We just completed a survey among 881 professional photographers in primarily Europe and North America that researched these pro’s use of standalone cameras and smartphones, along with their camera preferences and needs.

The core questions I’d like to address here:

Have the professional photographers by now been swayed by the benefits of smartphones the way the general population has, resulting in the pros now taking most of their photos – whether for work or personal use — with this always-with-you camera?

Or…

Or are they so used to the benefits of their high-end cameras and their pricey accessories (specialized lenses and flashes) that they use these cameras to take any kind of photos whenever possible? In other words, are they thinking: why drive an automatic Prius if you have a fully-paid stick-shift Porsche sitting next to it in the same garage? 

As you might have suspected, the choice of camera depends a lot on whether they’ll use it professionally or for their own pleasure. 13% of the surveyed pro photographers take half or more of their professional photos with their smartphone, while 64% do so for their non-professional photos.

In other words, no matter the often smartphone-disparaging reader comments you might find on pro photography websites, most pros use smartphones quite often for their personal photos and are therefore quite familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of smartphones vs. standalone cameras.

If the smartphone is increasingly the device of choice for personal photos, what is holding these pros back from using the phone more often for their pro work?  Dissatisfaction with the features, concerns about their clients’ perception when using the same smartphone the client owns, a lack of high-quality accessories suitable for smartphones, or some deeply rooted misconceptions about what sets a pro photographer apart from an amateur? (Spoiler alert: it should not be the equipment!)

The majority of our study explores the data points that shines light on these questions, covering a range of topics, including:

What types of smartphones or standalone cameras do the professional photographers use for their professional vs. personal photos?

To what degree is the use of smartphones for professional work declining, stable or on the rise?

For what type of professional or business photography do they use their smartphone?

What types of productivity benefits could they see themselves gaining from using their smartphone (more often) for their professional or business photography?

What types of creativity benefits could they see themselves gaining from using their smartphone (more often) for their professional or business photography?

If anything, what is holding them back from using their smartphone (more often) for taking professional or business photos?

[for those who have concerns about their clients’ perception of using smartphones] Have their concerns about their clients’ perception of using smartphones changed over the last 12 months?

Have they had any experience taking photos with any of the latest high-end smartphone models?

How often do they use a flash today when taking professional or business photos with any of their cameras?

What could make them (more often) use an external flash with their smartphone?

The Pro Photographers and their Camera Use report has the following chapters:

• Introduction

• Summary & Perspective

• Overall Camera Use

• Smartphone Camera Behavior

• Flash Use

[In Premium Multi-user license version only:]

• Appendix – 500+ verbatim “Other” answers

We want to thank Profoto, manufacturer of professional-grade camera lighting equipment, for inviting their customers, the vast majority of whom are pro photographers, to participate in this survey.

Publication date: July 2020