Has anyone had problems with restrictions from artists making them sign contracts prior to shooting a gig? I shoot for this particular website and there has been a whole can of woop ass of late down here See:
Fasterlouder

Any thoughts.

JvD-

This is very common in shooting major bands. I am actually surprised to shoot a headliner in a venue over 1000 without a writen photo contract. The contract usually restrict use of the pictures to the media outlet that requested the photo pass, but sometimes are more restrictive and require pre approval of the artist or even transfer of the copyright of the pictures to the artist. Editors and media rarely have serious issues with the contracts because they still get most of the use they need and do not want to challenge artists.

Those that loose the most are photographers. They no longer have access to secondary income from additional merch and editorial use of the images. Since magazine photographers are typically not well paid and it still takes a significant amount of time to shoot a concert, photographers are loosing some of the additional income that was typical in years past. In the heyday of rock and roll, it was common for photographers to get much closer and unrestricted access to large bands. Those days are gone......

At a recent arena concert I was shooting with a lengendary photographer in his sixties who has toured with several legendary rock bands like the Who, Stones, and Zepplin. When I told him I also hopped to be shooting when I'm 65, he said "Those days are over. You just cant make enough money anymore to do that."

-Scott

I've worked for and with two photographers who have covered numerous concerts at larger venues and have laughed about getting away with signing similar agreements with various fictitious names. Sometimes getting caught, but most of the time getting away with it.

man, here in nyc - if you don't wanna sign the contract - there will be 5 other shooters who will, then shoot the show and get the assignment. argue all you want, there are 10 college students with brand new DSLR's and kit lenses who are "concert shooters" who will shoot for "exposure" waiting in the hallway.

welcome to my world.

tmronin wrote:
there are 10 college students with brand new DSLR's and kit lenses who are "concert shooters" who will shoot for "exposure" waiting in the hallway.


And I'm one of those kids.
I've gotta start somehow.

I've shot quite a few concerts of higher end Christan bands for both the news and for the University itself. Only with one have I had problems, Nicole Norman; her publicist was with her and had a conniption fit wanting to preview any image that would go to print (the very next day) before she would 'allow' it in.

I didn't sign a contract, took a couple pictures and we never printed anything for her. Her loss.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not 65 (55 actually) but I started shooting concerts in the mid-seventies. Eric Claption, Electric Light Orchesta, Wishbone Ash, Lou Reed, Frank Zappa, Flo and Eddie to name but a few. This was at a time when the qiuckest film emulsion was 160 ASA.

Anyway I ended up being a motoring photo journalist for a solid thirty years and only got back into concert photography when my son started playing in his own band. I have since done a lot of work for our local drum magazine, Drumscene though most of that is for the editor who is also a promoter of a lot of jazz and fusion gigs. As such I haven't really seen such contracts. As it says in the story the No. 1 guy down here signs his name - Donald Duck and is rarely challenged about it.

Steve(s) you are dead right about the number of people who are lining up to take your place - the same thing is happening in sports coverage - everyone is a pro and most will do it for less than you with a lot doing it for nothing just to get into the event. I am currently making more from my gig photography than from the motoring side of things (this link below will give you an idea of what I normally do)
http://www.dragracingonline.com/raceresults/2008/x_11-australia-1.html

Even so while I'd give my left one to have 50 & 85mm 1.2 lenses - 1.8s will have to do as the money has gone out of it. I can feel Mickey Mouse coming out to sign some signatures when needed.