As a leading educational institution with the goal of preparing students for many careers as professional photographers, RIT must constantly be in touch with and take the pulse of the industry our students hope to enter.
This survey, mailed in the spring of 2003, was a follow up to one done in 1997. The original survey attempted to assess the impact of computers on the business practices of advertising and editorial photographers. The current survey looks at the effect that computers, the recession, world events, and other factors have had on the day-to-day operations of advertising and editorial photography. Both surveys were sent to two groups of photographers: half to RIT School of Photographic Arts and Sciences graduates and half to a list generously supplied by the ASMP. Where appropriate, the data from both projects are compared.
The results of the first survey have been a guide to curriculum and advising decisions at RIT. Meanwhile, sweeping changes have occurred in the world of photography such as an economic downturn; the growth of digital photography, stock and royalty free sources; 9/11, and subsequent international events. For all of these reasons, we needed to update our findings from six years ago.
You will find the major conclusions are contained in the Summary of Essay Responses, but I personally feel that one observation should be included here.
I had a feeling even before conducting the survey that the title of the results could be, "Good Enough". And this proved to be true. "Good enough" seems to be the most popular phrase for a large part of the visual communications world. Digital prints that don't have the quality of photo prints are deemed "good enough". Reused images that come from clip art disks are "good enough". Images created and manipulated by non-photographic persons are... you guessed it, "good enough".
Photographers who have worked hard to earn the title of professional are experiencing profound frustration as "good enough" images become increasingly acceptable in the marketplace.
To review the entire 1997 Survey go to: people.rit.edu/halpph/survey.htm
The information contained on the web site is available for use in other publications or venues. Credit to Professor Howard LeVant of the Rochester Institute of Technology would be appreciated.