official photographer question!

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liquidfire
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official photographer question!

Post by liquidfire »

hey guys!
i am a photographer working in cape town, i shot an event this weekend where i was the official photographer and found another photographer selling photos this morning.
i very politely asked that she not sell the images and tried to explain to her why but i just saw her post that she will be giving all her photos away for free now.

does anyone have a link for me that i might share with her - explaining why she is destroying the industry she so badly wants to work in! i dont want to start an argument or debate with her but think she is missing the point entirely!
please let me know if anyone has written a nice blogpost or article on this matter?

xx would greatly appreciate it!
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Robert Bruss Photography
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by Robert Bruss Photography »

This timely article was just published in The Chronicle of the Horse. The two greatest threats to equine event photographers are, poaching by "unofficial" rail-shooters (like you experienced) and digital image theft. Both topics are covered in this article.
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/hor ... ing-crisis
This subject has been covered extensively in the General Members section here at EPNet, and in fact that's where I found the link contained here. You'd find membership highly beneficial, I'm sure.
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liquidfire
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by liquidfire »

oh you are a star!!
thank you so much!
xxx
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Robert Bruss Photography
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by Robert Bruss Photography »

You're very welcome. I see EPNet has a new feature about "thanks" for a post. It's working on the open forums but not yet on the general members forums. It looks like a thumbs up icon in the upper right part of the reply screen. Would you be so kind as to click on this to see if it works? I'll reply in kind - consider it a beta-test of sorts, since I don't recall this being available here 'til now.
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easternlightphotos
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by easternlightphotos »

Hi Tracy,
it might be worth going through the organizers of the event, its the route I would normally takes as you then dont have to deal with the person direct.
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by carolcoronios »

Wow, I don't know about that, Nigel. Our contracts with management include exclusive rights to take photos for sale, but I don't see how anyone could expect to have exclusive rights to take photos PERIOD. We expect management to support the contract they signed, so if we have an issue with a poacher, they will get into the discussion if we request it. But to tell someone that they can't GIVE photos away?

I thoroughly understand that this is almost worse than poachers who sell, but where do you draw the line? Is mummy or daddy allowed to take pics of darling daughter? Can I come take some photos of my friend?

I think someone in this position (OP seeing wannabe taking lots of images, talking to her/him - and wannabe respecting the conversation and NOT offering the photos she's taken for sale) might take the opportunity to educate the wannabe.

It's really getting to be not so much fun to be the OP. I just cringe when I read Shawn/James/Sharon stories. I'm lucky, I have a fulltime job. I can't IMAGINE fighting this battle week in and week out. My heart goes out...

C
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by shapack »

Tracy-Lee, I am so sorry for your situation. Your post is timely.
Last edited by shapack on Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:07 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by natdouglas »

Very timely post indeed.

The bottom line, really - people don’t give a damn. I hate to sound so blunt but they don’t. I have come a long way in my photography career in the last 9 years and have been on all sides of the spectrum - I’ve been the ‘new kid’ starting out...the ‘poacher’ who FINALLY saw the light and apologized to all those I hurt in this business....to the OP that tries to educate and keep changing to stay ahead of everyone else and for the first time ever, I am trying to decide if I want to continue doing shows or go do something else. It's a sad situation really...that people are settling for 'good enough' instead of what OPs can provide - the best.
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by carolcoronios »

Hi Nat! Good to 'see' you. Hope all's going well for you (well, outside of the show ring, where it's tough for everyone these days).

C
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by michelletwohig »

post moved to general member discussion area
Last edited by michelletwohig on Tue Jun 21, 2011 12:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by leslieheemsbergen »

Hi Michelle,
Whenever a business model is impacted by change-whether it is fueled by technology, by the consumers demands, by the economy, whatever- it can be painful. I've noticed Jim Pickerell, the guru of rights managed image licensing start to discuss royalty free licensing. Absolutely shooting horse shows on spec not only is a money loser, it devalues our work to both the customer and the show management. I think it is important to develop your new business model while at the same time respecting contracts which are in place with photographers who are still using the old model. If we all are realistic, still photography is in the last vestiges of life as anything but a niche art form and we better start learning video (Carol: help!).

I appreciate your thoughts ♦
Leslie

PS Here is Pickerell's blog I mentioned. He has a new model of charging for articles.
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by michelletwohig »

Thanks, Leslie. I couldn't see a link to Pickerell's blog, but I'll do a search for it. Sounds interesting. I definitely agree video is the future as well as knowing how to artfully combine it with stills. Relationships (personality), creativity (branding, innovative package offerings, eye, post-production style, product quality/choices) and customer service will be as important as skill. I'm loading up Adobe Premiere this week and considering which new Mac I need...a purchase decision that's been necessary every 3 years since my first Mac in 1985... :shock:
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by shapack »

That wonderful combination of video with stills, is a product for which I have had requests.
Last edited by shapack on Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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michelletwohig
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by michelletwohig »

I think the problem is in the "big names" part of that sentence, Sharon, because by definition, anyone who expects anything we do to cost $100 is not our target audience. There can be no sacred cows as we find our way. I sell those "videos" (and mine are created with stills only at this point) for $1,500 to people with very "small" names but who love their horses. And I'll probably raise the price after I add video.
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shapack
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Re: official photographer question!

Post by shapack »

Michelle, I like your way of doing business! :hail:
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