It is almost time.
Finally the end is in sight for stay-at-home, lockdown, in place, but we will forever engage in the protocols, a new wave of living with this lifestyle change. Change should not be difficult for anyone whose pastime or hobby is photography, but when it is your bread and butter, that is a whole different story. I am not sure how many "professional photographers" operate in our Federation, but I can think of two, maybe three, and I will leave that there. Anyone who makes a living exclusively from photography is a professional photographer. There are many people who offer photo services, but do not fit the professional photographer definition. So much for that.
Over the last year I have not interacted with local photographers, but with persons who had an interest in photography. Irrespective of the protocols, people will always need to capture an image of anything that interests them. Whether it is their family members or their pets. Actually, I see pictures from new Canon EOS R6 owners who are only making pictures of their pet dog. I also see many bird pictures. This has increased with covid19. Portraits are of family members, but the amount of fashion pictures made, compared to yester year are few, far between and practically non existent. Things have changed, but it is going to pick up shortly, and come back with a significant difference.
The photography industry, like all others, suffered some changes, but the giants are still running hard, and new cameras are coming to market. Canon has taken the opportunity to shift to mirrorless, and the EOS 90D may be the last DSLR, but you never know, as these camera manufacturers always follow the money. I suspect that we will also wish goodbye to some brands that we have seen for years. The technology has changed, and customers want the latest and the greatest, and one either has to deliver or take their leave. These days one has to look up to 10 years down the road, make an educated decision, a right determination, and take the best shot at the equipment for investment.
I am a Canon person, a determination I made in 1988/89, after being with Pentax from 1968. I found that Canon offered the camera features that I needed to take my photography to another level, while Pentax could not. Those were the days of film photography. I see that film photography is coming back, and seem to be getting a following, but I am not led to follow film, as it comes back with a much higher cost in 2021. If Canon can maintain my old film cameras I may take a bash at film photography just for the fun of it. Film photography is going to be for today's purists.
There are always people who wish to break into photography. I encourage all of them. If they believe that they could find and fill a photographic need, then go right ahead and take the shot. I always suggest that this must be done right the first time. These are not days for wasting time with hitting and missing, which only breeds unprofessionalism. Photographers in this day and age need to be professional in all areas of photography. Sometimes it is better to form a strategic alliance with potential competitors. The days of under pricing and under cutting the competition should have gone through the window with this pandemic. The days ahead are serious ones, and if the photography business is not treated seriously it will quickly be deleted.
There is this feeling among some photographers that anyone just starting out in photography should buy a basic, entry level model camera, get experience for a few years and them invest in a better model camera, and continue working upward. I do not subscribe to that thinking. I believe that one should invest in the best affordable camera and lens, closest to the top of the line, if not top of the line, spend time with the camera handbook, learn all about the camera controls and features, hardware and software, accessories, etc., and then practice real world photography. The professional level camera will push you to produce your best quality images that an entry level camera cannot, and in less time too.
I am Canon since 1988/89. Every now and then I discover a "celebrity" who has moved from Nikon to Canon. Google search for "why I switched from Nikon to Canon". The Scott Kelby story can be found on the bhphotovideo.com website.
Check the testimonials of people who made the switch. One of the most important issues in photography for me is that of camera repair. Canon repair services are the best of all camera products suppliers. I have proven this since the days I used film cameras. In addition it is always useful to have access to another reliable camera repair center. This will cover any "gray market" camera and video products you own. Recently I saw a friend getting a hard time because his recently purchased Canon EOS R5 camera might be gray market rather than a USA approved sale. It is also important where photographic products are bought. I make it a habit to buy from the source, or agents only.
There are many camera stores selling products, but only a few of them are listed as the "Authorized Dealer" or Distributor. My one and only photo store in the USA, for all my years in photography is B&H Photo Video. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/HelpCenter/AboutUs.jsp
B&H can supply almost everything photographic that you need. If you have not visited B&H before, take a minute and peruse the website. Customer Service or Technical Support is readily available to answer any questions. Get the most from your photography hobby from reliable and knowledgeable suppliers like B&H, talk to photographers [local or overseas] who are supportive of your hobby, use all your photography equipment [camera] every day, and be sure to make and display large prints [16x20 and larger] from the images that you make. When you get the feeling to go professional, think it out well and make you move. Nothing is impossible.
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