Low fees are not the disease, just the symptom. After years of shooting for international hotel brands, the thing that worries me is what quietly disappeared underneath the price: the assistant route that taught judgement, the difference between knowing what you don't know and not knowing at all, and a shared standard of what good work costs. Nobody in this story is acting out of malice — which is exactly why it is so hard to fix.

The recent OCBC campaign where my image was licensed reminded me how crucial it is to practice sustainability in photography. Licensing is often overlooked, but it plays a key role in keeping our industry fair and creative. It allows photographers to stay motivated, ensures clients are charged fairly based on usage, and helps sustain photography as a craft and profession in the long run.