Desmond’s story of navigating ageism in the creative industry

After Thirty Years Behind The Camera, I Felt Invisible

Desmond had spent more than three decades working as a photographer, covering everything from weddings and corporate events to fashion shoots and product campaigns. Known for his calm presence and attention to detail, he built most of his career through word of mouth and long-term clients. However, as the industry became increasingly fast-paced and heavily centred around social media trends, he slowly began noticing changes in the way he was treated at work. Younger photographers were often prioritised for larger campaigns, while Desmond found himself receiving fewer assignments and shorter shifts despite his years of experience.

At first, he brushed it aside as part of the industry changing. But over time, the work environment became increasingly discouraging. Meetings would move quickly without including his input, and colleagues occasionally joked that he was “old-school” or too slow to keep up with newer editing trends. Although he had adapted to digital photography years ago and continued learning new software independently, he felt many people had already made assumptions about his abilities based purely on his age.

The shift cuts eventually began affecting him financially and emotionally. Desmond worried about speaking up, fearing he would be labelled difficult or resistant to change. “It wasn’t one big thing,” he explained. “It was small comments and decisions that slowly made me feel like I didn’t belong there anymore.” What hurt most was feeling as though decades of skill, client relationships, and technical knowledge could suddenly be overlooked so easily.

Despite the challenges, Desmond continues taking on freelance projects and mentoring younger photographers entering the industry. Through sharing his experiences, he hopes more people will recognise that creativity, adaptability, and passion do not disappear with age. He believes workplaces become stronger when different generations are able to learn from one another instead of treating ageing as something that makes a person less valuable.