Retail sales saw a moderate monthly increase and strong year-over-year gains in January, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, released today by NRF. “Consumers demonstrated continued resilience in January, showing moderate spending growth on the heels of record-high spending during the holiday season,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “This was the fourth consecutive month that sales rose from the month before, and year-over-year gains were particularly strong. Consumer spending continues to drive the broader economy forward, supported by healthy household finances and real wage gains that have increased purchasing power.

The 71th-anniversary SPAC school and sports photography conference was held Jan. 21-24, at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev., featured a record 1,300 attendees, a sold-out trade show featuring more than 90 companies serving the volume photography marketplace, and new social events. social events. The session topics included how-to sessions, sales, marketing, AI, and more. The conference program featured more than 50 hours of education and two days of dedicated tradeshow time. The Dead Pixels Society attended the conference; the video features interviews with attendees and exhibitors, including with…

Xerox Holdings Corp. reported fourth-quarter revenue of $2.03 billion, up 25.7 percent, or 23.6 percent in constant currency. On a pro forma basis, revenue is down 9.0 percent. The GAAP net (loss) was $(73) million, or $(0.60) per share, an increase from $52 million or $(0.40) per share, year-over-year, respectively. For the full year, Xerox reported revenue of $7.02 billion, up 12.9 percent, or 12.2 percent in constant currency. On a pro forma basis, revenue is down 7.6 percent. GAAP net (loss) of $(1.03) billion, or $(8.25) per share, an improvement of approximately $0.3 billion or $2.50 per share, year-over-year, respectively.

Viltrox announces the release of the AF 16mm F1.8 L, the company’s first autofocus lens for L-Mount systems. The AF 16mm F1.8 L captures expansive scenes with its ultra-wide 16mm (105.6°) field of view, while its precision optical design precisely preserves fine details, the company said. There are 15 lens elements in 12 groups, including 3 aspherical and 4 ED (extra-low dispersion) elements. This optical design controls distortion, chromatic aberration, and coma, ensuring consistent sharpness from frame center to edge. The lens will have an MSRP of $580 / €599 / £530

FastEditor announced a milestone for its Product Hub by exceeding 500,000 product configurations. Every configuration is created to be used directly for visualization, mock-ups, print proof creation, and production-ready output generation, making FastEditor one of the most scalable production infrastructures in the European promotional products, merchandise, and workwear market, the company claims.  The Product Hub connects distributors, webshops, and internal sales teams to a rapidly growing supplier ecosystem, combining enriched product data, standardized production specifications, and automated output generation via FastEditor’s Logo Editor and Studio Tool. All configurations in the Product Hub are built to support:

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Canon PowerShot digital camera with a limited edition PowerShot G7 X Mark III camera with a limited color body design and a 30-year anniversary logo is currently scheduled to be released in April 2026. Since the launch of the original PowerShot 600 in July 1996, PowerShot has expanded its lineup to meet the diverse needs of its users. The PowerShot line, which was developed with the aim of making it easy for users to enjoy high-quality still images and video, is popular among a wide range of users, from camera beginners to amateurs, and as of February 2026 over 200 PowerShot cameras in the Americas have been released.

Retouch4me, a developer of AI-based software for photo and video editing, has introduced Retouch4me Stray Hairs, a neural network–powered plugin that automatically removes flyaway hairs and smooths messy hair. Unlike manual Photoshop workflows that require adjusting each image separately, the company says Retouch4me Stray Hairs processes entire batches automatically while keeping hair looking natural and consistent across the set. The neural network was trained on professionally retouched portraits and learned how professional retouchers identify and remove unwanted hairs. “Repetitive tasks like stray hair removal are among the most time-consuming parts of post-production, which is why we’re excited to help photographers automate this step,” said…

The International Photographic Council (IPC) launched a new website, designed to celebrate and recognize photography’s profound impact as a universal language connecting people across the globe. The redesigned website showcases artist spotlights featuring some of the world’s most accomplished photographers, the first of which will be renowned photographer and National Geographic Explorer, Stephen Wilkes, who is widely recognized for his fine art, editorial, and commercial work. Another key feature includes highlights of the work of emerging student photographers, underscoring IPC’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of photographic talent.

