Why Photography Certainly Isn’t Dead
Photo by Matt Hardy
“Photography is dead,” is a common phrase you’ll hear in the community. I’ve been hearing it for over a decade, and no doubt people have said it for much longer than that. Yet, here it is, alive and well, and here’s why it never needs to go away.
Origins of Photography
The existence of photography dates back to 1822. A French scientist by the name of Joseph Nicephore Niepce is known to be the man who made the first ever image. That was just over 200 years ago.
When we think about how long photography has been around, it feels like an absolute age. This makes it easier to believe that its had its day in the sun and any time now it will fade into darkness.
The reality is, 200 years is no time at all. For context, the oldest known painting is 40,000 years old. The Renaissance was over 400 years ago and countless people around the world still paint today, even in our largely digital world.
Photography’s Boom
Photo by Jimmy Liao
Rather than being dead, photography is perhaps in somewhat of a boom. In early November, PetaPixel reported that Fujifilm, Nikon and Sony all released strong financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31st 2025.
Then look at the resurgence of the point and shoot camera. From the Fujifilm X100 line to the Leica Q3, right through to the new LUMIX S9, manufacturers are realizing the average consumer is once again excited about using dedicated cameras.
Moving away from hardware, let’s look at image making. Future Market Insights shared a study stating the photo sharing market is projected to reach $8.6 billion by 2033. People love making photographs, they also love sharing them on social media.
Away from social media for photographers, think of all the website builders that are available. FORMAT, SmugMug, SquareSpace and more are all targeting photographers who want to show off their work. These companies don’t exist if photography is dead, or due to die.
By the way, if you’re looking to build an online portfolio, I recommend FORMAT. I’ve used it myself for almost five years and I find it the easiest and most modern way to present my photographs. They offer a 14-day free trial when you sign up.
The Future of Photography
Photo by Amina Filkins
Let’s look long term, will photography die for the next generation? When you consider the boom of AI images, will the youth have any interest in picking up a camera? I think the answer is yes.
One of the top performing articles on Them Frames is the best camera for kids. It’s a clear sign children still have an interest in the art form. On an anecdotal level, I still have children approach me and ask me questions about my camera.
Which brings me to my next point. As photographer’s it’s our duty to ensure photography remains alive. There’s no reason for us to roll over and just accept it’s going away, despite what fear mongers like to tell us.
Just because new technology comes to life, it doesn’t mean older art forms have to die out. Photography clearly coexists with painting, and it can also coexist with digital art. We can make this happen by speaking highly of the craft, by exciting the new generation and by showing them the benefits of practicing photography, like how it can help support mental health.
Who gets to decide photography is dead anyway? As long as cameras are around and people are making images, then photography will remain alive and well, much longer than any of us.
Do you think photography is dead? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading.
Editors note: This article contains a small handful of affiliate links. If you purchase something via any of the links, Them Frames gets a little kick back which helps run the site.
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