dmwierz Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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p.2 #10 · Exclusivity for Youth League...? | |
Mark,
It seems to me your beef is with the company (many of us know who they are) and NOT the contract. They produced an inferior product (I shoot HS sports in Illinois - a LOT of HS sports) and it seems THIS is what bugs you. Had they produced a top-quality product, at a fair price, would you still be so ticked off? Nothing you state in your argument against exclusive contracts has anything to do with the contract, really.
Besides, the IHSA finals are the only events covered by this contract, and this impacts a very small percentage of HS athletes and schools statewide. The remainder of the HS sports season is fair game.
All of the "carrots" you list above can be achieved contractually without granting exclusivity.
Good luck recruiting pro-level companies to shoot youth events "on spec", because that sounds like exactly what you are describing. Do you honestly believe reputable companies will provide:
- High level of assurance all their teams and players will be covered - wannabe's only shoot teams and games they want to
- Ability to share in the success/sales of earnings from photography products sold
- Pro-level behavior
- Shooters will be insured and "hold harmless" the league and players/coaches in the event of anything happening with the photographers on the field
- Reliability - we will show up when we say we will
- Professional customer support - if anything goes wrong, we will fix it. Also, we will be easily reachable
- Rapid turnaround of images - even in the busiest of weekend, images will be available ASAP
- The photographer will hire as many shooters as necesarry to cover the events (and the photographer will pay these shooters - not the league)
- The delivered product will be first-rate
- The contract photographer develops and nurtures a relationship with the parents and league officials - gets to know what the league really wants, and what the parents expect.
Without some commitment from the customer on exclusivity, you're gonna get what you pay for, unfortunately. I think exclusivity is a small price to pay considering what you get in return.
The fact that your personal experience didn't provide the "carrots" I outlined doesn't negate the value of these things. All it does is indict the contracted company.
How many companies will commit to hiring enough top-quality shooters to provide adequate coverage without some assurance that every GWC will not be allowed on the fields to produce competing products for free? How many companies will invest in the equipment, the infrastructure, pay the liability insurance fees, perform the requisite editing, etc, without any contractual protection? Not many, at least not the types you would want covering your kids.
To the parents out there who are angry at not being able to photograph their own kids, I understand your frustration, and as Lee said, have never heard of anyone being prohibited from photographing from the stands (or on the public side of the fence, etc). However, recognize that more than likely, the person who is contracted to shoot that one event has probably had to commit (if they are any good, that is) to being at many, many events and has had to commit time and money to the entire league of youth organization - not just your kid's team or for that particular event.
When your kids yearbook or annual school photos are taken, would you feel it's your right to bring your camera to the session and stand next to the photographer (Using his studio lights, backgrounds, stools, benches, etc) to take your own shots for free? Or worse, would you think it's OK to stand there and take shots of ALL the kids and give them away to each parent? I doubt many would do this, but how is this hypothetical any different than what one who wants to photograph a team and give the shots away, knowing full well there is an authorized, contracted pro shooting the event?
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