Nikon is betting the best way to reach new Gen-Z customers is via social media. Global social-first creative agency Born Social was appointed by Nikon Inc. as its full-service social media agency of record in the United States, according to a press release. The partnership "will see the agency deliver a social strategy and always-on creative program designed to lower the barriers to photography, attract new audiences, and strengthen Nikon’s role across both photography and cinema." Born Social’s remit covers social strategy, education-led creative, content production, reactive newsroom activity, and paid social boosting, th A key focus of the partnership is guiding consumers of all experience levels toward selecting the most suitable tool for each creative moment.

If you think great industry breakthroughs happen on a show floor, think again. We sat down with Dscoop’s Peter Van Teeseling and Chris Hyde to unpack how a trust-first, member-led community is helping HP print businesses grow faster through intentional connections, candid playbook sharing, and events designed for action, not spectacle. We trace Dscoop’s 20-year arc from a “crazy idea” to a global network of 23,000+ users across 100+ countries, then dive into what makes Dscoop Edge Rockies different from a typical trade show. Instead of hard sales, the Solution Showcase pairs running presses and software with consultative partners who focus on solving real production and marketing problems.

Cady Studios LLC (CADY), announced prior to SPAC, the company has exclusively selected Sony Electronics Inc.’s cameras and lenses to create consistency and standardization across its 29 state-of-the-art studios. CADY’s adoption of Sony’s technologies features: 1,200 Alpha camera systems including Alpha 7 IV full-frame interchangeable lens offering and lenses Alpha 6700 APS-C interchangeable lens model and lenses The new imaging solutions serve as a critical component in CADY’s growth plans and help reinforce its focus on providing quality equipment, consistency, and experiences. CADY’s team, made up of nearly 1,500 photographers, who are known for photographing 3,000 students in 90 minutes, are also taking advantage of…

Event Schedule All activities at the RIO Hotel and Resort conference center Sunday, March 1 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Conference welcome and presentation: How did we get here, and where are we going? Drawing on more than 30 years of photo/imaging industry background, Gary Pageau will set the stage for the upcoming conference. What lessons can we learn from the successes and the challenges of the past? What trends are impacting the business now, and how can we, as an industry, build a strong foundation for success in 2025 and beyond?

Anhui ChangGeng Optical Technology Co. Limited (Laowa) announced the Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO is now available in Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mount. Previously released for full-frame mirrorless systems, this specialized lens now brings its 2x magnification and Apochromatic (APO) performance to the MFT community, with the added benefit of an Auto Aperture mechanism. The Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO MFT Mount will be available for purchase starting Feb. 29, 2026, through the Venus Optics official website ( and authorized resellers. The U.S. retail price is USD 449.

What does it take for a family photo lab to thrive across three generations and multiple technology upheavals? We sit down with David Buchbinder of Alkit to trace an unvarnished journey from New York City retail counters to a lean, volume-first lab that ships in three days. Buchbinder walks us through the hard calls: expanding into Kodak-branded stores, then cutting overhead and rebuilding around photo printing workflow Prints are steady, but specialty items—buttons, magnets, acrylic blocks, framed and mounted prints, canvas wraps—drive bigger carts when studios use modern platforms to reach parents by text and email.

Nikon Corp. has officially commenced the construction of two major new buildings at its Tochigi Nikon subsidiary, marked by a ground-breaking ceremony held on Jan. 7, 2026. Located in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture, this expansion represents a significant investment of approximately 25 billion yen and is designed to modernise and reinforce Nikon’s core production capabilities for high-precision optical technology, the ocmpnay said. Tochigi Nikon is responsible for the production of essential optical components and modules. The new facilities will specifically focus on the manufacturing of interchangeable lenses for digital cameras, high-performance objective lenses for microscopes, industrial lenses, and the highly complex projection lenses used in semiconductor lithography systems.

Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. announced the launch of the RICOH GR IV Monochrome, a camera specialized for monochrome photography. The camera, based on the RICOH GR IV premium compact digital camera, is equipped with a dedicated image sensor to achieve the ultimate in monochrome expression. The RICOH GR IV Monochrome will be available mid-February at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $2,199.95. The RICOH GR IV Monochrome evolves the essential values of the GR series while newly incorporating a monochrome-dedicated image sensor.

Viltrox announces NexusFocus, a new autofocus solution for manual lenses. The NexusFocus F1 is a compact, lightweight adapter that fits unobtrusively in between the lens and the camera body. The system is compatible with Sony E-mount cameras and PL-mount Cine and CineMod lenses. The adaptor uses Sony’s phase-detection system and AI subject recognition, and leverages those native capabilities of the camera to drive motors for aperture, focus, and zoom adjustments. NexusFocus gives vintage lens enthusiasts, solo operators, and small film crews unprecedented creative freedom. Freed from the constraints of manual focusing and LiDAR’s parallax limitations, creators can enjoy cinematic-level imaging, with effortless control and precision.

