Photographic prints vs. images

What is the future of the photographic print?  
(The following comments are some of my thoughts to stimulate a discussion at the monthly camera club meeting.)


Before the advent of digital photography, paper prints were the normal output of the photographic process.   To get from the exposed film to a viewable image, the photographer would commonly develop the film, make a contact sheet, select frames and make prints using the common wet developing process.  This process is still used by some hardy film enthusiasts.


Snapshot prints were shared with friends and framed to sit on numerous tables, nightstands, etc., or to be enlarged to  hang on the wall.   Thanks to studios such as Olan Mills, hundreds of thousands of parents have large portraits of their children or family groups.    


When digital cameras became the "standard", two changes in this procedure took place.  
First, photographers who wanted or needed printed output, could use a digital printer to make a print, or could submit their images to a commercial  processor who would provide prints of any size from the digital file.
Second, digital images could be shared by email or uploading to an on-line site,  
This second change has been carried further by the popularity of the smart phone.  Smart phones have evolved into multi-function devices that contain very capable cameras as well as electronic connections to share images individually or posted on-line.  Some "experts" predict that smart phones will dominate amateur photography in a few years.


As a result of these changes, the popularity of the photographic print has dropped significantly.  The savvy consumer shares images with friends and family electronically or has a digital display on the table instead  of framed prints.  Wedding photography may be one of the few remaining markets for albums of paper prints.    But are we giving up too soon on the photographic print?  


We are just completing the annual Fotoseptiembre celebration in San Antonio.   Photography has been celebrated all over town with exhibits at many different venues.   Almost without exception, those exhibits  have been exhibits of print media.  Museums may someday have photography exhibits on electronic displays, but for the serious observer, there will always be a desire to examine and enjoy a classical print.


So where does this leave us amateurs?  I personally think there is a place for the print, particularly enlarged prints, as an enduring image to be displayed and shared. Most any inkjet printer can make acceptable 8x10 prints and there are affordable printers that can make very nice 13x19 prints.  As an alternative, commercial labs, even those found at bigbox stores such as WalMart can make high quality prints up to poster size.


So what do we think about all this?