The last couple of years have seen a surge in the digitalization of our everyday lives. Photography is no exception. We are already used to having our mobile phone as a go-to device when we need to take new pictures. In 2020–22 having a modern camera built into your smartphone allowed thousands of creatives to stay in business thanks to a new trend of remote photoshoots. The internet network coverage and connection quality finally allow streaming high-quality video and voice regardless of your location, and having specialized apps (like CLOS) or general-purpose apps (like Zoom or FaceTime) inspired users to create visual content over distance and some of it even ended up published in Vogue magazine. It’s obvious that new technology is changing the business of photography. Let’s examine what can be the trends for 2022 and onwards.

Simpler more time and resource-efficient processes

When Covid-19 restrained normal social interaction, many photographers and models started finding workarounds to keep doing their work. Some of them came up with solutions such as connecting their DSLR cameras to the computers, sharing their screen and remote control of the computer with photographers and having a Zoom call at the same time to navigate the shoot. But this set-up is way too clunky plus not all models have DSLR cameras, right? Others decided to find an easier way to do remote photo shoots such as having a general-purpose app for video calls on and taking photos of the screen. But in this case, the shots from DSLR cameras are usually out of focus and have a Moire effect. Moreover, Internet connection dramatically affects the quality of the picture. This set-up is easier but still not perfect just as using FaceTime and taking screenshots.

You may know crises are always an opportunity for progress. The team behind CLOS app came up with a technology which is simple. It is resource-efficient because it saves a lot of time and money traveling. As Vincent Tabora mentioned in his Medium post, “From capturing the image to storing it, CLOS addresses the needs of photographers who want to bring familiar camera features to a virtual shoot that is completely done on a smartphone”.

Here we can clearly see a massive split in photography into art and an everyday product. An everyday product has its own demands — it has to be instantly available and very easy to use. CLOS app has all the benefits of an everyday product which still allows you to create art. But in this case remotely.

After testing out remote work for the last couple of years many people would like to keep their flexible hours and continue to work from home. Across many industries, people see benefits of it. People in photography and modeling businesses start realizing that distance is not a limit to their opportunities to do print-ready work too. And it is actually quite easy to adapt photography to be remote. It is all the same except the model could be 10,000 miles away.

Virtual photography brings benefits such as efficiency, competitive advantage and business continuity. With smartphones flooding the market, It also has lower startup costs which allow more people to actually start doing photography. Moreover, distance is no longer an obstacle doing it now which leads companies to a wider variety of talent to choose from as well as for talent to find assignments. Plus, today’s digital technologies offer fast turnaround and on-demand availability of remote photography as a service. The project could be finished in a matter of hours.

Many photographers add remote photography to their arsenal of tools. And, with modern mobile devices, you don’t have to purchase expensive cameras and don’t have to spend a fortune on traveling, remote photography generates faster business growth for photographers or at least a chance to stay afloat during the pandemic. Virtual photography is definitely becoming a new black. Use cases are limitless from photographers remotely taking corporate headshots to actress Zendaya being shot for the cover of British Vogue by Greg Williams. You could read CLOS photographers’ stories later in this article and see for yourself.

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Zendaya shot by Greg Williams on CLOS app

Mobile-first, phones replacing pro cameras

Mobile cameras are not that good, you might say. Some people have prejudice towards mobile cameras and remote photoshoots, and that could be true. People still prefer seeing photographers with pro equipment on a set. However, technology is constantly changing and it is hard not to admit it. More and more people trust their mobile devices for photography. Phone cameras are now good enough for consumers to leave their point-and-shoots behind and shoot everything with their mobile device.

While the physical components are still improving bit by bit, Google, Samsung and Apple are increasingly investing in improvements wrought entirely from code. Mobile photography is the only real battleground now. The reason for this shift is pretty simple: DSLR cameras can’t get too much better than they are right now, or at least not without some rather extreme shifts in how they work. Mirrorless cameras have already managed to harness the power of bulkier DSLRs over the course of just a few years. They are very close to being eliminated by smartphone cameras.

According to Statista the rise of smartphone photography has had devastating effects on the camera and photo equipment industry. As stated by CIPA, a Japan-based industry group with members such as Olympus, Canon and Nikon, worldwide camera shipments dropped by 93 percent between 2010 and 2020, wiping out more than four decades of growth.

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It is not even the high-end of the smartphone market. Over the past few years, smartphone cameras in general have improved significantly on the one hand. On the other hand, smartphones are now could be used as control devices. We are not talking about smart houses now, no.

One of the companies that use smartphones as a controlling device is Profoto. Their studio lights paired together with the smartphone app open up endless creative possibilities for mobile photography. It is also worth mentioning that you can use your smartphone to control your actual camera.

Increased use of AI and AR

Artificial Intelligence is the new buzzword in the photography world. Machine learning, neural networks and computational photography help us to get better photos. All new smartphones are AI-powered.

But speaking about photography, AI has removed the boundaries between image capture, image optimization and image manipulation. It is used in post-production, to meld, enhance and ‘augment’ reality, make more intelligent object selections, and match processing parameters to the subject. It is already looking at what you photograph and making its own decisions about how to handle it.

