Relax with a short film or four.....

Hello everyone

This week, I'd like to welcome on board Clare, Paul, Don, Jenny and Diana; five students who joined me on a residential course at West Dean College, near Chichester in West Sussex, a couple of weeks ago. Also, Lonnie, Nigel, Martin, Mogens and Paul; five students who came to the course at Park Cameras in Burgess Hill a few weeks ago. It was great to teach them and see their undoubted progress. Some of these students nowadays are pretty good, you know.

I hope that they will look back over some of my previous rantings on this blog to get a flavour of what's going on in the modern world of freelance photography.

Today, I'm going to give you some videos to watch, prompted by Judith Ricketts' recent experience of not getting a photo credit and wondering if she might have lost out on future work. These videos demonstrate the way it is today. Don't take them too seriously; it's just satire. Sit back and enjoy (although the last one might be a bit much if you're easily offended).....

Number 1, on why exposure doesn't pay the rent.....

Number 2, a cracking rant on why the artist should be paid (not about photography, but the principle still applies. Bits of swearing in this one).....

Number 3, on the vendor-client relationship. How on earth did it come to this in our industry.....

Number 4, on how the modern print industry views photography (there's quite a bit of swearing in this one, so if you don't want your children to hear it, put headphones on)......

With reference to that last one, there are a few further adventures of Robotog on YouTube, all of them scripted (uncredited, ironically) by the marvellous Graham Trott (www.grahamtrott.com).

I hope you like them! Speak to you all soon I hope. 

Here comes the judge...

Hello everyone

Judith's post prompted someone else to get in touch, so step forward Mr Kim Freeman......

Hi Andrew,

Nice to hear from your blog. I've had a few things happening, two magazine pieces and a greetings card.

The greetings card sale came out of the blue from a publisher that specializes in winter scenes of North London, they found my photo on-line and soon after it was in the new 2011/12 line-up. What's interesting is that I took this photo back in the mid 1980's!

BH Life Magazine front cover: I took this photo in 2010 and had it mind for the magazine. I knew the layout of the cover, so I made sure the composition fitted around the text elements. I had to wait a year before the 2011 winter edition but got it to the editor early and she thought it was perfect. Also the magazine was running a photo competition inside and the editor asked me to judge the winner and runners-up.

Life Begins magazine, British wine feature: I had these photos already so when I heard that this article was being published I put them forward to illustrate the story - very pleased they used all five.

I also carry on posting photos to Alamy.

I hope things are okay with you and it's good to hear news from other students.

Kim

Andrew says.....excellent progress Kim. Keep it up and keep us posted!

Danny Fernandez flying down to Rio....

Following last week's Judith Ricketts post, I was emailed by Danny Fernandez, who some of you might remember was on the course at the same time as Judith. He's the one that flew over from Barcelona especially! I know, I still can't quite believe he did that!

Anyway, here's what he had to say.......

Hey Andrew,

Ive been meaning to mail you, I was in the same course as Judy, and also had a full cover front page and interview for a Barcelona magazine in March (see below), and shortly after the course I won a trip to Brazil where one of my photos was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, in Rio de Janeiro. My pics were also published in a magazine / booklet.

Thanks again for you help!

Dan

P.S. I also had my first paid photoshoots last week, taking product photography and photos for a fashion blogger!

 

Well, Danny, I'm chuffed for you. Great pictures. And a trip to Rio? Fantastic.

Can we have a large round of applause for Danny please?

Here's a good way to do it....

Following the recent post about Judith's front-page picture in The Argus, I was contacted by Nigel Goddard with an interesting take on getting your pictures credited. It's not exactly the same situation, but Nigel has managed to get The Argus to give him some publicity by creating a news story from his work. Clever stuff, and nice pictures. Well done!

Hit and Myth

I was delighted to get an email from former student Judith Ricketts a couple of days ago, letting me know that one of her pictures had made the front page of the Argus here in Brighton. I cannot tell you how pleased and proud I was. Here it is for you all to enjoy......

As you can see, the paper had a ten-page Jubilee picture special and Judith tells me she had a few in there as well, so well done you! Great picture...perfect for the front page.

She mentioned that she had not been given a photo byline, which is a bit disappointing. Apparently, someone had told her she would get a credit, which certainly surprised me. I remember The Argus asking to use some of my pictures for a feature over twenty years ago. I was told that not only would they not pay me, but that it was actually company policy not to credit any non-staff photographers.

This kind of treatment by publishers can be very annoying; it's a nice feeling to see your name next to your photo and, let's face it, credit should be given where it is due. However, I would encourage Judith not to feel bad about this; it will have no impact whatsoever on any future commissions.

I get asked on average once a week if I will give away one of my photos to a publication in exchange for a byline, the implication from these "customers" is that a credit is as good as currency; that if my name is printed next to their free photo, the work will start rolling in. "We can't pay," they usually say, "but we will give you a credit."

The idea that work will naturally follow after a picture byline appears in print is a myth. In almost thirty years it has never, ever happened for me or any other professional photographer with whom I have discussed this issue.

Anyway, enough about that. Judith made the front page and that's all that matters. Congratulations!