Scanning ahead...

AI is no substitute for experiencing the world and telling compelling stories, says Jon Devo

- Jon Devo

A recent report published by the World Economic Forum, called The Future of Jobs Report 2025, paints a striking picture: between 2025 and 2030, we’ll see 170 million new jobs emerge while 92 million existing roles fade away. So what does this mean for people like us who are passionate about photography? Whether it’s how we make a living, something we do on the side or purely a passion, stick with me, I’ve found some hope to share.

Currently, the UK has about 90,000 professional photographers, while the US has 181,000. In both countries, roughly two-thirds work independently as freelancers or business owners, a pattern mirrored across Western Europe. These figures don’t capture the countless photographers who shoot professionally on the side or offer their services for free as a passion project. According to Zenfolio and Format’s annual survey, portrait photography leads the field at 19.3 per cent, followed by landscapes (11.4 per cent) and weddings (8.7 per cent).