Is the Age of Amateur Photography Over?

In recent months the creative disciplines and visual arts industries have been shaken by Adobe’s decision to pull supposed perpetual licences for the CS6 Creative Suite in favour of a cloud-based subscriptions only model.

While the decision was made public so time ago, and the company was experimenting with the introducing of Adobe CC as far back as 2012, the official change occurred on the 1^st of October 2014.

The New Paradigm

The company certainly has a right to seek a sustainable stream of revenue in a tried and tested funding model and doing the maths; the monthly $50 subscription rate actually works out better for the working professional. What remains to be seen is how this ‘upgrade at gunpoint’ subscription model will affect the weekend and amateur photography.

Twenty years ago Adobe Photoshop CS first came onto the scene it dramatically changed the approach to photography in general much to the disdain of the established ways of practice.
It used to be that a license for the ubiquitous software would have run you several thousand dollars. Not a small sum by any means, especially considering that Adobe traditionally released a new edition of the suite roughly every 18 months.
Arguments for and against the move have been widely talked about for some time now, so first, let’s take some time to analyze the strengths and weakness thus far:

The Good

• Cost effectiveness: Cheaper than the purchase of a perpetual licence at $50 per month over 4 years assuming prices remain unchanged
• Flexibility: As long as you uphold your subscription, you’ll receive continued access to everything released by the software company
• Convenience: You can run the applications across multiple computers as long as the application manager is installed on each

The Bad

• Less control: The pricing options are now left to the discretion of Adobe and may be ‘subject to change’ without notice
• No ownership: You no longer own the software or the license – if your payments stop your privileges could be stopped

Through The Lens of the Casual Photographer

As an avid amateur photographer myself having signed up to the subscription model, I can say it really is too early to tell. While Adobe CC allows inclusive access to downloadable apps for the entire software package, I can’t help feeling that the monthly fee will become unfeasible causing many to parachute from the Cloud.

You might think that there’s no harm in a subscriptions model but it takes power away from the consumer.  There burden on the provider is lessened and we’re seeing much more strain placed on the shoulders of the user, who are now more than ever, finding themselves at the mercy of the industry leader.

If you’re at all concerned about updates potentially disrupting your established workflow methods, click here to read up on the best alternatives to using Adobe CC. While the debate remains ongoing, at least we can find comfort in the fact that Adobe has not opted for a contractual model as popularized by telecommunication corporations.

Luckily, here at Canvas Factory we stock a large range of beautiful wall art that remain as affordable as ever. Click here to browse our selection of assorted canvas prints perfect for any home studio or office.