How are professional photographers supposed to survive in a down economy, especially when "prosumer" cameras are getting cheaper and cheaper? Will people really want to hire a pro when Uncle Jesse has a professional camera and is willing to work for gas money?

Photography is a subtle art and science that takes years and years of hard work (and raw talent) to truly master. It's true that Uncle Jesse might be able to document your event or snap a few shots of your family, which means one less job for a professional.

However, creating fine art through a camera lens is still the domain of the professional. In recent years, photographs on canvas have exploded in popularity. These products are a low cost alternative to gallery purchased fine art. Since they are personalized, the emotional connection to the piece is even stronger than a work made by a famous artist.

This product signals an important new wave for professional photographers. As this product grows in popularity, the general public will equate photography with art. As they shoot pictures, they will begin to consider, "How will this photo look on canvas?". As more and more consumers embrace photography as art, professional photographers will certainly trump old Uncle Jesse. Even if they have the same equipment, consumers will understand the difference between a true artist and an amateur.

Photography has always been an art form. The advent of cheap cameras transformed it into a consumer process, a way to document rather than a way to create art. Photos on Canvas are slowly but surely reversing this way of thought and are forcing average people to understand that photography is indeed art by transforming their own photos into gallery quality reproductions.

Professional photographers can take advantage of this trend. By offering photographs on canvas to their clients, they are forcing their customers to view each photograph as a piece of art. This certainly increases the value of the photography service provided. Additionally, many savvy professionals are offering photos on canvas to their customers directly to make some additional revenue on canvas prints.

It is always difficult to predict how new technologies and products will affect an industry. However, it should be crystal clear that photographs on canvas will certainly impact photography both on a consumer and professional level.