AI is quickly becoming a popular term in the world of photography. Right now it is largely used with smartphone cameras, but the incredible algorithms and great level of automated software that the technology is allowing will soon prove irresistible to most of us. AI seems set to change how we take photos.

A great example of that is CLOS AI CAM. It is a personal virtual photographer powered by Artificial Intelligence. Using the power of neural networks, the CLOS team has taught algorithms to identify when the person is in the frame, monitor their face, eyes and body and click the shutter just at the right moment.

Augment Reality is the future of visual storytelling, according to Canon. We would agree on that. The opportunity AR brings to content creators is to provide an engaging way to explore traditional media, turning them into live content, rather than just still ones.

It is quite simple for photographers to create Augmented Reality products and services starting from what they already have. For example, visualization of 360° photos. It is impossible to print such a photograph, however, it is possible to interact with such by using an AR platform on smartphones.

Take a look at the Sun Surveyor Lite app that essentially visualizes the location of the sun and the moon anywhere in the world, using AR technologies. Augmented Reality actually overlays the paths of the sun and moon on a camera’s view, so you can see where in the sky they’ll be at a specific time and place. Photographers can use it to plan their shots ahead of time.

DRESSX is another jewel of AR tech. They share the beauty and excitement that physical fashion creates, but believe that there are ways to produce less, to produce more sustainably, and not to produce at all. At the current stage of DRESSX development, the team aims to show that some clothes can exist only in their digital versions. DRESSX suggest not shopping less, but shopping digital fashion. At DRESSX you can buy unique NFT collectables and digital wear them at social calls, in video games, in dating apps, metaverses and more. Basically, they sell clothes that you can wear online. That is the beauty of AR tech.

DressX Vision

NFTs

We have mentioned non-fungible tokens above. Let’s talk a little more about them. NFT is a unit of data stored on a digital ledger, called a blockchain, that certifies a digital asset to be unique and not interchangeable. NFTs can be used to represent items such as photos, videos, audio, and other types of digital files. Each NFT may represent a different underlying asset and have a different value.

The benefits of NFTs apply to any artist who works online. Through their special encryption and ability to be traded, they provide greater security, profitability, and recognition for creators. This means that online artists can now begin producing and selling their work as they would in the physical world.

Our friend Vincent Tabora who has been involved in the NFT space for some time now kindly shared his opinion on NFTs, which we have pasted here.

The most important thing people should know about NFTs is that it is not a new form of digital art or content. An NFT is a tokenized representation of an artist or photographer’s original work, that establishes their creation of the content. An NFT is separate from the actual digital art or content. Through the token, data about the content is recorded on a decentralized database called a blockchain which proves authenticity and ownership. A blockchain keeps the record immutable, meaning it cannot be changed, through a cryptographic security mechanism. This prevents others from altering the data and creates a permanent record of who owns the content.

The next thing to know about NFTs is that since they represent unique and irreplaceable items, they can be used for many applications that include rare works of art and photographs. This is also a way content creators can establish proof of their creation. NFTs can also be used with blockchain applications called smart contracts which allow creatives to collect royalty payments on their original content creation every time it changes ownership. This also removes the need for a third party to act as an arbiter in selling the content since NFTs can be sold or auctioned using a decentralized marketplace.

NFTs are disruptive and invite criticism from the traditional art and photography industry. This is because it allows creatives to sell their own work directly, bypassing the need for intermediaries who dominate the market. The innovation here is that it opens up many opportunities in content creation for the creator economy. It is also a part of the growing cryptocurrency market, so this can add more value for NFT holders.

Conclusion

This year is already challenging us in ways we feared most to expect. But 2021 taught us that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. We believe that as an art form, photography has the power to transcend these difficult times and connect people across the globe, even through wars, a global pandemic and social distancing. Indeed, the photo services market was estimated at $USD 36.4B in 2021 and expected to reach $USD 44.1B by 2025. Photographers and models are still out there creating impactful and meaningful work. We at CLOS are doing everything to support creators, especially during difficult times.

Virtual photography, AI and AR, NFTs are shaping the future of photography. It is up to us to adapt to these changes, learn and advance, and implement new things to our usual workflows. Otherwise, we could find our businesses go down as professional cameras sale rates.

Leave your ideas about the future of photography in the comments section. We would love to read them!

Bonus part: How CLOS users use the app for their work

We asked three of our CLOS app power users about the remote photography, the difference from in-person photography and their thoughts on how the remote photography will change in 2022 and on. Find their answers and examples of their work below.

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Forrest Leo (website, IG page):

How long have you been offering remote photography?

— Since February 2021 — about fifteen months.

How has the ability to do remote photography with CLOS built and expanded your portfolio of service offerings?

— It’s allowed me not only to offer covid-safe photoshoots and work through the pandemic, but also to work with anyone anywhere in the world — as long as you have a phone, we can make art together!

What are the biggest differences you experience from an in-person to a remote headshot photoshoot?

