In September of 2009 I took out my iPhone and using the camera app made a photograph. I made a few adjustments to color and contrast and uploaded it to Facebook. By the time I walked about 100 yards, I had “likes” on my Facebook page and I was seeing comments from my friends back home. What made this ordinary experience somewhat extraordinary was the fact that I was standing on the Great Wall in the countryside of China.
Even a few years before, the idea that I would have a chance to travel to China seemed somewhat remote. That the technology allowing me to photograph, edit and publish worldwide in a few moments from a remote location was now small enough to fit in my front pocket was incredible. That was the moment that I knew, photography, media, publishing, hell, all human interaction was changed forever.
In many ways, photographers are the canaries of the digital age coal mine. Experiencing this early stage disruption also gives us an advantage for what’s next. We are now in a constant state of innovation and reinvention; photographers who are agile and quick enough can take advantage of these new tools as they become available. Photographers are becoming adept at relearning and re-applying business models quickly.
I run about 80% of my business from an iPhone another 10% from my iPad and 10% from my Macbook Pro. Mobile is not an add-on, it is the main thing. I recently wrapped a production on a series of web projects – correction – mobile web projects (stills and motion). We did shoot on a fleet of DSLR’s, but I may just shoot the next wave of production all on my iPhone.