FUJIFILM North America Corp., Imaging Division, has announced the U.S. introduction of the instax mini Evo Cinema, which was previously announced last week. The only real difference is that the "Eras Dial" on the Japanese version is called a "Gen Dial" on the U.S. version. The Gen Dial allows users to apply photo effects from 10 different eras to their image. “mini Evo Cinema offers the best of both worlds – the vintage look of an 8mm video camera, with all of the modern functionality of a hybrid image creation tool, integrating photo, video, and print in one unique package,” said…

Thypoch has introduced the Ksana 21mm f/3.5mm lens, available in M mount, black and silver version. Despite its wide-angle and closefocus capabilities, this lens is ultra-compact and lightweight, the company says. As the first lens of the Ksana series, the company says the 21mm f/3.5 blends classic aesthetics with vintage rendering. The Ksana 21mm f/3.5 is just 27mm high and weighs only 131g. The lens has a compact eight-element, six-group optical design, featuring 1 ASPH (Aspherical), 2 ED (Extra-low Dispersion), and 3 HRI (High Refractive Index) elements. The nine-blade diaphragm provides apertures from f/3.5 to f/22 for rounded highlights, with especially crisp 18-point starbursts at f/4.

WhiteWall, the provider of high-quality wall art, photo prints, and fine art prints, is supporting the new Irys app as a founding partner, alongside Leica Camera. With this partnership, WhiteWall brings its printing expertise directly to the digital community of photographers. The Irys app puts photographers and their work at the forefront. At a time when video content and algorithms dominate social feeds, Irys offers a high-resolution, ad-free space where photographic work is presented with respect. The app is part of the wave of ad-free photo apps, like Glass and…

Apple has expanded its subscription portfolio with the Apple Creator Studio, a collection of powerful creative apps made up Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and later Freeform. Final Cut Pro introduces exceptional new video editing tools and intelligent features for Mac and iPad to improve the efficiency of even the most complex workflows. For the first time, Pixelmator Pro is coming to iPad with a uniquely crafted experience that is optimized for touch and Apple Pencil. (Apple purchased Pixelmator in 2024). Music creation with Logic Pro for Mac and iPad introduces even more intelligent features like Synth Player and Chord ID.

Photo Imaging CONNECT attendees get a bonus with their conference badge: A full WPPI conference pass that includes all seminars, the WPPI Expo, exclusive parties, after-hours events, and more. The badge also grants you access to the opening keynote featuring influential portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz. After the keynote, she will also meet attendees for an exclusive book signing. Photo Imaging CONNECT registration is now open! Buy Tickets For more information about the Photo Imaging CONNECT event, visit www.photoimagingconnect.com.

Total retail spending remained steady in December, as consumers continued to spend, according to Circana, LLC. Amid persistent price elevation, however, they also made it clear, through reduced demand, they have spending limitations. In the combined five weeks ending Jan. 3, 2026, U.S. retail sales revenue was flat across food, consumer packaged goods (CPG), and discretionary product segments, and unit demand declined 1% during the five weeks of December compared to the same time in 2024. Retail food and beverage sales revenue was up 2%, with flat unit sales. Non-edible CPG dollars were up 1%, while unit sales declined 3%.

Circana posted a preliminary holiday sales report. The early signals from Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2025 reveal a significant shift in spending behaviors. Unlike the consistency of previous years, income disparity is driving distinct patterns this season. Spending Diverges by Income: Unlike last year’s consistent spending across demographics, Black Friday and Cyber Monday levels diverged significantly this year. Lower-income households are pulling back spending relative to upper-income households. Trip Value Shifts: Spend-per-trip increased 4% in-store to $47.24, while online basket sizes decreased 3% to $62.11. Notably, Mass and Home Hardware were the two largest channels to experience decreases in in-store trip value.

Everest Solutions and Imaging, a leading Canadian school photography company, announced a definitive agreement to acquire Lifetouch Canada. Terms weren't disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2026. Everest Solutions is a relatively new player in the Canadian volume photography market, having launched in 2022 with Dan Boudreau as President and Arley MacKinnon as Vice President of Operations. More recently, the company added Kate Dath, a former Lifetouch executive, as national yearbook manager in September. Boudreau has been in senior leadership roles within Jostens, Lifetouch, and…