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06/01/2010
WTD 983:
"Cheapskate Exploitation of the Photographer"
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Title Suggestion: Go Duck Yourself!
Expertise Before Naivité.
Title Suggestion: Pro Bo-NO!!!
Title Suggestion: Just Say No
Title Suggestion: Pro's No's Free Shows
And well said Mike and Alex
Title Suggestion: ...But I'll shoot you!
Title Suggestion: Truth in Photography
Title Suggestion: Hear Hear!!!
After 35 years of being a full time photographer I would get out tomorrow if I knew what else to do.I have never in my life have seen so many photographers be forced into retirement bacnkrupcy or just another line of work. IN my town I am one of the last and I mean last full time studios around ( there are 3 when there use to be at least 15 studio 15 years ago)
Title Suggestion: Cheapskate Exploitation of the Photographer
This is an important message for anyone who is new to photography. If you allow it, the cheapskates will exploit you. They want you to work for nothing, to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of gear, show up when it's convenient for them, finish on their schedule, format your images the way that they want, deliver your work immediately, and be happy that you "got credit" for your many hours of hard work and hardware expenses. You will lose in the end.
I didn't know when to say "No" until I was approached by a large corporation that expected me to provide work "for credit". This is wholly unacceptable when the person making the demand probably gets paid enough on a salary to buy several large camera kits, but won't authorize even a $100 payment for the photographer. I've heard it often enough that "We don't have any money to pay you." They seem to have money for everything else, but won't spend a single dollar for the work. Because there are so many people willing to do photography "for credit" or for nothing at all, photographers will continue to be exploited. Many of the cheapskates learn that they get what they pay for, but the trend is indicative of more exploitation until more people learn to say "No, I will not work for free!"
Well said