The impact of the iPad on Photography

The iPad is coming April 3th.

Many people have pondered what this new device will achieve on introduction. There are millions of posts all over the internet and in mainstream media on this subject.

I found many postings on the iPad are titled “The impact of the iPad on _____". The blank is filled with all kinds of subjects from comic books to real estate sales to photography. So I felt this space was full, but a colleague in my day job asked my opinion and how it will impact business to business communications. That got me thinking…

Apple claims the iPad is a new category. In Steve Jobs keynote where the iPad was launched, he said as much and stated that the iPod and iPhone were launched in existing markets. The later is true, we all remember how difficult MP3 players were and how limited cell phones were until Apple arrived with an extended product (one that included delivery of content with iTunes and the App store) and they redefined the category. But is the iPad defining a new category or redefining an existing category. (Was the CD a new category or redefining the record industry). I think the iPad is not a new category. It is redefining many, many industries. Hence why there are millions of postings on such a subject.

So the question is if the iPad can replace a book or replace a photograph or replace a magazine or replace a comic book or replace a TV or replace… (the possibilities appear to be endless), how will business models change.

For me, I don’t get magazines or newspapers anymore. I get my info real time via the iPhone or laptop. I also don’t read books (I listen to them as I drive to work). Now I’m a bit on the leading edge of technology, but as much as I love Apple, I am not convinced that I need an iPad... yet. This is because the use case does not fit my life style since I have no need to replace a printed document, I’ve already done so. For others this may be different.

That said, one use I can see is using the device to show my photography to others, or to use the device to look at images in the field and from there the possibilities begin to become interesting for the iPad and photography.

Image the following possibilities:

• You are in the field capturing a landscape and want to see the results before walking away, with the iPad you can see the full image and easily zoom in to look at detail.
• Content providers around the globe are looking for quality images to post on their websites, do people start buying images same as they buy music and books today? Does Apple open a Photo Store?
• You are taking pictures at a wedding and the bride’s mother has particular needs. Well, with an iPad, you can show, practically in real time, the image you just captured for approval. Going way beyond that 3” LCD on your camera.
• You want to show your images to family, friends, and client. Instead of firing up a thick, heavy laptop with a questionable display or bringing along your desk top plus high quality monitor, all you need to carry is the 1.5 pound iPad to show images on the 9.7” diagonal screen that is 1024 x 768 @132 pixels per inch.
• You are on a baseball field and just took a picture of someone’s child sliding into home. You can show that image to the child’s parent and make a “point of sale” transaction right on the field.
• You just shot some video and want to preview it before moving on. Just pull out your handy iPad and you are good to go.

I think that the iPad will drive up the need for good quality photography. It will also become a critical tool in the coming years that photographers will want to carry along the iPad in their bag along with their camera and lens kit. [All you need is either an iPad Camera Connection Kit (supports USB or SD cards) or a WiFi/3G connection with your camera.]

So look out, the iPad is coming, the iPad is coming…