Generative AI is reshaping how people approach creativity and conduct business, with significant implications across various industries. Photography, no stranger to technological advancements, is facing a transformative shift with the rise of AI, a change that feels distinct from previous revolutions.
In an article for The Wall Street Journal, Katie Deighton explores how generative AI is impacting stock photography. Traditionally, industries like marketing, publishing, and news have relied on stock images for cost-effective solutions. However, AI’s ability to generate realistic images from simple text prompts is providing clients with an affordable and rapid alternative, offering greater control over the final product.
Photographer Shannon Fagan from Memphis expresses concerns that AI could render his stock photography catalog obsolete. Tony Northrup, renowned for his YouTube channel with wife Chelsea Northrup, shares similar apprehensions, suggesting that the stock photography industry is in decline.
While Shutterstock’s CEO, Paul Hennessy, acknowledges ongoing demand for authentic photos, the company is embracing AI-generated images, albeit cautiously. Other stock photo platforms, including Getty Images, are also incorporating AI-generated imagery into their offerings.
Stock photography marketplaces, once reliant solely on real photographers’ work, fear that customers may turn to AI image generators when desired images are unavailable. Despite the potential threat to photographers, some agencies are striking deals with AI firms to sell images on their platforms, blurring the line between human and AI-generated content.
Adobe’s Scott Belsky emphasizes the need to embrace generative AI, likening it to a digital camera revolution. While acknowledging artists’ concerns, Belsky argues that embracing AI is essential to prevent revenue loss to illegitimate sources.
Despite assertions by stock photography companies that real photos are still in demand, they are actively exploring AI’s potential for profit. Nonetheless, the human touch in photography remains valuable, offering a path to success amidst technological disruption.
