Hi Peter,
For fear of defamation I can't mention names but I know of at least four
publications in circulation who rely on free contributions from start up
photographers, who then on-sell that publication. Alternatively if they
distribute their publication for free but charge advertisers, then to me, the
least they can do is on-pay their contributors. If, say it was a newsletter
from an NGO that neither charges for the publication or makes money out of it
in other ways, then fine, if a photographer believes in the cause, go ahead. I
started working that way in the beginning. When money comes into it, on the
other hand, then to me no-one has the right to make money from nothing.
I teach photojournalism at university level and try to encourage my students
who are starting to ask for reimbursement for their work. Even if it is a
small amount of money that they are paid (in line with the budget of the
publication), then that contribution goes a heck of a long way in good will and
signals to me that the publication is at least trying to do the right thing by
its contributors.
If the editor gets quality images and pays for them, then theoretically their
sales will increase too, eventually allowing them to pay their contributors
more.
So my basic rule of thumb is - if your publication is making money, pay your
contributors. Otherwise revert it to a newsletter with no money changing hands.
Cheers,
Inger
Inger Vandyke
Professional Wildlife Photographer and Writer
Expedition Leader - Western Tibet Expedition (16 September - 7 October, 2013)
Assistant Publicity Officer - Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association (SOSSA)
Guest Lecturer - Photography, Freelancing and Photo Journalism - Bond
University, Gold Coast, Australia
Mob: +61 402 286 437
www.ingervandyke.com
> From:
> To: ; ;
>
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:49:47 +1000
> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] What value a photo?
>
> Is there much evidence that amateurs are giving away their photos to
> commercial organisations?
>
> Peter Shute
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: [birding-aus-
> > On Behalf Of inger vandyke
> >Sent: Monday, 23 July 2012 9:28 AM
> >To: ;
> >Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] What value a photo?
> >
> >Professional photography has always been an inherently tough game. In
> >recent years it's been made even tougher by the fact that there is a
> >raft of amateurs willing to do anything to see their name in print.
> >These are people that perhaps have gone out and spent a lot of saved
> >money on some decent gear, then taken great pics with it and given their
> >stuff to a publication for free.
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