The photographic service industry in Singapore is largely unattractive. The market in general does not appreciate the art and science of the trade. Barriers of entry is almost non-exsistent. Supply of service overwhelms the demand in the market. Substitues such as a friend, amatuer, employees or videography largely displaces the role of paid photography. Limited resources (ie. moneys) are being shared with other media in the substitute (eg. videography) with the latter able to demand higher compensation.
Being a strongly knowledge based service, the value of photography has sunk further due to widely accessible information available on the internet as well as in the surge of books on the topic. This depresses the perceived value of paid photography.
New media such as e-books further erodes photography in the backseat with new technological capabilities such as embedding videos in e-books.
Cartels and oligopolistic approaches such as price fixing and banding will not work as suppliers are too many and diverse to find congruence, not to mention agreeing on standard terms.
Digital equipment are costly to acquire and maintain (not to mention dispose) and this is further cost surged with the end of production of many films and film support.
Hybrid differentiation will not be sustainable in the mid to long term as in most cases strategies, workflow and techniques in photography are unlikely to pass as patent with the authorities.
Bridal photography is still barely sustainable due to the integration of tailors, event planners and videography. Buyers of bridal photography look for convience and their selection of photography is much influence not just by external feedback but by the offers and packages offered by the integrated agencies.
Most of the talented photogs in Singapore (incl. PRs) have left for countries where the art is better appreciated. One should go where the market is as the market cannot be persuaded to come to you.
In Singapore, the winners are equipment makers or suppliers and workshop organisers.
Being a strongly knowledge based service, the value of photography has sunk further due to widely accessible information available on the internet as well as in the surge of books on the topic. This depresses the perceived value of paid photography.
New media such as e-books further erodes photography in the backseat with new technological capabilities such as embedding videos in e-books.
Cartels and oligopolistic approaches such as price fixing and banding will not work as suppliers are too many and diverse to find congruence, not to mention agreeing on standard terms.
Digital equipment are costly to acquire and maintain (not to mention dispose) and this is further cost surged with the end of production of many films and film support.
Hybrid differentiation will not be sustainable in the mid to long term as in most cases strategies, workflow and techniques in photography are unlikely to pass as patent with the authorities.
Bridal photography is still barely sustainable due to the integration of tailors, event planners and videography. Buyers of bridal photography look for convience and their selection of photography is much influence not just by external feedback but by the offers and packages offered by the integrated agencies.
Most of the talented photogs in Singapore (incl. PRs) have left for countries where the art is better appreciated. One should go where the market is as the market cannot be persuaded to come to you.
In Singapore, the winners are equipment makers or suppliers and workshop organisers.
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