Free or Me?

[Lefty Ray]

A female artist planned to record her live perforamance for a "Live CD." I approached the manager about hiring me. Both of them know me and my work. I quoted my regular fee for a CD shoot plus travel expenses as the venue was 5 hours away. The manager said "No thank you, I have my sisters cousins brothers nephew shooting it for FREE." I said do you really wanna risk doing that as this performance will never be duplicated after it occurs. They declined.

Fast forward several months and the CD cover gets released (see below) on the internet. I have intentionally blurred out the performers name but nothing else. My first reaction was "Ok, they picked a somewhat decent shot for the cover, but the internet photo I viewed was on the small side as this one below.

I then visited the record label's site and found a rotating banner with the cover photo but much larger in size. As you can see in the second photo, on a larger scale her face appears very blurry. I called the manager and asked point blank "Is that cover photo blurry?" They said YES.

I then pointed out that this was a rookie error. When shooting available light, you have the aperature wide open which leads to a shallow depth of field AND the focus point was kept in the middle of the viewfinder which lead to the performers shoulder being in focus but not her face.

I told her this could have been easily avoided if they used someone who knew what they were doing.

I actually intend to buy this CD because the next time I am in front of a client, I will show them this CD and one of my CD's and tell them "Do you want FREE or ME!"

[DwightMcCann]

Now, Lefty, you know how cheap entertainment management companies are about photography!!! They'll spend anything on a video but nothing on still images. For reasons that elude me they remind me of brides: the only part of the marriage ceremony that will last for decades when the liquor, food, flowers, fancy place settings, beautiful venue, most of the wedding gifts, favors, band music, many of the friends and relatives who attended are gone forever and the only thing left is the wedding album, but it is the last and least thing they want to spend money on! They obviously don't care that their CD jacket looks a kid to it with their disposable camera!You really need to get over it! :-) Think about it. I was turned down for two spectacular images for one of the Tejano bands for a piddly $325 as you know because I asked you about the guy! :-)

[narlus]

most of the time they'll take free, even if it is blurry.

[Lefty Ray]

Diferent potential client called last night. This recording studio has a band coming in and they want a photo shoot on sunday, but no budget. It seems they overran their studio time and now only $125 remains for a shoot. The studio promised more work down the road because they have other (bigger) bands coming. What would you do?

I said no. My paying clients get quite a bit for what I charge, so the value they get is very big.

[DwightMcCann]

Not sure I understand. The studio has a band coming in but the band has used too much time? At the studio? And the band only has $125 left? Who is the client, band or studio. If the band, then what difference does it make that the studio is going to have more work? If it's the studio, then surely if they want good photography then they can pay out of their own pocket ... what's $500-$1000 to a recording studio? I think there's something here I don't understand!

[Lefty Ray]

I am mixed up too. It looks like the studio is footing the bill, and I think that they have a budget established and the meter is running on overtime and the studio does not want or cannot sink more money into this project.

[DwightMcCann]

I am mixed up too. It looks like the studio is footing the bill, and I think that they have a budget established and the meter is running on overtime and the studio does not want or cannot sink more money into this project.
Well, there's the answer ... they ran out of money in their budget ... if they want high quality images they need to amend the budget. It seems very strange that they would expect you to pay the price because they didn't do a good job of planning ... very strange indeed. Anyway, it is my experience that folks who balk at paying my price really don't plan on paying at all, so while it seems like a good deal to get more work in future, that is usually just wishful thinking. People who are going to pay, just pay, and those who aren't, don't! :-) You made the right choice.

[skifurthur]

most of the time they'll take free, even if it is blurry.

+1

So many performers now expect to get "good enough" for nothing or next to nothing. It's a shame that its like that. The only thing any of us can do is be able to provide great value for our paying customers so that others, in the future, can make the right choice.

[londonblue007]

I was approached to provide photos for a large merchandise campaign for a major label artist. I assured them that my work met the 300dpi limits they need for t-shirt printing, etc. They've picked out several of my shots from the large collection I have, and have asked for the high res tiff.
I just finished emailing the artist who I've known for years to let him know I'm willing to license the photos for a sum (I won't go into specifics here). I'm expecting a phone call, not email reply on this one. And I've decided to hold my ground on my quote. If they want the photos, and knowing the artist, he does, then they need to pay an appropriate amount considering the size of the merchandise campaign.

If they decide they don't want them, then fine, no hard feelings on my end and that's that.

[DwightMcCann]

Good for you, Dog! Ya' gotta' go that route at some point. I've had a bunch of folks walk away but I'd rather not get paid because they walked then not get paid because I gave my stuff for free. :-)

[blackshadow]

+1

So many performers now expect to get "good enough" for nothing or next to nothing. It's a shame that its like that. The only thing any of us can do is be able to provide great value for our paying customers so that others, in the future, can make the right choice.

Unfortunately it's not just performers who are accepting this mediocrity a lot of magazines and newspapers are operating on the same basis.

[narlus]

not to mention the troubling trend of mags and papers folding...