Jon Devo column
Jon Devo explores what livestreaming tech could offer people on this side of the lens
What the widespread adoption of livestreaming means for you
Streaming has changed the way we create and experience content. From music, theatre and work through to education, TV and film, streaming has completely taken over.
Crucially, the pandemic has had a huge hand in accelerating the adoption of live streaming. Based on current trends, video streaming is projected to make up as much as 82% of all internet traffic by 2022 (according to a 2020 Interdigital report).
With many of us having to conduct meetings remotely or find alternative creative outlets, the technology world has responded by bringing products to market designed to help us get more out of live streaming situations. Whether it’s speaking with colleagues and clients or streaming content for our own audiences, there’s a rapidly expanding list of lights, mics, cameras and other gadgets aimed at raising the production quality of live streams.
With the release of the Lumix GH5 II and the Xperia Pro smart device, Panasonic and Sony are putting their flags in the sand. Blackmagic and Camlink, with products like the Atem Mini Pro and the Camlink 4K, are two brands in the video world that were well ahead of the curve in this area, too.
As a reluctant streamer, I wanted to consider a number of ways live streaming could impact photography and video creatives.
The revolution will be streamed
I have to admit, my reticence over live streaming is fuelled by a desire to avoid being called a YouTuber or getting associated with the gamingobsessed on Twitch. The idea of spending large portions of my time being watched live by random people on the internet makes me uncomfortable. However, I realise I may be missing out on some great opportunities to build my audience and client base.
More than 4.5 billion people were using the internet at the beginning of 2020, with over 60 per cent of the world’s population online (DataReportal, 2020). Improvements in internet speeds and accessibility are only going to boost the popularity of live-streamed content.
I suppose you are wondering, “What would I do on a live stream?” There’s an obvious answer: you could conduct workshops, sharing your composition and lighting techniques. You could also host Q&As and discussions with other creatives in your area of interest or expertise. I also like the idea of having a livestream during shoots, provided your client and models are OK with that. It could be beneficial for others to see your process while taking photos or shooting video content.
Then there’s the opportunity of becoming a livestream producer, if you have the cameras and the gear to put together a quality livestream. (If you don’t, perhaps now is the time to begin investing.) All you have to do is set it up, and you could become the go-to livestream shooter in your local area or network. As someone who prefers to be behind the camera, this option is definitely more appealing to me. But I accept I may have to bite the bullet and get comfortable with livestreaming myself, in order to build and improve that skillset.
Livestreaming is here to stay – and early adopters, as always, will be the ones who reap the greatest benefits. The kit to produce high-quality streamed content with little fuss is here: all we have to do is get out of our own way and make the most of it!
“Early adopters will be the ones who reap the greatest benefits”