Group photo shoots...would you do this?

Found this on Craigs List and I'm just curious if anyone would do this. I see no advantage to me as a photographer, except maybe networking and experience, to sign up for something like this.

This is the request for those who don't want to click the link:

Looking for multiple photographers to photograph scheduled events at different locations around the Cities. These qualified individuals must have event photography experience. Must have your own equipment and redundant equipment. This equipment would include:
2-DSLRs 6mp or greater and knowledge on how to use them ex- Nikon d200, nikon d300
2- battery powered flash units (must have knowledge of these and be able to operate in manual mode) ex, nikon sb600, nikon sb800
2- brackets to mount flash unit off of camera ex, custom bracket or stroboframe
Professional attire.
Commitment and passion.
You will not own these images, you will not market these images, you will not Photoshop or lightroom these images. We will supply you with compact Flash cards and receive them back with all shutter actuation on them. The work environment is clean and safe for all. no late nights(10 pm at the latest)
reliable transportation a must.
no working alone(typically teams)
please reply with list of equipment with resume

Truly, except for the people putting this together, what is the benefit to the photographer?

The benefit would be cash. Assuming the pay is worth your time, it would be like working an office job where you move around a lot. Its not something that would thrill me unless the pay was very good.

I agree with that. The cash would have to be pretty good to be worth my time and to surrender all rights.

Simple: cash.

I was shooting a Rugby tournament the other day for one of the teams/sportwear company. There was a team of photographers working the event on behalf of the event organisers. I am pretty sure the above description would fit what they were doing. At the end of the day they all handed their CF Cards to the main guy and they were done for the day.

Not really any different from being a second shooter at a wedding or other event where you don't do post and don't own the images.

Sounds like a rip off to me, unless the pay is really, really very good.

Pay would just have to be decent...its a job nothing else.

I don't hold onto copyright with the fervor that I used to. More often than not, photographs like these would be absolutely useless to me anyway, so there's no sense in clutching to them with a death grip. A decent paycheck would be good enough. It's not as if this stuff is creative in any way.

I would do it depending on the pay. A more interesting question would've been everyone's expectation on the pay; say by the hour.

Sibil wrote in post #16813139
I would do it depending on the pay. A more interesting question would've been everyone's expectation on the pay; say by the hour.

It would have to be bloody good money. Since they not only want a camera operator, they want a camera, and accessories too!

Judging by the conditions they seem to be setting I think they may have issues with the copyright though. It doesn't seem to me that they would meet the US requirements regarding Work for Hire. So they would actually need a correctly worded contract to legally transfer the copyrights otherwise the photographer will still own them. Which could be interesting if you had a camera with dual card slots.

Alan

BigAl007 wrote in post #16814464
It would have to be bloody good money. Since they not only want a camera operator, they want a camera, and accessories too!

Judging by the conditions they seem to be setting I think they may have issues with the copyright though. It doesn't seem to me that they would meet the US requirements regarding Work for Hire. So they would actually need a correctly worded contract to legally transfer the copyrights otherwise the photographer will still own them. Which could be interesting if you had a camera with dual card slots.

Alan

I'm assuming they have a pretty solid contract that includes either work-for-hire language, or outright copyright transfer language, or maybe both.

Not sure what difference a dual-slot camera would make. If you're recording to a second card, you just go home with a bunch of copies of someone else's images that you can't legally use for anything. (I would probably use a dual-slot camera anyway, to make sure I'm able to deliver the goods)

If it's on Craigslist, I bet they're offering $20/hr.

I suspect its one of those companies that stands around outside the stadium at sporting events snapping away at anyone who will mug for the camera. If you arent the contractor its not like those photos have much value anyway. We are not talking about any level of creativity but the goal is upping the volume of decently exposed grip and grins.

This type of shoot isn't uncommon, and it's often called a "shoot and burn". I've done them for corporate clients when the pay is very good. On Craigslist though, I doubt the pay is worth it.

I'd say that at this point there isn't much more to be said unless we hear specifics about pay and contract issues...a lot of negative remarks are being made but we need more info!

Professional attire...
Tilley hat and a vest of many pockets.