With the advancement of technology, usage of smartphones with high resolution cameras has become a commonplace. There is a widely held opinion that availability of such devices has reduced the value of professional photography. While accessibility of photography made it possible to capture most of the cherished moments, I wholeheartedly believe professional photography cannot be devalued by this development, as amateur photographs with smartphones are unlikely to surpass or replace knowledgeable and well trained professional ones.
Admittedly, professionals have experienced a decline in demand for their services due to the development of budget-friendly devices. People around the world are able to take a high-quality snapshot of anything they consider as valuable and interesting, such as parties, holidays, or visually appealing sceneries. This tendency blurred the boundaries between amateur and professional photographers, since recently presented smartphones, such as iPhone or Samsung series allow their owners to capture visually stunning photos without special training and knowledge. Thus, photography had become less commercialized and more accessible.
Financial value of photography might be declined to a certain extent, however, art of creating high quality snapshots, with right perspective and lighting is far from becoming widespread. Professionals, obviously, are more experienced than amateur photographers, and they have a greater exposure to various techniques of creating an appealing photo. One aspect of photography, in which they undoubtedly surpass ordinary people, is the ability to consider all the nuances of composition, which is quite challenging, and the ability to create images that carry emotional weight. Thus, people still approach to experienced photographers on special occasions, such as weddings, that hold sentimental value for humans.
In addition, high quality photographs can carry not only emotional, but also psychological meaning. Professionals, unlike hobbyists, can express certain emotion through photography, along with delivering essential social messages. Valid examples for this, can be snapshots of endangered animal species, or political events and wars. Professionally and meticulously made photo, can even shape public opinions and trigger particular emotions in people’s minds.
In conclusion, with the recent technology advancement, photography became more available and affordable, which reduced the financial value of professional photographs. However, acknowledging the validity of both views, I contend that professionals still hold their indispensable roles in society, but in slightly different aspect of life.