ALWAYS have a release

[LauraSB]

WHY?

For so many shoots I never used them. I'd always shot friends and some strangers and never used a release. I've only had 1 flake and that was years ago.

I got a call a week ago from my old military command asking me to do the photography for an event today. I've always done the photography for all events and always free since it was during my work hours. Now I'm out of the military and freelance. Date, time and place set up and then the cost. $300 to drive 2 hours each way to and from the event, shoot the event for 2-3 hours, and CD of full resolution photos(I absolutely LOVE my old CO). A CD alone costs $350.00 with full resolution photos normally. Everything set up last week, put in my phone and done. Get up at 5am this morning and on the road by 6:30 only to get a phone call at 8am that I am no longer needed since they thought $300 was too much. I was supposed to start shooting at 9am. P*ssed. Say thanks, never contact me again for any type of photo job and launch in about professionalism.

Moral of the story..have a release. LOL I learned the hard way and am out $50.00 for gas.

The person they did end up going with has no experience with photography other than "I can use the command's point and shoot camera and I'm free".

[Karl Johnston]

Contract not release, but release is good too.

I blend both, so you're right, but it may be confusing for others.

But sometimes you don't have the time, and need it now...within the hour, or 3 hour window...or you don't get it. Sometimes its not feasible, but logistically it's necessary.

One of those things that applies In theory but not in practice

[Chris]

Contract and down payment so the deal is real.

[Roy Mathers]

I too was confused by the thread title until I read it and realised you meant 'contract'.

[LauraSB]

Ok contract and release combined. Sorry I'm tired. And still pretty angry. But what can you do at this point? Eat lots of chocolate or pint of ice cream to chase the blues away? Lol

[drdiesel1]

Next time they call you for a shoot, set it up and then cancel 1 hour before

[CanonGolfer]

Originally Posted by drdiesel1

Next time they call you for a shoot, set it up and then cancel 1 hour before

FTW!

I know in the Navy they would never hire an outside photographer for any photowork. We have MC (Mass Communication Specialists) for that kinda work. Nothing like free.

[Rubi Jane]

Originally Posted by Chris

Contract and down payment so the deal is real.

Contract, down payment & cancellation clause is the real deal!

If that were me, they would be paying me the full rate based on less that 24 hours cancellation.

Live & Learn - sorry you got ditched

[CanonGolfer]

Originally Posted by Rubi Jane

Contract, down payment & cancellation clause is the real deal!

If that were me, they would be paying me the full rate based on less that 24 hours cancellation.

Live & Learn - sorry you got ditched

Good luck trying to get something like that out of the Military...

[LauraSB]

Originally Posted by CanonGolfer

FTW!

I know in the Navy they would never hire an outside photographer for any photowork. We have MC (Mass Communication Specialists) for that kinda work. Nothing like free.

Funny you say that as I was in the Navy for 12 years and at every command I was the command photographer. And I was an SK, now LS. I did more photojournalistic work than SK work. I had the MC senior cheif in NRSW try to get me to change rates due to many photos he's seen of mine over the last 7 years. I opted to get out of the military instead. I still due the photography for many different commands in San Diego.

[Rubi Jane]

Originally Posted by CanonGolfer

Good luck trying to get something like that out of the Military...

Duly noted, I won't be doing business with the US Military then, not that I planned to

Terms are included in my contract and if a client doesn't like a specific term it's for them to bring it my attention before they sign it. I'm open to fair negotiation, but signed is a deal regardless of who the client is.

[CanonGolfer]

Really? Every command I have ever talked to, been in or anything either had an MC (or PH for us older Navy) or they used the base PHs for that. I have never seen a photo shoot of anything contracted to anyone outside the Navy.

[LauraSB]

Originally Posted by CanonGolfer

Really? Every command I have ever talked to, been in or anything either had an MC (or PH for us older Navy) or they used the base PHs for that. I have never seen a photo shoot of anything contracted to anyone outside the Navy.

Yup. They were PH when I joined too back in 1998. I've shot many different ceremonies to formal headshots and even officer packages. Reenlistments to cheif's pinnings. Even flown in a few aircraft for arial shots. All while being an AK. I even had a few COs of both mine and other commands have me make Christmas cards with COC photos. I've even been invited to several COC dinners to do photos. I just never wanted to be a PH and now MC. I've even shot the Helicopter Association and the vice president when he was out here last summer.

[CanonGolfer]

I was an AO but am now in the Reserves. I'm trying to cross to MC (seeing as how there are TONS of Navy aircraft out here in Tucson for me to load weapons on). So you just recently separated? What was your last unit?

[LauraSB]

AO? Cool some of my best buds were AO's. I'd rather not say on board what command I was in but I will say it was in San Diego and it was helicopters. I kind of miss it but glad I moved on. I can dm you the name though.