Tough Spot: Need Advice

Over the last year or so I have been getting consistant referral work from another photographer who is too busy to cover these sporting events (college level). These are paying gigs and they pay pretty decent but not enough to pull the other photographer away from his weddings.

My end game is to shoot sports, events, and concerts. Of course a few weddings here and there but I prefer the first three categories.

For the last 4-5 sporting events I have covered for this photographer the Athletic Director (AD) has contacted the other photographer who then contacts me to cover the events. The AD pays that photographer which then turns around and pays me. I'm sure the other photographer is making some cut of the money but I don't think it's much.

After covering an event for this college a few months back the AD asked me if he could contact me directly or if he should still go through the other photographer. I told him he should go through the other photographer.

Fast forward to this past event, the same AD came up to me asking if he should still go through the other photographer. This has been a few months since we last spoke about this.

For all of the events I am covering, the other photographer gets their name as credit on the photos and I just get paid for my time.

What is the right thing to do? Would it be biting the hand that feeds if I told the AD to contact me directly? I feel like I am in a very tough spot so any advice would be great.

Put yourself in his shoes and see how you would feel about it.

If that don't work, tell him exactly what's going on and see how he wishes to handle it.

I would not want my integrity to be smeared throughout the photography community over this.

Most times, your first gut feeling will give you the answer. If it initially felt wrong, it is.

madjack wrote in post #16909109
Put yourself in his shoes and see how you would feel about it.

If that don't work, tell him exactly what's going on and see how he wishes to handle it.

I would not want my integrity to be smeared throughout the photography community over this.

Most times, your first gut feeling will give you the answer. If it initially felt wrong, it is.

That's what I was thinking and the whole reason I said to go through the original photographer... even if it's having to go out of the way to get in touch with me.

I agree that you dont want to backstab the guy, at the same time how long are you beholden to a guy who seems to have checked out? If you were close enough personally to have a frank conversation about your desire to break away without causing him to lock you out then it would the the right way to go. If he does cut you out, then you can go to the AD and bid it yourself.

Hybrid AWD wrote in post #16909114
That's what I was thinking and the whole reason I said to go through the original photographer... even if it's having to go out of the way to get in touch with me.

If its just a communication problem, tell your guy what's going on and suggest that he let the client call you directly for convenience and he can still invoice him directly.

Your assuming this is a permanent thing, and it may well be.

But, what if he is just farming this job out while he is in the thick of wedding season and was planning to pick it back up after the rush is over.

I've never had a paid gig, but would like that to be a reality someday. I think one deal like this not handled correctly would lose a person more work than he ever would have gained by bad publicity.

Personally, I would put all the cards on the table and see what shakes out.

If it doesn't go your way you can still hold your head high.

Good Luck!

Hybrid AWD wrote in post #16909085
For all of the events I am covering, the other photographer gets their name as credit on the photos and I just get paid for my time.

Why is that? You're not acting as his assistant. You're replacing him for those events.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16909115
I agree that you dont want to backstab the guy, at the same time how long are you beholden to a guy who seems to have checked out? If you were close enough personally to have a frank conversation about your desire to break away without causing him to lock you out then it would the the right way to go. If he does cut you out, then you can go to the AD and bid it yourself.

You make a valid point. The funny thing is I have rarely shot along side of him. I highly respect him and he is a great guy. I guess starting a conversation with him might be the way to go.

madjack wrote in post #16909152
[/B]

If its just a communication problem, tell your guy what's going on and suggest that he let the client call you directly for convenience and he can still invoice him directly.

Your assuming this is a permanent thing, and it may well be.

But, what if he is just farming this job out while he is in the thick of wedding season and was planning to pick it back up after the rush is over.

I've never had a paid gig, but would like that to be a reality someday. I think one deal like this not handled correctly would lose a person more work than he ever would have gained by bad publicity.

Personally, I would put all the cards on the table and see what shakes out.

If it doesn't go your way you can still hold your head high.

Good Luck!

Luckily for him, his wedding season is pretty solid year round. I know he wishes he could make a living off just sports alone but the money just isn't there in our area (which I find odd). Weddings is his soul source of income and he travels the world to cover them. Some of this college stuff is at oddball times like Wednesday/Thursdays or even worse for him - Saturdays and Sundays.

OhLook wrote in post #16910082
Why is that? You're not acting as his assistant. You're replacing him for those events.

That's another great point. I know I am getting paid to represent him but at the same time I'm the one doing the work. It's a catch 22 situation really. Think about 2nd shooters at weddings. They are getting paid to shoot and the lead photographer gets all the credit (for the most part). I can upload any of my photos to my website or social media but when it gets posted to the college site, his name is on the images.

Reading this, I would say that as you are a contractor working on behalf of the original photographer, he is entitled to use his credit. Same as any work for hire.

To prevent any ill feelings, I would approach the original photographer, tell him what's happening and how you feel about it. Do you want to replace him or are you happy with the status quo? He might be happy to let you take over if he is getting plenty of work/money with the weddings (it might be too much hassle for him atm)

I personally wouldn't be pleased about his name on my images. Considering that he's a wedding guy, I'd chat with him about just taking over directly. What goes around comes around, and perhaps some day you'll send him a wedding client.

Hybrid AWD wrote in post #16909085
Over the last year or so I have been getting consistant referral work from another photographer who is too busy to cover these sporting events (college level). These are paying gigs and they pay pretty decent but not enough to pull the other photographer away from his weddings.

My end game is to shoot sports, events, and concerts. Of course a few weddings here and there but I prefer the first three categories.

For the last 4-5 sporting events I have covered for this photographer the Athletic Director (AD) has contacted the other photographer who then contacts me to cover the events. The AD pays that photographer which then turns around and pays me. I'm sure the other photographer is making some cut of the money but I don't think it's much.

After covering an event for this college a few months back the AD asked me if he could contact me directly or if he should still go through the other photographer. I told him he should go through the other photographer.

Fast forward to this past event, the same AD came up to me asking if he should still go through the other photographer. This has been a few months since we last spoke about this.

For all of the events I am covering, the other photographer gets their name as credit on the photos and I just get paid for my time.

What is the right thing to do? Would it be biting the hand that feeds if I told the AD to contact me directly? I feel like I am in a very tough spot so any advice would be great.

Call the referring photographer and just tell her/him what's happened. Be open and honest with anyone who puts money in your pocket like that.

You could offer to do the business directly and pay a referral fee, which save them time and puts you on the front line.

The reason you need to be very careful is that it takes just a minute for that hiring photographer to find someone else who would gladly do the work in lieu of you. So, never provide a reason to do that.

You're burning the gas, doing the work. Are you his employee? If not, I'd give him a call or email and tell him politely but firmly that from now on, you are working with the AD, and will take all the $ and the credits.

trailguy wrote in post #16929390
You're burning the gas, doing the work. Are you his employee? If not, I'd give him a call or email and tell him politely but firmly that from now on, you are working with the AD, and will take all the $ and the credits.

The original photographer didn't need to pass on the AD's contact details in the first place but did the OP a favour by passing his details on. Therefore he deserves, at a bare minimum, to be contacted and informed of what is happening.

Simply going to the AD and working direct will probably end any chance of future referrals from anyone connected with the original photographer.

I would be furious with anyone (who I was passing work to) bypassing me without even a phone call to explain the situation and discussing it. My next action would be to pass his name around my photographic contacts telling them that the person was untrustworthy and a backstabber.

If you speaking to the comment I made, you may have missed that I clearly said "give him a call or email, and tell him politely but firmly ---"

That clearly agrees with your thoughts " he deserves, at a bare minimum, to be contacted and informed of what is happening."