New Developments and Refocusing in Digital Photography Market Predicted for 2007

WEYMOUTH, Mass. - InfoTrends kicks off each year with a look at the top trends that will shape the digital photography market over the course of the year. During 2007, the still-fragmented photography industry is expected to realize that more industry-wide partnerships can lead to increased business in the long term. A continued emphasis on marketing to specific target segments is likely to remain as well, as vendors tailor their products and services to meet ever-changing consumer needs.

InfoTrends expects to see continued consolidation and refocusing within the digital camera market. Repeat digital camera buyers will become a mainstay in 2007, and the photo hobbyist and family memory keeper segments will become attractive targets for DSLR sellers as the year progresses.

“In this maturing digital camera segment, marketing, sales, and distribution are becoming critical success factors for vendors,” said Ed Lee, Director of Consumer Services for InfoTrends. “During 2007, look for brands and sub-brands to become more important to consumers as they attempt to navigate through an overwhelming array of product choices.”

The photo printing market will remain stable in 2007, but InfoTrends foresees an even greater emphasis on the marketing and merchandising of photo gifts and specialty items.

“Expect to see some interesting new developments in areas such as high-volume inkjet and color laser printing,” said David Haueter, an Associate Director for InfoTrends. “Additionally, vendors will continue to develop ways to make printing from camera phones easier, and the U.S. market will witness a significant percentage increase in camera phone prints between 2006 and 2007. This growth will come from the increasing number of mobile phones hitting the market with a camera as a standard feature.”

Just as the photo industry has moved from a world of 4” x 6” prints, traditional albums, and one-to-one sharing to more creative ways of telling stories with pictures, InfoTrends expects that video will increase its role in the storytelling process as well.

“2007 will be another exciting year as consumers continue to embrace a connected digital lifestyle that changes the way they interact with pictures, music, entertainment, and each other,” said Alan Bullock, an Associate Director for InfoTrends. “People will continue to share pictures online and make prints, but they will also be telling stories with their pictures enhanced by words, music, video, and creativity.”

InfoTrends’ new Road Map documents provide additional insights into these topics and many others that will impact vendors’ product and service development plans for this year. These reports are available immediately in electronic format.