They'll let me shoot!!!

[DDCSD]

Sent out some emails for photo passes, here is one of the responses I've gotten back. This is from the label for a guy who had a top 15 (barely) song last year, and album barely made the top 50. I kinda like his music, but not enough to drive 100 miles round trip to get screwed. :lol:

Hey Derek,

Since you aren't on assignment I am going to have to ask you to fill out, sign and return our standard photographer agreement - giving us the rights to use your photos (you would be credited) free of charge for promotional purposes only. Once you have signed it you can scan and email it back to me or fax it to XXX-XXX-XXXX. Thanks!


Xxxxxxxx



Yay! They'll let me give them my photos and even give me credit! What an honor! :rolleyes:

[FlyingPhotog]

Sent out some emails for photo passes, here is one of the responses I've gotten back. This is from the label for a guy who had a top 15 (barely) song last year, and album barely made the top 50. I kinda like his music, but not enough to drive 100 miles round trip to get screwed. :lol:

Yay! They'll let me give them my photos and even give me credit! What an honor! :rolleyes:

You're "cold fishing" for money to come in and they're "cold fishing" for money not to go out...

They figure that you approached them first which puts the ball in their court.

Negotiate... ;)

[DDCSD]

Yeah, I just had to have a little laugh. I just thought it was funny that they have a "standard" theft release.

I'm willing to shoot on spec at this point to get started, but I'm not willing to give my photos away for free. I'm still working the local paper and a few local/regional magazines, but it seems that they're content running the absolute rubbish photos that they've always run around here.

[DDCSD]

I am preparing a response. I also found out Monday that I'm shooting a concert the night before for a much bigger band, so I'm willing to give up on this fairly easily if they insist on me signing a release.

[René Damkot]

theft release.

:lol:

Nice one

:lol:

[DDCSD]

OK, here was my response, I'll update when I hear back. I'm not holding my breath.

Xxxxxxx,

Hopefully there is something we can work out on this. I do not expect to be paid, sight-unseen, by you to photograph Mr. Xxxx. I would like to photograph the performance on the hope of licensing images to the local paper and magazines. I also plan on presenting some images to you in the hopes that you may see value in them to consider licensing some.

If signing an agreement to give up the product of my hard work and experience for free is a requirement to photograph your client's performance, I will have to pass on the opportunity. I appreciate your consideration in this matter and do hope that we are able to come to an understanding on this as I would hate to miss this opportunity to photograph an upcoming star in a venue that allows for some great angles.

Thank you,
XXXXXX XXXXXX

[DDCSD]

Maybe I shouldn't have used "hope" twice.

On second thought, hope and change seems to be pretty popular these days. :)

[londonblue007]

Maybe I shouldn't have used "hope" twice.

On second thought, hope and change seems to be pretty popular these days. :)


haha. if "the office of the president-elect" can say it over and over and over and over again, you can say it once or twice in an email to a greedy overpaid rep.

[narlus]

yeah we all know it's a rights grab, but flying photog had it right...you are asking them for an opportunity w/o being on assignment, so what is in it for them? licensing photos to a local paper after the show is pretty unlikely (if the paper wants photos and is sending a reviewer, they would also send a shooter), and even if that does happen is it of any benefit to the band? i'm guessing that they feel they already have the local press access they want.

[DDCSD]

yeah we all know it's a rights grab, but flying photog had it right...you are asking them for an opportunity w/o being on assignment, so what is in it for them? licensing photos to a local paper after the show is pretty unlikely (if the paper wants photos and is sending a reviewer, they would also send a shooter), and even if that does happen is it of any benefit to the band? i'm guessing that they feel they already have the local press access they want.

I can guarantee that I would be the only one there with a camera, the local "press" doesn't cover concerts at all. I've approached the paper and while they're not willing to officially "send" me, that have shown some interest if I were to already be there. Probably leading me on, but oh well.

I know I'm fishing here. But hey, you'll never get anywhere by not asking and sitting at home. Even if I don't get any sales out of any of this, I'll get some great experience. This venue is great to shoot in because its wide open, and I'll be able to shoot from every angle imaginable. Every time I've been there the lighting has been tremendous as well.

I've actually got a few passes lined up already. One is pretty a pretty big act. Doesn't hurt to try! All they can do is say no. :lol:

[narlus]

Doesn't hurt to try! All they can do is say no. :lol:

absolutely. just don't whine about it when that answer comes.

[londonblue007]

Doesn't hurt to try! All they can do is say no. :lol:


Ditto!!

When I was in college, I put on a big charity concert event and booked a bunch of local bands, then decided to try and get someone bigger. I call the managemet for a major label #1 selling artist in the country and they said yes!
We sent them a bunch of stuff, they were really into it, the artist was into it, then a few days later they called all bummed out because the record label had booked time for him at a studio in LA for the same day as our show. Who knows if they were telling the truth, but for 3 days, I had a yes and was pumped.

Anyway, It's always worth it to ask!

[DDCSD]

absolutely. just don't whine about it when that answer comes.

I'm pretty used to hearing no. :lol:

[blackshadow]

Ditto!!

When I was in college, I put on a big charity concert event and booked a bunch of local bands, then decided to try and get someone bigger. I call the managemet for a major label #1 selling artist in the country and they said yes!
We sent them a bunch of stuff, they were really into it, the artist was into it, then a few days later they called all bummed out because the record label had booked time for him at a studio in LA for the same day as our show. Who knows if they were telling the truth, but for 3 days, I had a yes and was pumped.

Anyway, It's always worth it to ask!

This reminds me of a young guy I heard speak in December - he put together a group called Make Poverty History and decided to put on a concert. Initially he was just targeting Australian bands but he heard that a couple of big bands were coming to Melbourne so he thought he may as well try and get them involved - the bands were U2 and Pearl Jam. They said yes and the opening of the concert was U2 + Eddie Vedder doing a cover of Neil Young's Rockin' In The Free World."

It never hurts to ask - the worst they can say is no and sometimes people will say yes!

[FlyingPhotog]

This reminds me of a young guy I heard speak in December - he put together a group called Make Poverty History and decided to put on a concert. Initially he was just targeting Australian bands but he heard that a couple of big bands were coming to Melbourne so he thought he may as well try and get them involved - the bands were U2 and Pearl Jam. They said yes and the opening of the concert was U2 + Eddie Vedder doing a cover of Neil Young's Rockin' In The Free World."

It never hurts to ask - the worst they can say is no and sometimes people will say yes!

Now that must have been farkin' cool... Wow...

[DDCSD]

Now that must have been farkin' cool... Wow...

Yeah, no kidding. Wow!

[charger912]

I'm pretty used to hearing no. :lol:

You must be married! :p

[DDCSD]

You must be married! :p

Yep. :lol: