ASMP OVC: State of the Industry and AI 2024

Generated with Mid-journey Prompt by Bryce Laughlin

This past week I attended the "State of the Industry 2024" event, hosted by ASMP Ohio Valley, which took place on October 19 at the Taft Museum of Art. It featured a panel of expert photographers and creatives discussing trends, tips, and strategies in the photography industry. Attendees could network, participate in a live Q&A, and connect with peers.

The panelist included;

Tony Arrasmith is a commercial advertising photographer based in Cincinnati, known for his vibrant and creative style. He specializes in conceptual advertising, portraits, and digital composites, and has worked extensively with local institutions, including the Cincinnati Playhouse. His photography often features a blend of humor and stylized artistry, making his work stand out in various projects, from personal endeavors to professional commissions​.

Tonya Bolton is a Cincinnati-based professional photographer specializing in senior portraits, family sessions, headshots, and beauty photography. She has built a reputation for creating a comfortable and enjoyable experience for her clients, traveling across the U.S. for destination shoots and delivering high-quality, personalized images. With a passion for capturing authentic moments, she has garnered over 100 five-star reviews, reflecting her dedication to her craft and her ability to make clients feel confident in front of the camera​.

Kailah Ware is a filmmaker and creative based in Cincinnati, known for her documentary-style projects that explore social issues. She was a grantee of People's Liberty, where her project "1Degree of Separation" aimed to break down social barriers and encourage conversations between people from different walks of life. Her work often focuses on fostering community engagement and highlighting underrepresented voices through storytelling​.

David Volker is the Vice President and Director of Creative Excellence at LPK, an international design and branding agency based in Cincinnati, Ohio. With a background in design, he has been instrumental in crafting strategic brand identities for global companies, emphasizing creativity and market positioning. Beyond his role at LPK, David has contributed to the community by co-chairing events like TEDxCincy and Bold Fusion, fostering discussions on innovation and branding​.

Emily Hanako Momohara is an artist and educator whose work explores themes of heritage, multiculturalism, and social justice. She has exhibited internationally, including at venues such as the Griffin Museum of Photography and the Changjiang International Photography & Video Biennale. Momohara is an Associate Professor of Studio Art at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and actively engages in community leadership through her involvement with organizations like the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center and Ohio Progressive Asian Women’s Leadership​.

With a noble moderator in Darrin Hunter an experiential graphic designer, photographer, and educator with over 20 years of experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) sectors. He has worked extensively as a consultant and is currently in a full-time role at Dyer Brown, a Boston-based architecture firm, where he focuses on branding, environmental design, and wayfinding. Previously, he was a graphic design professor at the University of Cincinnati, where he contributed to the field through teaching and thought leadership at national design conferences​.

The presentation was well attended, with over 30 participants from a range of age groups. It was a successful event that provided valuable insights into the state of the photography industry as of late 2024. Using Zenfolio's “2024 State of the Photography Industry Report: Exploring Products, Revenue, and the AI Revolution,” the moderator guided the group through key findings, with opportunities for Q&A between each topic, fostering lively discussion between the panelists and attendees.

Key takeaways included the rapid adoption of AI across various workflows, a renewed focus on the human element in the industry, and the urgent need to engage younger generations to sustain the field. The report also highlighted a widening gap between top earners and the rest, reflecting broader socio-economic trends.

Generated with Mid-journey Prompt by Bryce Laughlin

During the talk, the moderator conducted a quick poll on the use and adoption of AI in our workflows, and nearly everyone raised their hand. However, we didn't dive deep into what "use of AI" truly means. Are we referring to common tools that have been part of Photoshop for years, AI language models to improve business writing, or generative visuals for concept presentations? These are deeper questions, even beyond what Zenfolio’s survey covered, where AI noise reduction was cited as the most common use case.

A renewed focus on people—our interpersonal skills and images of people—emerged as a trend, with wedding photographers leading the industry in earnings. More photographers seem to be shifting toward weddings and portrait photography.

When discussing the youth in our field, it's important to note that they are underrepresented in surveys. Our moderator highlighted a concerning drop in the 18-25 age group in the survey demographics. As a professional organization, we could do more to engage newcomers, whether by bringing on more assistants, offering outreach, or providing training to showcase the fun and creative aspects of the industry.

Regarding the gap in the numbers, there will always be a disparity between those at the top and the bottom. However, lifting others up benefits everyone. Now, more than ever, it's crucial to reinforce that as creators, we own our work and our time. Undervaluing ourselves does not serve the industry or our peers.

Generated with Mid-journey Prompt by Bryce Laughlin

After the event at the Taft Museum, I joined some organizers from the Ohio Valley Chapter for lunch, where we continued discussing AI's integration into photography workflows and its implications for the industry's future. Being part of an in-person gathering allowed for deep dives into pressing issues, making the $20 ticket more than worthwhile. However, I couldn't shake a sense of unease, feeling that our era of making a living solely from photography might be waning, much like the setting sun at golden hour. In my own practice, I’ve been incorporating time-saving techniques, much like when I started as an assistant and part-time fashion photographer in 2010.

Unlike 2010, we now face the potential loss of entire industry categories. A question posed to panelist Dave Volker captured this concern: if AI-generated art becomes legally recognized and can be produced at a fraction of the cost, will agencies still need professional photographers? It’s a sobering, rhetorical question that resonates deeply with many of us.

While some may embrace AI tools, carving new career paths from them, I find myself contemplating the future of my business and those that may follow. Will there still be space for small businesses and careers in commercial photography five years from now? These are questions without clear answers, and perhaps ones we hope to never confront. As I write this blog post, aided by AI, I wonder about the future images I’ll create, or perhaps generate, with the help of my digital tools.

For more details, visit ASMP Ohio Valley.