Weasel_Loader Offline Upload & Sell: On
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photoelle wrote:
I am a full time equine photographer, and what you did is called "poaching", which is shooting over top of the official photographer, and selling to the exhibitors. The event organizers should have supported their official, not you. My shows are all contracted that way.
Its preferable to find your own events, that don't have an established photographer, and build your relationship with organizers and exhibitors/riders yourself. I put a lot of work into developing these relationships, because it puts food on my table. If a show that has used another photographer approaches me to cover the event instead, I will. But I would never shoot to sell when someone is already there.
I know that there are just not enough potential sales to support two (or more) photographers at one show, so we all lose. Undercutting the existing photographer also significantly contributes to the race to the bottom for pricing. This effect creates a constant turnover of shooters (potentially also uninsured), charging ever lower prices, until no one is willing to shoot the events anymore. Working for free gets pretty tiresome really fast, and ultimately serves only to train people that photos have no value.
I think then its the exhibitors who suffer, because eventually they can't get good pro photos anymore....Show more →
Totally understand your logic, but let me clear up some points I may have not been clear on.
When I first started showing up at a local youth rodeo, I shot from outside the arena. I never knew about this "long time" photographer that they had as I thought it was just some family member shooting with their Canon Rebel and kit lens. I posted photos from the first outing and people went nuts and the organizers started asking me when i will come to the next event. After a few more, I went inside the arena to take shots during barrel racing and thats when trouble started. I simply told the person, I had permission from the event organizers and I just ignored anything else coming out of his mouth after that. Long story short, I only did a few more before I had enough of his harassing behavior and haven't been back since (I have since learned that photographer has retired).
I quickly found our local high school rodeo district and they had no photographer, so I've stuck with them where I've become a member and covered under their insurance.
I have no problem with photographers staking claim to an event where they are contracted and prominently advertised as exclusive photographer. Unofficial photographers staking claim is not poaching in my eyes. If they were serious, they would get that credential and sponsor the organization (as I have).
There was another event that I was asked by the organization to come shoot and on the second visit, there was another photographer setup and as I walked by and said hello, it was clear he didn't want me there. Typical, the riders loved my shots, but I did have one private message from another rider that I may want to reconsider doing any further events there as that photographer has been shooting there for several years and doesn't like other photographers showing up. Apparently some of the organizations leave it up to the photogs to figure out who will shoot. Not wanting to stir up controversy, I never went back.
As I stated previously, no issues with photogs that have contracted or exclusive rights. Thats the smart business way to do it. If not, you'll need to step up your game and consider there might be someone shooting over your shoulder that will secure those rights. Its business my friend.
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