Photography Just Changed Forever | Here's Why

Go to http://squarespace.com/Tony & save 10% off your first website or domain with code “Tony" After 30 years as a photographer and over a million photos in my Lightroom catalog, I am seeing the biggest shift in the industry since the transition from film to digital. In 2026, the "professional" portrait look—flawless skin, creamy bokeh, perfect studio lighting, and tight telephoto compression—is officially cringe. Why? Because AI generators like Midjourney ruined it. People are so sick of seeing AI-generated "perfection" that anything looking remotely flawless feels fake, awkward, and like you're trying way too hard. Living in NYC, I see the trends hit the streets first. If you want to stay relevant, get booked, and actually connect with clients or your audience today, you need to put down the 200mm lens and unlearn your fancy editing skills. In this video, we're talking about why you need to embrace analog film, early-2000s digicams, wide-angle 24mm portraits, and why styling, fashion, and mood matter so much more than technical perfection.