Photographer writes excellent letter to the band Garbage about unpaid photo use

[sim667]

The pervy men will be the freebies but also some cheap ass small advertising firms.
The ones that charge are proper studios using a model's desire to obtain work to create a money market exploiting that hope.

The ones that charge are proper studios charging for their services....... The photos are of no use to the studio, so why would the do them free?

 

[spanglechick]

Far be it from me to defend Gromit, but you do get pro photographers seeking models for "exposure". A common one is asking for people with lots of piercings etc. It's even more rife in moving media (short films, promos, pilots etc).


As regards this case, our wedding photographer was a pro portrait specialist who did our wedding for free to build up her portfolio prior to moving into weddings with her business. It's not uncommon. The difference is that she put the message out looking for weddings. We didn't approach her.

 

[editor]

If they contact you direct then yes they are taking the piss. However, they put up an ad....

The fact that it's in an advert doesn't take away from the piss taking nature of their request for a photographer with the highest level gear coming along to take pictures for free with the bullshit promise of "300 potential clients."

 

[editor]

Far be it from me to defend Gromit, but you do get pro photographers seeking models for "exposure". A common one is asking for people with lots of piercings etc. It's even more rife in moving media (short films, promos, pilots etc).

If they're actually 'pro' photographers then they should be paying the models, or at the very least offering a decent portfolio in exchange (the models will also have to sign model release forms if the photographer wants to use the pics commercially).

 

[sim667]

Far be it from me to defend Gromit, but you do get pro photographers seeking models for "exposure". A common one is asking for people with lots of piercings etc. It's even more rife in moving media (short films, promos, pilots etc).


As regards this case, our wedding photographer was a pro portrait specialist who did our wedding for free to build up her portfolio prior to moving into weddings with her business. It's not uncommon. The difference is that she put the message out looking for weddings. We didn't approach her.

You do get photographers seeking models for for "exposure", but remember the definition of a pro photographer is very loose. Anyone with a camera can take some photo's and call themselves a pro photographer, without having the experience to warrant being described as pro, or any technical training whatsoever. Being a pro photographer is about credibility based on your portfolio, experience and clients reviews.

Someone who has never taken a photograph for payment in their life can set up a website and describe themself as a "pro photographer".

I may not be a pro photographer, but I've worked as an assistant, a darkroom technician, a studio technician and a lecturer, I have a photography degree, but I wouldn't dare describe my self as a pro photographer..... Maybe a semi pro or pro amateur.

If I could live my 20's again, there's a lot of things I would do differently to try and get into the career I really wanted.

 

[editor]

You do get photographers seeking models for for "exposure", but remember the definition of a pro photographer is very loose. Anyone with a camera can take some photo's and call themselves a pro photographer, without having the experience to warrant being described as pro, or any technical training whatsoever. Being a pro photographer is about credibility based on your portfolio, experience and clients reviews.

Someone who has never taken a photograph for payment in their life can set up a website and describe themself as a "pro photographer"

I've sold shitloads of photos - some to big name clients like the BBC, Penguin Books, Time Out etc - and made a fair bit of cash for their use, but I'd still only describe myself as 'semi-pro', at best. And even that seems a bit of a stretch, really.

 

[sim667]

I've sold shitloads of photos - some to big name clients like the BBC, Penguin Books, Time Out etc - and made a fair bit of cash for their use, but I'd still only describe myself as 'semi-pro', at best.

Exactly in line with the edit I've just made to my post.

I'd like to get my photos into stock, but I'm not sure if they're good enough, and the keywording drives me mental

 

[FridgeMagnet]

The ones that charge are proper studios charging for their services....... The photos are of no use to the studio, so why would the do them free?

There's a running scam with "model agencies" doing shoots of young people for free and then trying to charge the earth for a "portfolio", using high pressure sales techniques (on the parents). Loads of them in Soho. The son of a friend of a friend got caught up in one recently - luckily they didn't pay up.

ETA: but you'd know that so now I'm a bit confused and may have made the wrong reply but whatever

 

[editor]

So many young wannbe models have been ripped off by such scummy photographers. It's been going on forever.

 

[sim667]

There's a running scam with "model agencies" doing shoots of young people for free and then trying to charge the earth for a "portfolio", using high pressure sales techniques (on the parents). Loads of them in Soho. The son of a friend of a friend got caught up in one recently - luckily they didn't pay up.

ETA: but you'd know that so now I'm a bit confused and may have made the wrong reply but whatever

Yeah I know..... not even just model agencies. You know when people "win a photoshoot"...... exactly the same thing.

I've had loads of freinds do it, I always warn them off and say I'll do something for them if they hire a studio, but they just get caught up in it all and spend hundreds because parents want copies etc.

 

[Voley]

Would anyone give me an idea of what to charge for a photo? I've just been asked by a large charity for use of a photo of mine on their FB Twitter Insta etc.

Usual thing. No mention of payment but you can have a credit etc. Doesn't happen frequently but I'm always in two minds a bit when this happens.

 

[editor]

Would anyone give me an idea of what to charge for a photo? I've just been asked by a large charity for use of a photo of mine on their FB Twitter Insta etc.

Usual thing. No mention of payment but you can have a credit etc. Doesn't happen frequently but I'm always in two minds a bit when this happens.

I usually let charities use my pics for free, but with a credit.

 

[Voley]

I usually let charities use my pics for free, but with a credit.

I was thinking along those lines too. Last time this happened it was a bloke selling a commercial calendar so I expected some payment. It's The National Trust this time btw so not short of a bob or two I wouldn't have thought.

 

[editor]

I was thinking along those lines too. Last time this happened it was a bloke selling a commercial calendar so I expected some payment. It's The National Trust this time btw so not short of a bob or two I wouldn't have thought.

I think of it as a donation - although given the National Trust's crappy attitude to photographers maybe I'd think twice.

 

[Voley]

the National Trust's crappy attitude to photographers maybe I'd think twice.

Don't know about this - they're not great in this regard normally then?

 

[editor]

Don't know about this - they're not great in this regard normally then?

There was something on here about it but it's this:
National Trusts & Commercial Photography Responses | On Landscape

 

[Voley]

There was something on here about it but it's this:
National Trusts & Commercial Photography Responses | On Landscape

Thanks.

Can't see my request for a year's free membership getting very far then.

 

[editor]

Good piece here
https://www.thephoblographer.com/20...CAkSHRh0Ha-0hpHDqj_Lz7-ng9LVE6sgVMJzJN52VyhKg

 

[friedaweed]

Good piece here
Concert Photography: Legalities and Licensing Of Your Photos (Premium) - The Phoblographer

That's an ace pic