[Survey of 1,000 Creators] Pros Seek 'Advanced Features' While Creators Prioritize 'Intuitiveness'! The 'Absolute Criteria' for Software Selection

Wondershare Software Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Wu Taiping) conducted a survey on 'Creator's Production Environment and Business Challenges' targeting (1) Photographers and (2) Content Creators.

As the demand for content expands, shooting equipment and distribution platforms have diversified, and data capacity is on the rise. Consequently, creators may be facing burdens beyond pure production, such as the hassle of format conversion and exporting, complexity due to using multiple software programs simultaneously, and anxiety over data management. This survey aimed to clarify what kind of burdens photographers and content creators feel in their daily work and what kind of improvements they seek in their production environments.

### Survey Overview: "Creator's Production Environment and Business Challenges" - **Survey Period:** April 23 (Thu) to April 24 (Fri), 2026 - **Method:** Internet survey via PRIZMA - **Number of Respondents:** 1,011 (503 Photographers / 508 Content Creators) - **Survey Source:** Wondershare Software Co., Ltd.

### Key Findings

#### 1. Activity Patterns and Production Environments Regarding their current form of activity, 24.7% were freelance photographers, 18.9% belonged to studios or companies, and 44.9% identified as content creators (SNS/KOL). The survey showed that freelance photographers outnumber those employed by organizations, reflecting diverse working styles.

#### 2. Income Status About 90% of both professions earned less than 500,000 JPY per month, with '200,000 to less than 500,000 JPY' being the most common income bracket.

#### 3. Shooting Equipment and Devices There was a clear distinction in hardware: photographers favor 'DSLR' and 'Mirrorless' cameras, while content creators have a high utilization rate of 'smartphones.' This suggests that smartphones have become the primary tool for content creators who prioritize mobility and instant posting to SNS.

For editing devices, Windows PC was the most used across both professions, followed by iOS smartphones. It is likely that creators use PCs for high-load editing while utilizing smartphones for simple edits and quick uploads.

#### 4. Main Software Tools Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop hold a high market share in both groups. Notably, in the photographer's software ranking, 'Filmora' ranked high after the top three professional products. This indicates that creators are choosing software based on their skills and specific needs—sometimes requiring professional-grade advanced features and sometimes seeking intuitive tools for quick production.