Supplying and taking photos of a local community orchestra

I read the top sticky of this forum and I am in agreement that photographers should expect compensation for their work.

Here is my situation. I am a musician, and as such, I like to support the local community orchestra. My wife plays in the group and I have played in it. Plus, I work everyday with the director of the orchestra. I have photographed them before in various settings and they have used the pictures for their website and brochures. The orchestra has at least one other member who is a serious ameture photographer and he also takes pictures of them regularly - for free. The difference is that I can shoot while they are performing and he usually cannot.

So, in the future, they will travel to Carnegie Hall and the director has asked me to photograph the orchestra while they play (hoping that Carnegie Hall will even allow this). I have shot them in concert situations enough that I feel my time and product is worth something. According to the director, they would not be willing to pay for this service. Afterall, it's a volunteer community group. He feels that I should be willing to donate my time and talent to the orchestra and write it off as a charitable donation. As a community orchestra, they look for donations from the public - so I can understand their position. As a musician, I also want to do my part to help. But I don't want to be taken advantage of and I don't want to hurt the business of photography.

Your thoughts?

Stefan

Stefan A wrote in post #6866250
Afterall, it's a volunteer community group. He feels that I should be willing to donate my time and talent to the orchestra and write it off as a charitable donation.

If he views it as a charitable donation, perhaps he'll issue you a tax receipt for $X for a donation-in-kind. This will also help establish what you view the worth of your photography to be ("I'll do this for a $300 tax reciept."), which should help you the next time they request photography.

You could also try spinning it as you'd be happy to take the photos, and share them with orchestra members, but commercial use of them would require payment ("my usual rates are X, but I'll give you a 50% discount because you're a charity").

As for shooting at Carnegie Hall, my expectation is that shooting during a performance, flash or no flash, will not be permitted. However, you should be able to take pictures during a rehearsal. You should run this by Carnegie Hall though, as they may assert copyright on the building, stage set, or lighting. If they do, you may be able to license use of such for the orchestra's promotion for a fee, which you'd would pass on to the orchestra with an appropriate markup. (Actually, rereading that, I expect the orchestra would need to organize use of Carnegie Hall's copyrighted material, and hire you to take the pictures). Things may go easier if you are the orchestra's official photographer on contract (and getting paid) than if you are the french horn's husband.

All, in all, several approaches to try... let me know if any work out.

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I like your idea of limiting the use of the photos. Yes, they would give me a receipt for a donation in kind. As for photography in the hall, I will let them research that. This whole thing may be moot. But further discussion will be helpful for places where I know I am allowed to shoot.

Stefan

Whatever you feel your time(for shooting and PP) is worth, submit an invoice for 4 times that amount. If you are only going to get a charitable deduction on your taxes for it, you will only be saving the amount equivalent to your tax rate.

I have a similar situation with a community marching and concert band. Also an all volunteer organization. My wife currently serves as president and I need to wait for her term to be over so as not to create an impression of a conflict of interest. I know I can't look for a fee, but this is a band in my community. I'd probably come out and take the shots anyway. It'd be nice to have an ad appear in their programs for 1-2 years in exchange for these shots. That's worth something to me.

Just a side note as far as taking pictures at Carnegie Hall-

The orchestra must pay for the right to have pictures taken while they are there. Otherwise the only people who can take pictures are those holding press passes. When I played there a few years ago you couldn't even take quick snapshots off of the stage or during rehearsal without getting yelled at by a union worker.

If you guys are serious about getting pictures at the performance, definitely call the people up at Carnegie Hall and find out what the necessary steps are for getting guaranteed the right to photograph them during performance.

If I were a professional looking for work, I would insist on a free ad in the orchestra's programs. Thanks bos for the heads up. I will recommend to the director that they look into this.

Stefan