— It’s so different that I’ve started to think of it as an entirely separate medium — not a compromised or lesser form of “real” photography, but a whole new art form with drawbacks and advantages all its own.

It becomes a much more collaborative experience than in-person shoots — the subject is literally setting up the camera, albeit with guidance and input from the photographer — and in many ways a more relaxed one. There’s something about being able to do a photoshoot from your own home (or anywhere else), without anyone else needing to be physically present and without having a giant lens in your face, which brings a wonderfully increased sense of intimacy and comfort.

How much of your overall business has been remote lately?

— 95%.

How do you see your remote photography service change in 2022 and on?

— Even as I resume in-person shoots I’ll continue to expand the reach and scope of my remote work. I love remote photography — as I said above, it feels to me like a brand new and super exciting medium that I’m excited to keep exploring.

Press enter or click to view image in full sizePress enter or click to view image in full sizePress enter or click to view image in full sizeForrest Leo photos taken on CLOS app

Chad Witbooi (website, IG page):

How long have you been offering remote photography?

— I have been offering remote shooting professionally since 2020 when COVID-19 hit our industry.

How has the ability to do remote photography with CLOS built and expanded your portfolio of service offerings?

— It’s allowed me to work with people across the globe, whether it’s models, couples and brands.

What are the biggest differences you experience from an in-person to a remote headshot photoshoot?

— The biggest difference is synergy when shooting with you and your subject.

How much of your overall business has been remote lately?

— I should say 40 percent of it has been remotely which is big to consider.

What are the biggest differences you experience from an in-person to a remote headshot photoshoot?

— I would see it changing because it was created to help people, but for some reason people have this thought it’s here to take over. Remote photography is making photography accessible and professional. I’d love to see it at all these big events where a remote photographer is invited and he does his thing.

Press enter or click to view image in full sizePress enter or click to view image in full sizePress enter or click to view image in full sizeChad Witbooi photos taken on CLOS app

Nicole Connolly (website):

How long have you been offering remote photography?

— I started to offer remote photography, remote headshots in particular for about a year now. I have received more and more inquires about those kind of photo sessions from my clients and first thought, I’m not getting into this. Thinking, how is this supposed to be of good quality compared to what I can do with my professional Canon camera. Nevertheless I started to research and found that Vogue and Elle magazine have been shooting their covers remotely throughout the pandemic. Ok, then I got curious. I wanted to test out how I could implement it into to the professional corporate world. I did test it out about three months until I felt comfortable with the process. I am way past 100 remote headshot sessions at this point.

How has the ability to do remote photography with CLOS built and expanded your portfolio of service offerings?

— The reason why remote photography became such a great option for me was, that a big majority of my corporate clients had their teams working remotely, their offices were closed and travel was suspended. On the other hand a professional headshot was more important than ever with meetings done virtually through Teams, Zoom and similar platforms. During the pandemic companies were also less likely to venture out exploring new photography options. It was all about feeling safe, staying safe, keeping their families safe and staying home. Bringing the remote headshot options to the comfort of their home was a huge relief and comfort for many.

What are the biggest differences you experience from an in-person to a remote headshot photoshoot?

— As simple as the CLOS app makes the capture of a professional photo, the real leg work goes into post production, to make retouches and background changes look natural. A professional headshot might have been taken in their kitchen where they had the best light but all sorts of objects in the background. We don’t worry about the background though since we change it later in post production to make it look like their headshot has been taken in professional studio setting or onsite in at an office building. My team had to learn and tweak a whole new set of Photoshop skills. So a shift in skills would be the biggest difference. We also spend more time explaining this new and innovative process to our clients. They have a pretty good understanding about headshots done in a studio, even if they have never done them before. They have an idea. Remote headshots they have never heard of before and are pretty apprehensive about them at times.

How much of your overall business has been remote lately?

— Even with companies opening up their offices again, to this day in 2022 20% of my photography business has been remotely.

What are the biggest differences you experience from an in-person to a remote headshot photoshoot?

— Many of my clients will continue to work remotely and might have done so even before the pandemic. With the current economy, staff shortages at airports, rising fuel prices remote headshots are here to stay. I’m pretty sure about that. After all, this is such a convenient option for them and allows my clients to give all their team members a professional presence. Remote headshots are a great option for teams that have their team members spread all over the globe and have had a hard time to get them to a professional headshot session. Now there are no excuses anymore as you can do a professional headshot in under 20 minutes without ever having to leave your home. A pretty cool development in our studio is that the new Photoshop skills my team and I have acquired to finalize remote headshots have now been taken to in-person photo session as well. We photograph entire teams in a professional studio setting, optimizing the lighting without worrying too much about the background. We change those in post production maybe to a soft architectural office hallway, an outdoor setting or a city skyline. We give them the option and it’s good to have options. Here at Photo Fabulous You we are all about options and we love to give our clients the option to do headshots remotely now.

Press enter or click to view image in full sizePress enter or click to view image in full sizePress enter or click to view image in full sizeNicole Connolly remote headshots taken on CLOS app

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