publisher cropped my shots

FM Forums \| Pro Digital Corner \| Join Upload & Sell	Search Used
1 2 3 end

Archive 2009 · publisher cropped my shots

john660
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #1 · publisher cropped my shots

Why for free? How does this possibly help anyone other than the magazine? Whatever happened to photographers putting a value on their own work?

Oct 26, 2009 at 08:38 PM

ralphblough
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #2 · publisher cropped my shots

Artistic creativity and the monetization of it are separate issues.

Many artists starve because they don’t have the knowledge as to how to turn their work into a profitable endeavor. Yet others will make a very good living with inferior work.

Having been the publisher who refereed the battle between ADs and staff photographers in most all battles the AD won because in realty the page was the final product and the picture was the supporting actor, unless of course, the story was about the photograph.

As for compensation, while money is usually the goal sometimes other forms may result in bigger rewards. Credit for the work should be a requirement. A story about your photographic capabilities or ad space in the publication may result in more money for your bank account. Don’t be afraid to ask.

Customers, editors and ADs have preferences so don’t get bent out of shape about what they do with your product. My own daughter told me she preferred and was changing something I had done for her company. Come to think about it she is the customer. Ouch!

Oct 27, 2009 at 03:11 AM

Nathan Whitchu
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #3 · publisher cropped my shots

I submit my photos and cash my paycheck. I'll cringe when they crop my photos poorly, but my bank account is comfort enough on those occasions.

Oct 28, 2009 at 06:58 PM

TBannor
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #4 · publisher cropped my shots

Learn to say no to working for free. When you buy something does the seller care whether you're making money or not? No.

Oct 30, 2009 at 08:56 PM

thedruid
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #5 · publisher cropped my shots

Do you give your work away for free just to see your name in print? It's been going on for so long...can you imaging what it's like to receive a check, imagine getting paid for your work? What other profession does so much to destroy itself?

Oct 31, 2009 at 02:19 PM

chez
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #6 · publisher cropped my shots

thedruid wrote:
Do you give your work away for free just to see your name in print? It's been going on for so long...can you imaging what it's like to receive a check, imagine getting paid for your work? What other profession does so much to destroy itself?

Probably most professions that compete with hobbies. Unfortunately, photography is a hobby for the vast majority of people who take photos. The PRO is competing with the onslaught ( and growing every day ) of weekend warriors only happy to be published. Their reward is not money as they have a nice job that pays the bills and actually buys the cameras. Their reward is to be able to show friends and family their photo in a magazine. Maybe they value that more than a few hundred bucks. Their call.

Oct 31, 2009 at 02:44 PM

TBannor
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #7 · publisher cropped my shots

I'm currently one of those weekend warriors. But I worked for a couple of years at a stock agency in the '90s, so I received a very good education on the value of imagery. That a magazine isn't making money isn't my concern. Do their paper supplier and the printer they use give away that paper and printing because the mag isn't making money? Of course not. Neither should any photographer. The exposure probably won't matter one way or the other when it comes to getting more work; in fact, it will probably guarantee the next prospect won't want to pay you either.

If you tell someone you won't work for free, chances are they'll find the money if they really want you. Otherwise, let some other sucker do it.

Edited on Nov 02, 2009 at 12:08 AM · View previous versions

Oct 31, 2009 at 05:44 PM

LynnP
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #8 · publisher cropped my shots

I have had editors not select the best photo before. I just took the money they paid me and let it go.
The worst thing I have seen is a full two page ad in which a photo took up one page. The ad was used in a skiing mag. I know the photographer and had seen the photo on his computer. It was definitely high quality color and beautiful. However the advertising department decided to turn in into a monotone green image. It totally messed the photo up. Looked like Hell. The photographer then told me what they paid for it and said, "For that price they can do whatever they want with it." Fortunately for him was the fact that he did not receive a photo credit in the ad.

Lynn

Oct 31, 2009 at 10:51 PM

pipspeak
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #9 · publisher cropped my shots

generally many publishers recommend you never crop photos prior to submitting because they often never know what the final size will have to be and they like to crop to their own specs. I've had photos of mine poorly cropped before and as other posters have said that's the nature of the beast. Nothing you can do about it AFAIK unless your contract somehow stipulates "no cropping", which is something I've neevr heard of.

Nov 02, 2009 at 05:17 AM

HerbChong
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #10 · publisher cropped my shots

no publisher i know of will work with a photographer that wanted that in their contract.

Herb...

pipspeak wrote:
Nothing you can do about it AFAIK unless your contract somehow stipulates "no cropping", which is something I've neevr heard of.

Nov 02, 2009 at 05:17 PM

mdude85
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #11 · publisher cropped my shots

HerbChong wrote:
no publisher i know of will work with a photographer that wanted that in their contract.

Herb...

pipspeak wrote:
Nothing you can do about it AFAIK unless your contract somehow stipulates "no cropping", which is something I've neevr heard of.

And the cycle continues... :P

Nov 02, 2009 at 05:21 PM

HerbChong
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #12 · publisher cropped my shots

it doesn't seem to be sinking in.

Herb...

