Influencers have invaded just about every space in which there are products for sale. If there is money to be made, there is probably an influencer for it, whether you realize it or not. Photography has not been immune to this, and it has left hobbyist and professional photographers in a strange place. This insightful video essay features a long-time pro discussing the issue and offering his thoughts. 

Coming to you from Scott Choucino of Tin House Studio, this great video essay discusses the issue of influencers in photography and their relationship with professional and hobbyist photographers, the problems it can cause, and the ethics of it all. Certainly, photography is far from the only place in which influencers leverage their popularity to sell equipment, but in an industry in which a single equipment purchase can run into four- or even five-digit costs, it is worth thinking very carefully about where you get your information and how you make your buying decisions. At a higher level, it has a strange effect on the photography community, often contributing to the sort of brand cliques we often see creatives sort themselves into. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino.