If you look at the current state of media, you’ll realize that print didn’t die. It hibernated and bided its time like Canon watching a camera market and stepping in at the last minute with something like the Canon EOS R. It seems this isn’t just a fad. In fact, there’s a lot of credible data that says that the global camera market is going to slow its growth. And while that happens, the print will become much more important than it already is.
According to credible data, the global print market in 2032 is supposed to be worth 28.2 billion dollars. However, in 2032, the camera market isn’t supposed to be worth that much. The major players in the camera market are cited to Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Fujifilm, and others who aren’t specifically named. These stats are centered around just the digital camera market — it’s not even including Fuji Instax. It also doesn’t include Leica — who I truly feel might one day be the last camera company standing.
The quality of smartphone cameras has improved dramatically in recent years. Most individuals no longer need to carry or purchase a dedicated camera. While photo enthusiasts and professionals are expected to obtain superior results with high-end lenses and cameras, current smartphones produce images that are certainly enough for the average consumer’s needs.
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In contrast, the major players in print are Shutterfly, Snapfish, Mpix, Nations Photo Lab, Bay Photo Lab, WhiteWall, Adorama Pix, etc. This means photographers and others will start going to these places more often for prints instead of heading to Walmart and other local spots. That’s sad news, as mom-and-pop print shops often have techniques that bigger companies don’t do. If you haven’t started printing yet, you’re truly missing out on the experience photo books, nice zines, and more can give you.
The digital camera companies are part of much larger corporations with several business units that make up a larger company. But the print companies really mostly focus on making prints.
This is a major change in the world. The print industry shrank for several years because people looked at images on their phones and computers. They also figured it was better for the environment to not make prints. However, recent shifts have changed things — and this data could prove that it will change even more in the next decade. So if cameras are good enough, we don’t need to keep buying them. And instead, we can just make better art with what we have. Plus, the Phoblographer is actively working to ensure that amateur and professional photographers are covered through our insurance program.
There’s weight to this data, too. So many people are sick of staring at screens since the pandemic. Photographers are starting to wake up and realize that they’re not content creators. Instead, they shouldn’t be considered the same thing. So they’re printing again. Small meetup groups are happening where photographers can be in a safe space and talk about their images via print.
Several publications are looking at the idea of print media again. In fact, it worked out in Utah really well according to Poynter. In fact, I want the Phoblographer to get into print again. Often, I also encourage photographers to make their own zines too.
Long live the print. Long live the idea of taking back the idea of the photograph and not scrolling past it when a million other notifications are coming through.