Carl Auer Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · This is a great read that I encourage everyone to take to heart | |
Ian, the problem is, on the youth sports level, it is a PWC who just wants to shoot their kid most of the time. Not all the time, there are real photographers, but for the most part it is PWC or should I say, PW brand new C. In high school you start seeing PWC with a little bit of knowledge, which can be bad because they know the basics of what makes a good photo, but do not understand the business. But then when their kids graduate and either go to college or the parent still has the bug to shoot, and thats when they start offering publications or groups free photos just for access to shoot.
For me personally, I started photography while in high school, took a photo class and then went on to college to study photography and photojournalism. After college, while working real jobs, I did what I could to continue on with photography. Assisting, taking workshops, etc. The only time I worked for free was when working with nonprofits that I was involved with, or I was already getting paid as an employee and it was in my job description (I was the Senior Photographer for my engineering firm, and yes, I was the only photographer). I also did some photography continuing education, and continued with workshops. I never offered my services or photos in exchange for access. Yes, I would have killed at that time to be baseline of a NBA game or on the sidelines of a NFL game, but not for free or without the chance to get paid.
But today, you get people who just want the access, they have a day job that pays their bills, and so they do not need to get paid, where people like me who spent a lot of money on photography education, paying their dues, working on photo assignments that not only they did not want to, but maybe disgusted them (I did an forensic engineering assignment on asbestos removal that included dead, rotting rats, black mold, and broken plumbing pipes, in a dark location and I came away with some photos I normally would not want to get out of bed to go take). Assisting, marketing, self promotion, meetings with potential clients, submitting photos to professional contests, and even some consulting.
Since I have been in Denver, I have had 4 or 5 people ask me "if I ever need an assistant...." And when I ask them, "Where did you go to school for photography?" I usually get a blank stair back. Nope, PWC.
Another problem for working photographers, beyond GWC taking jobs away from someone trying to make a living is the GWC not understanding the rules. I can count on one hand how many known GWC I have seen at professional events just watching and cheering, to a point that they should be sitting in the stands with all the other fans instead of on the sidelines. Or standing where they shouldn't, or going into areas that they shouldn't.
While I despise unions, there are times I wish there was a photographers union with guaranteed minimum pay per job, etc, etc.
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