Photographers Reduce Their Environmental Impact

The photography industry has taken great steps in the past decade towards environmental responsibility. Film photography has declined drastically, which has resulted in the reduction of the numerous chemicals that are used in the development of photos. The existence of high quality digital photography options is to thank for the move away from traditional film. Digital photography greatly reduces the number of photos printed in general, as the photographer can view the photos before deciding to develop them and choose to develop only those photos they wish to keep, and the printing of digital photography involves far fewer chemicals than the development of film.

Online photo proofing is the next stride that photographers can make towards reducing the environmental impact of photography. It has long been the practice of photographers to print photo "proofs" that are of a lesser quality than their final products for use as a sales tool. These proofs are generally discarded when a client places an order for prints of their own, and the photographer then has high quality prints created for their client. Large amounts of ink, paper, and energy are used unnecessarily. Photographers are likely to print proofs on a home computer, resulting in ink cartridges that are not properly recycled and inefficient use of energy.

The photography industry should be able to take another great step towards reducing their impact on the environment; digital photo proofing reduces the amount of sample prints that are produced. There is a shift towards giving clients the choice to digitally preview a photographer's work and reduce printing to only those photographs actually purchased. Online photo proofing has not yet achieved status as the "industry standard" but photographers are beginning to shift their thinking towards the greater use of technology and away from the wasteful methods of their past.

After online photo proofing becomes the industry standard, the next steps will certainly evolve as well. Green printing may be next on the horizon for the reduction of waste and environmental hazard, though at the moment the options are not of a comparable quality as traditional printing methods. In addition to the quality options that are currently available for online photo proofing (surpassing that acheivable with a traditional "proof book"), a photography studio can take pride in letting their clients know that they are "going green" and reducing their waste in every way that they can.


------

Sam is dedicated to helping professional photographers grow their photography business and highly recommends the use of ShootProof.com for online photo proofing.