When the camera merged with the computer to create digital photography, the skills needed to be a successful photographer changed dramatically. Before digital photography, professional photographers only had to know how to use a camera.
Almost everyone who worked before the computer became commonplace has experienced this phenomenon. After that, integrating computers into many people’s jobs was commonplace. As a result, everyone has had to learn how to do word processing and e-mailing on the computer to maximize their efficiency for work, depending on their comfort level with computers.
Transitions
Some didn’t handle this transition well. Many employees always had to ask the office’s resident “computer guy” to help them with everything, including merging emails, printing envelopes, attaching documents to emails, and so on. They became less valuable employees because they didn’t learn, while the computer guy became more useful.
Recessions
In 1990, the publishing industry took a big hit. I lost my job due to the recession. My friends also lost their jobs since newspapers dropped like flies; many two-newspaper towns lost one of their publications.
Fortunately, I had computer skills to fall back on. These skills helped me sell computer systems to corporations in Long Island for Tandy Corporation. I used my knowledge to help design client networks and create mass-marketing databases. I enjoyed the photography forums on CompuServe long before 1993. It was 1995 when the World Wide Web took off. I took a class at Georgia Tech on designing websites and created my Website in 1995.
Scanning
In the early 90s, I scanned transparencies and film to digitize photos for publication. Once the digital camera surpassed the quality of this process, it was easy for me to make the transition. Today, I speak to my peers at conferences and workshops as an expert on digital photography and how to use the computer to run their businesses.
Since moving from a staff position to a full-time freelancer, I have watched my business grow at an average of 20 percent annually. Many friends have been losing their businesses and staff jobs during this time. I’ve realized that the most significant single factor in my success is my knowledge of computers as it relates to photography. Those who have failed have generally not kept up with technical developments.
The successful photographer today is the integrated photographer. In technology, “integrated” refers to two or more components merging into a single system. The integrated photographer is a professional who has combined mastery of the camera with computer skills.