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Question: With the digitalization of photography, will photography stores even be around in ten years!?
The other day I went into a photography store and lab that I used to frequent in high school!. I used to go there to buy high quality photo paper and film, or to get some things developed!. It used to smell like fixer and had aisles and glass cases full of equipment!.
But now its aisles are full of frames I could but at Target or Wal-Mart!. The paper & developing equipment is reduced to about three feet at the end of the shelf!. They don't even sell black and white film anymore, it comes free with the paper!. The developing area is considerably smaller, and now there are a row of computers where you can make your own prints!. This is something I could do at CVS!. The cool cameras and telescopic lenses on display are all gone, now they have a stand of digicams in the corner with a selection easily beat by HH Gregg or Circuit City!. And the services they offer I could easily do at home!. The people there just aren't as smart as they used to be!.
Is there any reason to go to these stores anymore!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I'd say the management of that store has gone down the tubes and is not relegated to the industry as a whole!. My old neighborhood camera shop, much like the one you described from yesteryear, is still very much a part of the industry as it was and is now!. Sure, they've updated to digital kiosks for print ordering but that only takes up a corner of the store!. The one thing they still do that I've seen taken away from other stores, is the out-dated film discount box at the register!. Any film out of date they sell at considerable discount, and I mean exotics, even medium format!. It's the only place I've found to even sell medium format film!. They even sell lighting equipment for pros and the amateur as well as give workshops to beginners in both film and digital!. You probably need to find yourself another camera store, sorry to say!. The digitalization, as you put it is not a threat to the photographer, or the much covetted camera shop!. Retailers unable to properly keep up with the industry as well as technology will simply find themselves to be either obsolete, or forced to join in!. But if you look hard enough, you find those who will use technology to supliment their business, and not to find an excuse to go the way of Wolf Camera!.
My opinion only!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
It's nothing to do with digitization - it's to do with the Internet and cheap alternatives with lower overhead costs!.
Yes, one reason is the dedication of the staff and the ability to get detailed advice and information from a specialist store!.!.!. the major stores are another matter!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
They'll be as rare as phone booths!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
No, Freestyle Photo in Hollywood is still buzzing with business!. I don't see them going broke after all these years!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I think that film photography will likely disappear at some point relatively soon!. Polaroid has already announced that its not going to make instant film any longer!. Scientists and researches use that film for on-site x-rays and other things, but there isn't enough market to make the company stay in the business!. I think photo materials will follow suit!. Companies will begin to diversify and phase it out in the next 10-20 years!. There may be small manufacturers that continue for a while, but its just not going to be sustainable to produce these chemicals and materials for just a few artists!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Well the mass market for the film, photo paper and chemicals is gone, but it is replaced by a mass market in Paper and ink!.!. The mass market in cameras and accessories is alive and kicking!. So mass marketers have moved on!. But in any town of any size there will be one place where all of the new stuff, all of he old stuff can be found, and the expertise to know what's what!.
Even so, the Internet had as much to do with the near demise of the photography retailer as digital imagery!. But it won't kill it completelyWww@QuestionHome@Com
Yes - the art of photo developing and the use of specific films and papers will always remain an art, and will always have an appeal for a number of people, young and old!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Two and a half years ago we closed a camera store which was first opened in 1938! Why - it seemed customers(!?) did not understand we were a for profit organization!. With people buying from the internet, was info and knowledge!. We even tried putting in other lines of products i!.e!. greeting cards, gifts, and book to supplement our income and generate more traffic!. It didn't work!.
I believe there will, film will become a specialty item and will always be available somewhere!. In the larger cities there will always be at least one camera store!.
If you are good at finding things on the internet, there is no reason to go to the camera store!. That is, of course, if you don't care if they close or not!.Www@QuestionHome@Com