The value of professional photography highlighted

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30 April 2024

The value of professional photography highlighted

Design: Formfest

The chain table Photography of Platform ACCT/fairPACCT aims to improve the position of photographers in the labor market. The first question that arose was: what social and cultural value is attached to this sub-sector and the profession? This is made clear in the 1st practice tool from the chain table: ‘The value of professional photography’.

Report shows great and diverse value
Three authors worked with the chain table to address the question of value. Based on 12 interviews with six workers and six clients, the overall conclusion in their report is: the value of professional photography is considered high. Nine values were specifically mentioned and described. Such as window on the world, show the truth, be immediate, make recognizable, be accessible, convince, make visible, offer emotion, capture. Furthermore, the optics on the future with AI is: good photographers with a strong vision, own style and clear story will keep assignments.

Desire for two-year program
At the same time, it was recognized in the interviews that talking about photography and naming its underlying values is done too little. This applies to the photographer as well as the user and viewer. More help should be given to the profession to be more aware of the value they add and represent. There should therefore be a program, starting at two years, to grow (self)confidence in photography and begin to better utilize its social and cultural value. The program consists of three focal points: debate and meeting, education and communication.

Already the podcast ‘Everyone takes pictures’
One of the authors of the report on the value of photography, given the urgency, has started working on more communication right away. Anne Bloemendaal of Flowerdales Agency now has the podcast ‘Everyone takes pictures’ in which she explores the value of photography in more detail. She talks to photographers, clients and others about various current themes.

Read and listen further

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