Did you know that Facebook just purchased Instagram for $1,000,000?

[Steve P]

You, and all the answers all have valid points. Instagram or Facecrap are not going to put an end to real photography.... BUT.... they both do have impact, that being it will be that much more of the general population that will be further dumbed down as to what good photography really is. With the advent of the digital camera and phone in the hands of every kid and clueless "photographer" in existence it seems, the barrage of BAD photography on the internet becomes, more and more everyday, what is accepted and seen as normal and good photography. I cringe at all the terrible photography I see on places like Facebook with all the "great shot" comments by equally clueless onlookers. This dumbing down is why there is so much BAD wedding photography today. Young brides have been staring at junk for so many years, that when they see some clown with a DSLR hanging around their neck who can take a marginally better photo than their cell phone, then that gives validation to all the terrible "wedding photographers" in the market today. Instagram is just another goofy piece of tripe that is hardly going to end real photography, but it will cut into it a little deeper than what has already been done. I can't wait to see someone on Facebook or Craigslist wanting a "wedding photographer" to shoot all their wedding on Instagram. It will happen.

steve