“Where do I start? Starting with film; I made the transition a little late into 2006 switching to digital, and I felt like I was selling my kids when I had loaded my Hasselblads, my Nikons…”
— Steve Whittaker, professional photographer on changes in the photography industry
What does Napster have to do with the photography industry? In part three of our conversation with Steve Whittaker, you’ll find out. Read on to learn more.
Steve Whittaker is a seasoned architectural, interior, and aerial photographer serving the West Coast and beyond. His work supports sectors including civic, cultural, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, technology, and residential developments. His photography has been published in Architectural Digest, Forbes, Time Magazine, Architectural Record, and Photo District News. Whittaker Photography collaborates with architects, REITs, commercial real estate developers, advertising agencies, editorial publications, graphic designers, and manufacturers to deliver exceptional visual content.
Text below transcribed from a portion of an interview conducted by Cradoc fotoSoftware in May 2025. To view this and other interviews, please visit the Cradoc fotoSoftware YouTube Channel.
Changes in the Photography Industry
Where do I start? Starting with film; I made the transition a little late into 2006 switching to digital, and I felt like I was selling my kids when I had loaded my Hasselblads, my Nikons, and other equipment. I donated my older equipment to the local community college because nobody was buying them back then. That transition to digital was a wake-up call. Fortunately, I had studio managers that handled all the post production because I didn’t have a clue. I started learning from them, and that was a gradual change. In 2010, I closed the studio, and one of my assistants was amazing. He continued to work with me doing post-production until I learned how to do it myself. I decided it was time to grow up and be a big boy, so I had to learn to do it.
There’s a gentleman, Mark Fitzgerald, who runs Digital Darkroom and is a member of ASMP and Oregon Professional Photographers Association. He was a tremendous help to me through seminars and individual training sessions, teaching me Photoshop and Lightroom. That was my job, and I’ve never looked back.
It’s amazing the changes. I was sad to see software like Photoshop and Lightroom shift to subscription models instead of ownership, which was expensive. But the constant updates are helpful, and I’ve enjoyed them.
The changes in the computer industry also affected photographers. One of the worst was Napster about 25–30 years ago. Sharing images and questions around intellectual property became a huge issue. ASMP was instrumental in combating issues like Orphan Works and metadata stripping by social networks, which often removed creator information. Registering your work is vital, and the process has evolved to become easier over time. From 2010–2013, personal issues caused me to miss registration deadlines, but I later re-registered my work with the help of ASMP’s general counsel.
Learning from Mentors and Others in the Photography Industry
I’ve had several mentors, including Morton Beebe, when I became a board member of ASMP NorCal (now ASMP San Francisco). He gave me advice on copyright and intellectual property, and I owe him a lot. You learn from colleagues, people you work with, and trade associations. Board meetings and retreats offer invaluable learning about the industry and equipment.
I freely share information and answer questions. Mentoring has been important to me, and I recommend others find a mentor if possible. Ask questions gradually, and over time, you’ll gain guidance. Once it’s your turn, mentor others too.
Other Articles About Changes in the Photography Industry
The photography industry is seeing significant changes. Here’s an interesting article about how the wedding photography industry has evolved. Read one of our blogs where underwater photographer Jonathan Kingston shares his thoughts on industry changes.
About Steve Whittaker
Steve Whittaker is an architectural, interior, and aerial photographer serving clients across the West Coast and beyond. His work spans civic, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, and residential spaces, with features in Architectural Digest, Forbes, Time, and Architectural Record. Whittaker Photography partners with architects, developers, agencies, and designers to create standout visual content.
Website: https://www.whittpho.com/
Copyright: All images belong to Steve Whittaker used by Cradoc fotoSoftware with permission of the copyright holder. Use of images or content by any person or entity other than Cradoc fotosoftware for any purposes is expressly prohibited.
