photography's new model for business

About

Jan. 18, 2011
PaoloPhoto blog:

Writing the future of professional photography for all to see from around the world with news and views on the "who's who"and what's new. I hopefully will provide a forum of useful information from thought leaders in the industry and around the world. Paolo will pick the brains of industry leaders to help those who may need a bit of direction on the "Yellow Brick Road " or Golden road to success within photography and film.

Now that we're on to a new millennium, new century and a new decade, things sure are changing fast,huh.


First, Bryan Franklin and Michael Costuros had a teleconference with a large number of pro photographers on Sunday afternoon while the NFL playoffs were on! Aurggh! But, that's Ok guys. So, just a tidbit for now on what they said and I’ll give more later.

They covered what most artists despised and detest with the words,"Marketing and Sales". Wooow! Now that I spewed that one out. Any-who, they led the conference with some good points on what's happening in other industries that went from analog to digital in a short period of time and what we might be able to expect in the near future with our current biz model. So, not to beat a dead horse for the next 30 years, as my friend Deanne might say, but we have to start looking forward and write our own future about the copyrights issue. And, from where I see it since the last century, things still haven’t change much with who’s going to run-up and over your back next to leap frog ahead.

So let's get started with copyrights and the watching of other industry's getting left in the dust and their history in the making.

Bryan and Mike pointed out the to look at the sound/audio and music industry which may sound familiar. Analog to digital brought about necessary changes to be more efficient, productive and created better distribution business models. Like it or not that’s what happens with changes and progress within a society (turn of the century or not). People who tried to hold on to the old way of doing business suddenly found themselves in the wake of a tidal wave with the masses. Remember the "Alamo" at the turn of the last century guys. There were lots of new technologies that masses of people gravitated towards and embraced while others fell by the wayside. I don't want to be one of them. I love photography and it's ability to communicate with simplicity and power of the single image or by film/video. It's all still photography done with a tool called a camera of some sorts!
This creative imaging profession is still intellectual property and can be used in commerce for a price. I feel people on the internet are asking for more images as I have read, so let's give it to them at a fair price with the quality that only the professional can create!

This "tug-of-war" on copyright is maxed-out. So go to your window and yell, I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore! And then it’s off your chest I hope.

Look people, there are companies right here in our own backyard, in San Francisco, in some of the biggest industries such science,biotech and pharmaceuticals that are working like crazy Tasmanian Devils to share intellectual property with other institutions and can barely agree with each other. But, there are also companies that are bringing them together soon in many ways and when it happens, there'll be no stopping the giant snowball coming our way once the political cronies get their paws on it.

Digital is here to stay until another innovation comes along and then, as OK-GO would sing,” here we go again”. Which as a side note, IBM announced recently that they’re working on new miniature holographic imaging system for all sorts of apps which maybe the internet or Iphone. Who knows what? Star Trek, baby!

There are powers at work, which bodes us as photographers to either unite as the writers, actors, and directors guild or we're toast! And let’s embrace the technology as it comes and make photographs with it. We need to work together and help each other.

I think Chase Jarvis is on to something. People are watching new ideas and innovations happening in real time over the internet and some will be left behind.

But, times are a changin’ and many will still think they’ll get “Something for Nothing”(Dire Straits) on the internet for free. Maybe those days will soon be over and it won’t be free.

So let's put our collective heads together to find and create a better model, so that photography goes on for another millennium. I'm open to your ideas and may have a few of my own.

Ciao,
Paolo

Blogroll

• 
• 
• 
• 

Search

Colophon

This tumblelog is powered by Tumblr and was designed by Bill Israel.