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Surviving Photography
a blog about photography, businesses, brands, and AI (but it's written by a human).
All Posts


Should Photographers Just Give Up?
Are photographers done for?
Jeff Merkel
Sep 24, 2025


Are Digital Assets Forgotten in 2026?
Why are businesses slopifying their online presence?
Jeff Merkel
Sep 21, 2025


Real Photos or AI? In 2026, What Direction Should Brands Go?
Businesses are at a crossroads.
Jeff Merkel
Sep 20, 2025


Commercial Photography for Businesses: Is It Even Worth It Anymore?
I'm sick of pretending social media works for every business.
Jeff Merkel
Sep 16, 2025


Everyone's Starting a Business. Nobody's Starting a Brand.
Toronto restaurant photography is a tough game, when restaurant owners don't understand what they actually need.
Jeff Merkel
Sep 15, 2025


Why Do Restaurants Undervalue Good Photography?
Toronto restaurant photography is a tough game, when restaurant owners don't understand what they actually need.
Jeff Merkel
Sep 14, 2025


How Do Local Businesses Get Clients in 2026? (It's Not Instagram).
How do plumbers, HVAC companies, electricians, contractors, movers, junk removal companies get clients?
Jeff Merkel
Sep 12, 2025


Toronto Businesses Have Bad Websites. Why Is The Bar So Low?
Why do local service businesses have horrible websites? Standing out is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, but they don't stand out.
Jeff Merkel
Sep 10, 2025


How I’m pivoting as a photographer (AI took my job)
AI took my Job. Do businesses even need commercial photographers anymore?
Jeff Merkel
Sep 6, 2025


Restaurants are using AI for their menu photos. we need to talk about it.
Restaurants are using AI for their menu photos. It's over.
Jeff Merkel
Sep 5, 2025


Businesses Tried to Look Expensive, and Wound Up Looking Worse.
I found Toronto contractor using AI videos of building houses on their website. It felt disingenuous.
Jeff Merkel
Sep 4, 2025


Why Restaurants Have Bad Photos.
Uber did this to us. AI is going to make it worse.
Jeff Merkel
Sep 2, 2025


Photography is dead. Now what?
Photographers just lost a lot of market share to AI. Now what?
Jeff Merkel
Sep 1, 2025
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