[Leica] Giving away pictures.

[images at comporium.net (Tina Manley)]

Great article and great comments, too.

Tina

On Sat, Dec 4, 2010 at 8:38 PM, Harrison McClary <lists at mcclary.net> 
wrote:

> Here is an article I wrote for my agents blog on this a while back:
>
> http://rising.blackstar.com/a-photo-credit-doesnt-pay-the-rent.html
>
> Harrison McClary
>
>
> On Dec 4, 2010, at 3:30 PM, <tedgrant at shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> > Lawrence Zeitlin offered:
> >>> Tina, I fully agree with your position but you are not describing the
> world
> > as it is. It is harder to make a decent living as an independent
> > professional photographer than it is as an actor or even a poet.
> Considering
> > the number of professional quality cameras out there, only the tiniest
> > fraction deliver pictures that are ever published. Given the quality
> > standards imposed by stock agencies, vanishingly few P&S pictures will
> ever
> > make the grade regardless of merit unless of a particularly newsworthy
> > event.<<<<<<
> >
> >
> > Hi Larry,
> > My reaction to people who give their photos away just for a credit line?
> (Sorry I can't do that as my use of the language would be unbearable!) 
> Trust
> me!
> >
> > I'm constantly asked for images and the first thing I ask is .... "HOW
> MUCH DO YOU PAY?"  If they reply "we don't." Then I ask them if they get a
> weekly salary or do you work for free?" Obviously the response is.. "Of
> course I get a weekly salary!" My response is.. "Wonderful! Then why the
> hell do you think I should work for free when you want one of my
> photographs?"
> >
> > I rarely cut anyone slack who will be using a photo for any kind of
> monetary return or advertising of any kind! No matter what or who it is.
> >
> > The head person of most major fund raising organizations and senior staff
> members  "ARE PAID!" So why should I or anyone give the picture free when
> it's going to be used to raise maybe millions of dollars? Yeah I know I've
> heard all the reasons why! But then why should the CEO get paid... Yes of
> course some of these people are extremely wealthy and or have gazillions of
> dollars and can easily afford to work for nothing.  But the everyday 
> working
> photographer doesn't have that kind of money.
> >
> > I make a yearly donation to the Canadian Cancer Society of $500.00 and a
> similar donation to the Victoria Hospital Foundation without a blink! WHY?
> Well for personal reasons due to family situations with cancer and loosing
> to it. And the hospital because I've been in the hospital myself.
> >
> > But, when I shoot for these people and they want use of independent
> photos....... "THEY PAY ME!" Without a blink!
> >
> > The new gallery I'm represented by are doing rather nicely as they're
> carrying my books, and a selection of my photography. And they're doing
> quite nicely as last month they sold three prints at $1000.00 each. Plus a
> couple this past week for $550 each.... cowboy pictures in what one might
> call a "Fine Art" classification. And this is the first time I've been
> represented by a gallery. So I'm quite happy with the siutation.
> >
> > Oh and who are these two guys?
> >>> And forget about B&W unless your last name is Adams or Weston.
> >
> > And my above mentioned  sales?   They have all been B&W! :-) Maybe I
> could hang a long side this two chaps. ;-) Who were they again? I do 
> believe
> a couple of rock & fern shooters?
> >
> >>>> So if a photographer is offered an opportunity to have his/her
> pictures
> >> published in a national forum, grab at the chance. Even if there is no
> >> payment. It may be the only way to get recognition in an overcrowded
> >> field. Isn't that why we produce the LUG yearbook?<<<<<<<
> >
> > That isn't why I submit to the LUG YEAR book! I submit because I hope to
> be along side a group of fun loving photogs who enjoy each others
> friendship, camaraderie and neat photos! I sure as hell don't submit for
> recognition, it's for fun! In all the years that recognition thing never
> ever entered my head!
> >
> > If I give a photograph away it's usually for personal use to hang in a
> home of a friend. Any others? Pay me! I don't do free nor recognition for a
> credit line very well!
> >
> > cheers,
> > Dr. ted
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>


-- 
Tina Manley, ASMP
www.tinamanley.com