If you go to a local airport, you can buy t-shirts that say "Will fly for food". Such is the life of low time commercial pilots trying to gain experience on the long, trying path to the big boys. Even large regional jet airlines hire pilots at what is essentially minimum wage. Some even go so far as to make the pilots pay to work there, pay-to-play so to speak. So, this isn't limited to photography. As long as there are more people trying to get the work than there is work, you are going to have this. By the way, the majority of aspiring airline pilots eventually give up and go do something else without ever reaching their dream job.
Go to www.clientcopia.com and 'jump' to the following two stories: #7224 & 6618. I'll go ahead and crosspost the second one:
This comes from a full-time photographer friend who shoots car and motorcycle races. It seems that too many people involved in those motorsports go out and create niche magazines to promote their activities and in the process make a lot of money. At least, they *think* they can make a lot of money, but lack some very critical business skills.
Whenever he is out shooting events, several owners of said niche magazines will always ask him if he wouldn't mind helping them out by *giving* them some pictures. He then lists some bigger name magazines who actually pay for his pictures and suggests they talk later (when he isn't right in the middle of shooting a race) to discuss licensing fees.
Their typical reply: "Well, we're just getting started so we don't have a real budget, you know. We will give you a credit so you can use it to promote your work!"
Now, getting credit may actually help a photographer who is just getting started, but since it won't pay any bills, its rather useless to a full-time pro with years of experience.
He quotes his standard rates. They come back with another plea for free help (all the while interrupting him while he is trying to work). When it becomes apparent that they are NOT listening and will keep bugging him for free stuff, he asks what he calls the 'three magic questions':
1. Are you selling copies of your magazine?
2. Are you charging advertisers to put their ads in your magazine?
3. Do the staff writers and editors get paid?
Since the answer to all three is a resounding YES, then he tells them there is no reason for him to work for FREE. Most get the point by then and walk off. Why do so many people running for-profit businesses think people should do free work for them?!
A few years ago my nephew was asked by a non-profit if they could use a few of his photos on their website and offered to pay him (I kid you not) two dollars each.
He had the sense to call me and excitedly told me how cool it was that someone wanted his photos and if he should license them for the two dollars a piece.
After quickly investigating the non-profit I told him "No way. They have money."
He's made about five grand off those two dollar photos so far.
chez wrote:
Difference between a caterer and a photographer is I don't believe there are many (any?) caterers that do it as a hobby for fun, but there are bucket loads of photographers who do it as a hobby for fun...and it might just be fun to photograph the event. You might not do it for free, but there will be plenty standing in line behind you willing to do it for free...and some of these freebees are pretty talented with great equipment.
The "for photo credit" and word of mouth have been myths that have existed for years. Wannabees and hobbyists have been falling for it for years. If these guys are "pretty talented" as you say, they should have the balls to get a fee.
The "for photo credit" and word of mouth have been myths that have existed for years. Wannabees and hobbyists have been falling for it for years. If these guys are "pretty talented" as you say, they should have the balls to get a fee.
Why do you think getting a fee makes them somehow legit photographers? Many have full time jobs that brings in the bread and don't need the hassle of dealing with fees to get in the way of a hobby they enjoy. It has nothing to do with "balls" as you say. They just don't view photography as a way to make a buck. Nothing wrong with that.
They aren't even looking for credit or word of mouth references...they just want to enjoy an afternoon shooting. With the digital camera and the internet revolutions I am afraid there are more talented people shooting just for fun, willing to shoot an event just for the experience. Just a sign of the times and possibly the future.
halie wrote:
If you go to a local airport, you can buy t-shirts that say "Will fly for food". Such is the life of low time commercial pilots trying to gain experience on the long, trying path to the big boys. Even large regional jet airlines hire pilots at what is essentially minimum wage. Some even go so far as to make the pilots pay to work there, pay-to-play so to speak. So, this isn't limited to photography. As long as there are more people trying to get the work than there is work, you are going to have this. By the way, the majority of aspiring airline pilots eventually give up and go do something else without ever reaching their dream job....Show more →
Thanks for the link. Have nailed it to my Desktop A great giveaway in the initial email from "buyers" (and I use the term loosely) is this: "We will give you accreditation with a link to your website" blah, blah, blah. Last year I was approached by Australia's national television broadcaster who wanted to use one of my images on an online staff development seminar and of course no mention of a fee. I responded with a reasonable fee for such license and I got the blunt "We don't have a budget for photographs" (do a Google search on how often this comes up!!). My response was "You apparently have a budget for your salary, your producer's salary, and the web developer's fees so why are photographers always expected to donate their work". No response of course.
Only other photographers EVER look at who took the image (to check out the competition) and I have yet to have any contact from a buyer who saw my work on a publication or whatever. The only time I donate images (other than to the odd charity) is when it could also serve my purpose - a case of "you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours!" I recently donated several images to a Singles magazine in the US who are running a slide show of my work in one of their editorials on Australian aborigines. There are two links to my portfolio and print sites and a bio. Before I donated the images, I checked their ability to pay for such images but it would appear that they don't have much of a financial aspect to the site and reasoned that it would be a good outlet for folks to see my work without a lot of effort on my part
