“Everyone is a comedian.” That’s what is often said to someone after he or she cracks a bad joke—even though the joker never claimed to be a professional.

But lately when it comes to other creative arts, everyone really does think he is an expert…and the public seems to be saying that good enough is good enough. Are we witnessing the demise of fine art? Or have taste and the definition of quality changed?

I’m thinking that it is the latter. Suddenly I am feeling like my grandparents did when Elvis Presley and the Beatles first burst onto the scene and broke all the rules of acceptable music…and like art enthusiasts, when fine painting transitioned from Monet’s emotion-filled impressionistic florals to Picasso’s distorted cubist depictions of reality.

Photographs, videos, copywriting and even content development have moved away from the use of highly skilled, highly trained professionals to an interesting do-it-yourself mind-set, encouraged by improved technology and pressure to reduce costs.

Let’s start with photography. The lowering of the bar started more than 25 years ago with Photoshop, a software product that allows the user to imbed any image onto any background. Why go to the trouble and expense of taking a beautiful location photo for an advertisement when a few simple keystrokes can put the studio model into any exotic locale? Yeah, the lighting isn’t quite right, but you think, No one will notice.

Last year, a distinguished outdoor photographer was fired from his long-term job at a leading ski resort—after all, who needs an on-staff photographer when thousands of people are more than happy to have their “snap” be the photo of the day?

To save money, a few years ago, Sports Illustrated, renowned for its sports photography, fired all of its experienced photographers and replaced them with a contract with Getty Images, a stock-image warehouse. And now the publication accepts contributed photos—but it won’t reimburse freelance photographers for their travel or parking expenses and will pay only when the photos are published.

The Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey, one of the most luxurious shopping malls in the country, posted an ad last week looking for a photographer to deliver 50 shots of assorted aspects of the mall. The fee? $50. That doesn’t even pay for the batteries needed to run the flashes. This from the proprietors of a mall that sells women’s shoes that cost nearly $1,000. What kind of photography do they expect to get for $50? Apparently “good enough.”

We all have watched the explosion of “professionals” espousing their wisdom while sitting in front of their laptop webcams. It’s no wonder that YouTube viewing statistics show that most people don’t watch videos for any longer than two minutes. It’s boring, and it hurts your eyes to watch some fuzzy talking head reciting a rambling script for longer than that.

On the other hand, do-it-yourself has worked very well for comedian James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke and Jesse Watters’ Watters’ World. Handheld cams fit these man-on –the-street segments.

Technology is a wonderful tool. It saves time and even allows us to create some things that we couldn’t do manually. And it has indeed allowed higher levels of resources to be accessible to the masses. Phone cameras now are incredible pieces of high-tech equipment. But at what price?

Let’s talk copywriting…

While Bottom Line happily pays enormous amounts of money to the top copywriters in the direct-marketing industry in return for highly successful promotions, there are many Internet entrepreneurs out there who have become millionaires writing their own copy and selling their own wares. It certainly works for some people and businesses. There are millionaire bloggers on every topic from money to entertainment and, of course, food. There’s no need to buy cookbooks when you can follow your favorite food blogger or watch a video on YouTube.

However, as an information provider that prides itself on bringing our readers insight from the most knowledgeable experts, it is interesting to see that the new media followers are happy to accept the informal opinions of individuals who don’t necessarily have formal credentials, especially when it comes to food and self-improvement. The success of our Bottom Line Blog network is proving that out (of course, our bloggers are experts).

But I ask again…is this really for the better?

We all want to save a nickel. Sure, I get it. And with people rebelling against the fixed and formal, do-it-yourself now is very “in.” But there really is a skill to the creative arts. It takes time, practice and training to master a craft. I believe there is a time for do-it-yourself and a time when you spend the big bucks.

We talk in many corners about wanting to do and be our best, yet when it comes to artistic-based output, are we lowering our bar of excellence in the name of contemporary artistic style?

As an art form, casual, do-it-yourself can be great…but sometimes you need a professional. I am a very good headline writer, but I would never try to write a full-blown promotion piece. I am all for taking beautiful snapshots with a cell phone to preserve amazing memories. But when I need a family portrait or an expert’s head shot, only a properly lit, properly composed photo will do.

As with most things, sometimes you want good enough and sometimes you want great. Just be sure that you know which is which so that you get the results you hope for.

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