We Refused $100K+ in Camera Ads—Here’s Why Photography Needs Independence

I'm confident when I say that no one else is doing this. We're one of the only publications working to help you make images that AI can't really create. In 2025, I started to do things that otherwise would seem crazy for a publisher of a niche photography online magazine to do. For starters, this year, the Phoblographer may actually make a printed magazine again. But in addition to that, we didn't sell any ads to the big camera manufacturers. It really showed me that if everyone even gave $1 to read FOR THE YEAR, we'd make enough money to be able to grow and sustain the site for a very, very long time. But that's really tough to ask. Eventually, I'd like to site to move away from needing and relying on banner-ads. Instead, I want the site to go fully super-affordable subscription eventually.