7 Reasons to Embrace Digital Photography

While most professional photographers officially went digital in the mid '90s, it would be several years before most consumers could do the same. The earliest digital cameras were still kind of bulky, and definitely a bit too expensive, for the average consumer. Over 20 years later, most of us have made the switch to digital. But believe it or not, there are still some holdouts. Even with traditional film going out of style, some still prefer the now antiquated medium. However, for those who have yet to make the switch, there are some pretty convincing reasons to embrace the digital format once and for all. 1: Smartphones: Nearly every smartphone has a built-in digital camera nowadays. Some of these built-in cameras are even quite impressive; with the capability to take high-quality photographs that, in some cases, rival the images produced by the professionals. Most smartphones even feature built-in effects and filters to add even more flavor to your digital images. 2: Restoring lost images: Traditional, film-based cameras are susceptible to many different hazards – both before having them developed and after they're complete. While many digital cameras make it possible to restore lost images, this simply isn't a choice with film. Unless you have a second copy stored somewhere safe, any lost or damaged photos are gone for good. 3: Saving money: Although smartphones and digital cameras do require an initial investment, you can save a lot of money if you take a lot of pictures. Since you won't need to pay in order to get your photos developed, you'll end up saving a ton of money in the long run. Moreover, since digital cameras store their images on a memory card, you won't have to worry about spending any more money on film. 4: Honing your skills: It's never been easier to get into photography, either as an amateur or professional. Today's digital cameras are great for budding young photographers who want to refine their skills and pad their portfolio. 5: Automated functionality: Let's face it – the growth of digital photography has definitely resulted in better images across the board. Much of this is a result of the automated features of today's digital cameras, like auto-focus, red eye reduction, and more. All of these tools really remove much of the monotony and tedium of traditional photography and make it a more exciting time for everyone involved. 6: Easily sharable: Digital images are easily sharable amongst your friends, family members, and colleagues. In fact, smartphones let you take a digital image and send it to anyone – or everyone – on your contacts list with the push of a button. Alternatively, flash memory cards can easily be removed, inserted into other devices, and even sent to a colleague through traditional postal mail. 7: Evolving technology: Perhaps the best part of all is the fact that digital camera technology isn't done evolving. While it's grown by leaps and bounds over the past few decades, it's anybody's guess as to where this technology will eventually lead. You can make sure you stay ahead of the curve by keeping up-to-date with the latest innovations in digital camera technology.