Professional Photography at Risk of Disappearance, Warns Italian Artist in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Technological advances and the widespread use of smartphones have pushed the professional photography trade into an unprecedented crisis, marked by job losses and the growing impact of artificial intelligence, according to an Italian artist based in this Mexican resort city.

Anthony Caronia, an anthropological, cultural and artistic photographer who has lived in Playa del Carmen since 1996, said photographers have lost the leading role they held for decades in social, cultural and commercial spheres.

“Now any person with a phone takes photos that work for their business, and they no longer call or look for the photographer,” Caronia said.

The author of the book “Playa del Alma” explained that practically anyone with a mobile phone can now produce images to promote businesses or generate content, which has significantly reduced the hiring of professionals.

Artificial Intelligence Worsens the Problem

While acknowledging the sector can still survive in high-level artistic, creative and commercial niches that require specialized equipment and technical experience, Caronia stressed that the emergence of artificial intelligence worsens the outlook.

In his opinion, the combination of accessible technology and digital tools capable of generating images without a camera places the trade in an uncertain scenario.

Risk of Progressive Displacement

Caronia believes that without adapting to new dynamics, professional photography could face a process of progressive displacement.

The activity, which has historically documented the social and cultural transformation of destinations like Playa del Carmen, is now living through a stage of redefinition amid an environment dominated by digital immediacy.