Photography

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A place to politely discuss the tools, technique and culture of photography.

This is not a good place to simply share cool photos/videos or promote your own work and projects, but rather a place to discuss photography as an art and post things that would be of interest to other photographers.

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Job etiquette & conflict of interests (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by Omeletteplata@alien.top to c/photography@viewfinder.pro

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I recently was hired to shoot for a client who will be participating in a sporting event. Said sporting event also has official photographers by the event organizers, but they are only paid via direct sales to participants, no upfront payment. Taking this job means ill be cutting in potential sales for the official photographers, whom I am also friends and shoot with from time to time.

My question is, is it morally ok for me to take the job in these situations? My client came directly to me even when they could've chosen the official photographers themselves. Should I just honor my clients wishes and go ahead? Looking at the big picture I realize the bigger assholes are the organizers who don't pay their official photographers upfront.

Has anyone been put in similar situations? I'd really appreciate some second thoughts and discussions. Thanks.

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[–] Omeletteplata@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That's correct..

[–] sudo_808@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I dont know if i would do that. I sometimes shoot for free (for family or really good friends or at one i event i help organizing) but this sounds like a big scam, pls dont tell me they take a percentage of the sold pictures as well?

[–] Omeletteplata@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

...unfortunately the organizers do indeed take a percentage of the sales, as they use their social media platform to promote and facilitate the sales with the competitors. I've since declined any jobs from those organizers due to this model and have worked with way better organizers with better deals. My friends on the other hand..

[–] sudo_808@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You should both tell then to go f.... themselfes for real.

So they dont have any costs, no risk, no work beside organizing a photographer and get a percentage of your sales as well... thats bullshit

I wouldn want to work under those terms. I would try to negociate that they pay a fixed rate for your work and then they can try to sell those images.

The sad thing is they will always find someone to work under those conditions (someone who is starting and is happy to get some practice) but of you are a professional you need to get paid for your work and not speculate that in the end maybe someone will buy your shots

[–] Omeletteplata@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Absolutely 100% agreed. I wouldn't agree to those terms now as well and had to negotiate a fixed price upfront with these organizers while previously working with them. The only thing I can say that sort of fights back against cheap work is improving the quality of your own work.

[–] sudo_808@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Absolutely but also be ready to decline and just say no to lowball offers. Some ppl are not willing to pay for quality,.also those clients are tend to be annoying and start nitpicking afterwards,.wanting extra edits and so on.

You get booked bc you can do something they cant and everybody who is not willing to make a fair offer should be aware of that.