In any field of work, art form or industry you have in mind, part of being successful lies in the ability to adapt to changing times. Photography is changing incredibly fast and the numbers of photographers are only getting bigger with each passing day. The thing is, not all are adapted to the present, let alone to what’s about to come. It is a tough industry to work in and it has little tolerance for photographers who are not well rooted in their times. Ideally, you should be ahead of yours, but if that were a common thing, it wouldn’t be so special. Here are some of the trends that are growing fast in today’s photography industry.

Mobile optimization

I don’t need to tell you how important it is to have a website and to be out there. If you’re still not convinced, this article can’t help you anyway. It’s more important than owning a camera. Potential clients need to be able to find and appreciate your work, from any corner of the earth. But things are changing and more and more traffic is being created with mobile devices. In other words, do whatever you have to, just get your website optimized for mobile viewing. Keep in mind that the good folks at Apple have no sympathy for Flash technology, like the rest of the world, so you have to make a decision about how you do it also.

Specialization

Everyone wants to be a pro photographer these days, I know! It’s like the new rock-star dream for bored corporate employees. Anyway, some make it, some do not. The point is their numbers are growing fast and that could leave you out of work some day in the near future. The way to prevent that is to specialize as best you can .Find your niche, that one thing that is yours alone and makes you be worth every penny. If you stick to being a “general” pro photographer, I’m afraid the news isn’t good: you might have to find a new line of work.

Bridge = popular

I never thought bridge cameras would last so long, especially with DSLRs becoming so cheap. But not only did they last, they have never done better. Of course, you have your average bridge cameras, and you have your awesome ones, like the Sony A7/A7R. Cameras like the later models can do everything a pro DSLR can, but they are twice as small and weigh a lot less. It’s fair to say, at least at this point, that they will be around for a very long time and that they are kind of bullying the DSLR away. Finally!

Mobile photography

The cameras on today’s smartphones are better than most compacts were 7-8 years ago. Additional lens designs are making their way into the market and let’s not talk about some of the awesome mobile editing apps available in the App Store and Google Play. Mobile photography will kill the compact market and it will either become more specialized or it will totally blend in with “conventional” photography.

 Also Read:  41 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULDN’T DATE A PHOTOGRAPHER

Recommended Reading:

• 2013 Photographer's Market: The Most Trusted Guide to Selling Your Photography
• How to Create Stunning D igital Photography
• Best Business Practices for Photographers
• The Fast Track Photographer Business Plan: Build a Successful Photography Venture from the Ground Up
• Group Portrait Photography Handbook
• 500 Poses for Photographing Women
• The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images
• 500 Poses for Photographing Group Portraits
• Selling Your Photography: Ho w to Make Money in New and Traditional Markets 
• Starting Your Career as a Freelance Photograp her
• Photographer's Survival Manual: A Legal Guide for  Artists in the Digital Age
• Legal Handbook for Photographers: The Rights and Liab ilities of Making Images
• Taking Stock: Make money in microstock creating photos that  sell
• Going Pro: How to Make the Leap from Aspiring to Professional Photographer