they can work towards a more sustainable photography business:
1. Switch to Digital Tools and Processes
• Minimize printing by using digital portfolios and client proofing galleries.
By adding more speed, accuracy and a bunch of new features, Canon has made the EOS R5 Mark II feel more like a new camera series rather than a mere upgrade. A second processor handles the extra burst speed, a stacked sensor minimizes rolling shutter distortions, and the new People Priority and Action Priority modes make it hard to miss a shot. While its buffer memory can struggle a little in some real-world scenarios and Eye Control AF is still hit and miss, the EOS R5 Mark II is arguably Canon's best pro camera yet.