Digital: The Fast Lane of Photography

Ten years ago, if you told me I would join my husband in the photography business, I would have called you crazy.

My husband, Tony, has been a portrait photographer for twenty-five years. For years, I stayed as far away from the lenses as possible. Tony is a temperamental, bossy perfectionist with an artistic flair. I am a laid-back, anything-goes type, also with an artistic flair. Put us together, and it would seem to spell disaster for a business aimed at turning a profit.

However, in the past five years, the world of photography has radically changed. Advances in technology have made the photography business attractive to me. I can indulge my creative side with the new software programs. Tony can take more risks, because he no longer shoots with film, once a tremendous expense and drain on his bottom line.

Together, we are making some very snazzy photographic artwork in the basement of our New Jersey home.

That doesn’t mean the brave new world of digital photography is easy. New photographic artists are appearing on the scene every day. We have to compete with them. We compete with the savvy, everyday guy who owns a decent digital camera. We compete with the younger, hipper photographers who perhaps know nothing about darkrooms and F-stops, but know exactly how to get parents to spend exorbitant amounts on their baby’s images.

We have to keep up with the changing technology and the new products coming out every day. And we have to participate. Otherwise we will lose a sale to our competition.

For decades, Tony mastered the craft of film photography. Then, digital came along and over time it became impossible to distinguish between digital and film photos. The playing field between the amateurs, the semi-professionals and the veterans like Tony was suddenly leveled.

Those who changed with the times, like we have, are competitive. Some refused, and continue marketing themselves as photographers dedicated to film. They may survive if they’re talented and have a loyal customer base. But we didn’t want to take that risk. Photography is how we feed our family, and Tony knew he needed to learn the rules of the new game.

And he has. He now uses a Fuji S5 Pro, which is compatible with Nikon lenses. And, surprisingly, there is a place for me.

I always loved painting, but I wasn’t a big fan of photography as an art form.