(Weymouth, MA) June 08, 2011 . . . Like so many other industries, the professional photo printing & output market is in a state of nearly constant change and is affected by advances in new products. These advancements not only influence customer preferences, they also create new revenue opportunities for professional photographers that recognize these shifts and adapt accordingly.

One market development that is having a positive impact on the professional photography market is the increasing adoption of personalized photo products such as press printed photo books. In a recent InfoTrends study of U.S. professional photographers, respondents who offer personalized photo products said that these products account for nearly one fifth of their total revenues. Photo merchandise revenues were especially high for nature and wedding photographers. Like traditional prints, photo merchandise items can be enjoyed for generations—but photo merchandise items carry a higher price premium than prints and can have a significant positive impact on professional photographers’ bottom lines.

Another development that is affecting the way pros do business is the increased acceptance of online photo sharing and proofing. This has led to more soft proofing rather than printed proofs, as clients become more comfortable viewing their proofs on-screen. Online photo services could potentially capitalize on this shift by offering more advanced online proofing services to professional photographers.

“Although photo printing volumes have been decreasing over the past several years, professional photographers continue to print a very high number of photos and have been supplementing traditional prints with new products like custom photo books in their product portfolios. We find that even in a challenging economy, consumers are still likely to engage professional photographers to capture images from weddings and other important events, as well as traditional portraits,” says David Haueter, an Associate Director at InfoTrends.

InfoTrends has released a report entitled Photo Printing and Professional Photographers: 2010 Survey Results that offers a deep analysis of the photo printing habits of professional photographers. The information in this report was gathered as part of a broader study that examined many aspects of digital imaging in regard to professional photographers in addition to photo printing.

For more information or to purchase this report visit InfoTrends’ online store or contact Robyn Wuori at + 1 781 616 2103 or [email protected].

InfoTrends, a Questex company, is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industry. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends is available on the Web at www.infotrends.com.

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