How has social media influenced and carved the career paths of photographers?

[Bryn]

This is intended as a college research paper. No personal information will be disclosed.

[Rob B]

Social media has complicated the life of professional photographers in many ways. Potential customers have become much more educated about what a photographer does. On the other hand, they expect a lot more, for a lot less. It has created an entirely new avenue of exposure (pun intended) for photographers also. Through social media, they are much more able to interact with potential, and prior customers. Sending a FB note to a family you shot a newborn session for last year, is a good way to start doing yearly portraits for the family. Keeping up with wedding customers on social media can also let them know when babies are expected, to push newborn, or maternity sessions.
Social media has also created a mess for photographers that want to keep the copyrights of their images. When it took the negatives, or a good copy to "steal" an image until recently, now it's as easy as clicking a mouse button. When a customer can look at a "proof" online, they can also capture the image and with basic photo software, crop out the photographers watermark and use the image without paying for it.
Add these issues to the ease a non-professional can shoot a "good enough" photo session, for far less than a professional, with bills to pay, and social media and digital photography makes survival in today's market very challenging.