And here we go again...It seems that the AP has picked up on the practice of various retailers to not print out photos they think were made by a professional. After being sued by pro photographers in the past, it seems they think is the only way to protect themselves.

Slashdot is shining it's very broad spotlight on the growing problem of retailers not allowing customers to make prints.

For those not sure what this all entails, here is a brief synopsis. Back in the old days when film reigned supreme, professional photographers, when doing a job would charge for time upfront and then make their profit from selling the prints after a job was completed. Nowhere did this happen more than the wedding industry. However, with the advent of digital anything, people are empowered to do whatever they want.

Fast forward to now and people are realizing with a good scanner and printer, they can make the reprints themselves and not rely on a pro photographer for prints anymore. This has angered some photographers because now their customers either do it at home or go to a mass retailer to get the prints done.

All in all, it's a huge mess that will eventually work itself out but not til photographers realize that customers are demanding different ways to get what they want. The more enterprising photographers out there will charge upfront for their services and just relinquish whatever rights they have to the images and call it a day. While this wouldn't apply for other types of pro photography, consumer oriented type photography demands this kind of convenience.

Instead of making the mistake that the music industry made by fighting it's customers, pro photographers would be wise to innovate and take advantage of the VAST opportunities that digital photography brings.

There are infinitely more opportunities now than before to make a living at digital photography. While the technology and workflows change, good old fashioned entrepreneurship and hard work don't.