Nov 02, 2009 at 08:28 PM

c.d.embrey
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #13 · publisher cropped my shots

Just look at any high end fashion magazines Paris Vogue, Italia Vogue, Numéro, etc, etc. They all crop tops of heads, hands, feet, elbows, etc, etc. Fashion photography is all about selling cloths -- they are not model portraits.

Nov 02, 2009 at 10:46 PM

Pixel1970
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #14 · publisher cropped my shots

Suck it up, it will happen again and again.
As long as the check clears......oh wait.....never mind.

Nov 03, 2009 at 01:20 AM

Thats Fresh
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #15 · publisher cropped my shots

happens all the time even when editorial layouts are already laid out and they are just missing the photo. this happens alot when magazines have articles written months before and an assign a photographer to take the shot to fit that space alotted.

just imagine shooting for ads. your raw image will get hammered and butchered by AD's and designers. its truly the nature of the beast.

Nov 03, 2009 at 04:17 PM

Thats Fresh
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #16 · publisher cropped my shots

c.d.embrey wrote:
Just look at any high end fashion magazines Paris Vogue, Italia Vogue, Numéro, etc, etc. They all crop tops of heads, hands, feet, elbows, etc, etc. Fashion photography is all about selling cloths -- they are not model portraits.

not really with just high end magazines. its part of fashion advertisement. but your right, cropping off body parts puts more emphasis on the product that the model is wearing/displaying.

Nov 03, 2009 at 04:18 PM

borderlight
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #17 · publisher cropped my shots

I don't do "free".

Nov 03, 2009 at 04:38 PM

Cliftonyte
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #18 · publisher cropped my shots

I state in my agreement image may be cropped but no other adjustments can be made, unless discussed prior to publishing not sure if this is the satus quo, but I only have been published a handful of times. You should be able to set guidelins in the usage agreement.

Nov 03, 2009 at 06:36 PM

HerbChong
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #19 · publisher cropped my shots

it's probably why you have been published only a handful of times.

Herb...

Cliftonyte wrote:
I state in my agreement image may be cropped but no other adjustments can be made, unless discussed prior to publishing not sure if this is the satus quo, but I only have been published a handful of times.

Nov 03, 2009 at 07:35 PM

Nick Baker
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #20 · publisher cropped my shots

TheObiJuan wrote:
It happens all of the time. I have learned to shoot loose since my photo editor will have room to crop as needed. It also helps to have multiple shots of the same subject, facing left/right, vertical/horizontal. This helps with layout and ensures you will get in the publication.

Best advice in this thread. Also, ask the art director about layout requirements before the assignment. They won't always know but sometimes they do.

As for the free thing.. well... I have certainly done it before... and it has paid off in some circumstances and it has also been a huge pain in my ass.

If they say thy will hire you later for a big job if you do some free work.. run like the ******** wind.

Nov 04, 2009 at 03:41 AM

Cliftonyte
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #21 · publisher cropped my shots

HerbChong wrote:
it's probably why you have been published only a handful of times.

Herb...

Cliftonyte wrote:
I state in my agreement image may be cropped but no other adjustments can be made, unless discussed prior to publishing not sure if this is the satus quo, but I only have been published a handful of times.

I hve only submitted my images a handful of times

Nov 05, 2009 at 10:13 PM

HerbChong
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #22 · publisher cropped my shots

you won't get many acceptances with that clause. most photo editors will just throw your submissions out even if they want the images. it's their publication, not yours.

Herb...

Cliftonyte wrote:
I hve only submitted my images a handful of times

Nov 06, 2009 at 05:03 PM

Cliftonyte
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #23 · publisher cropped my shots

HerbChong wrote:
you won't get many acceptances with that clause. most photo editors will just throw your submissions out even if they want the images. it's their publication, not yours.

Herb...

Cliftonyte wrote:
I hve only submitted my images a handful of times

Well Mr. Herb, as I am not willing to display my detailed cover letter for each individual submission, what I posted was vague, general, and depending on if it is a photo editor I am established with or making contact for the first time, my cover letter may vary. Your comments show a lack of intelligence and sincerity; furthermore, I was giving a suggestion to the original poster, not you. I think you should try and work on your constructive criticism and your photographic skills instead of barraging me.

Nov 07, 2009 at 03:08 AM

HerbChong
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #24 · publisher cropped my shots

suit yourself. i've watched others been there and tossed.

Herb...

Nov 07, 2009 at 05:48 AM

Sidnye
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #25 · publisher cropped my shots

i freelance for a local paper (weekly outdoor section) and provide stories and "art".

My editor crops the hell out of some of my shots. He used to run my photos thru some program called "blue monkey" that automatically made color, exposure, sharpness etc corrections.

I told him that I did all the pp so no need.
He said he stop the auto-pp with mine thankfully.

Lessons I've learned: I write and take pics after that the editors/whomever formats it and crops to fit space. My job ends when I push the send key and theirs starts.

I have to get my stuff in 2 or 3 days in advance, but most of the hard core cropping and editing takes place in the mad rush about 10 minutes before deadline.

If I told them how to run their newspaper, crop, print etc they'd sh#tcan me and move down the list to the next underemployed freelancer/photog (and there are about a million of them out there, not counting the ones who'll do it for free.)

Nov 09, 2009 at 10:17 PM


FM Forums \| Pro Digital Corner \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 end