MISSION STATEMENT - This site is dedicated to professional music photographers. Our mission is to advocate sound business practices, warn against predatory client practices, provide helpful and educational resources, and foster a sense of community. All discussions related to capturing, processing, cataloging and licensing music photographs are welcome.

You are here

Feel free to use this. In fact, I INSIST

I would LIKE to think that everyone on this board is here because they want to earn SOME money from your love of photographing musicians.

I think that those of us who are trying to make it in this cut-throat business should stand shoulder-to-shoulder in support of each other. Posting the banner for this forum on your myspace profile and website is a start.

But you have to go one better. You have to communicate on your myspace profile that you DON'T give free images away. Here's how I am now handling this situation, in boldface type, on my profile:

"NOTE: I have been doing this for 32-plus years! I do NOT need "exposure" or the satisfaction of seeing my work credited online. What I want, is to be respected as the professional I am and paid for my work. My rates are reasonable and I am willing to negotiate to some extent. But FREE is not even on the table. What I bring is my skills and experience to make you look the best I possibly can. If you are a band hiring me, you also get my experience in the field of journalism and my eye for what editors are looking for in an image that rises above the rest on his or her desk and makes it into print."

If you are serious about making in as a music photographer, you have to not do things that is making it rough on the rest of us.

'Nuff said!

Jamie Taylor
Photojournalist Extraordinaire &
Grumpy Old Man in Training
"How about you come back to my place and I'll show you my man-size manicotti?" -- Grampa Gustafson, "Grumpier Old Men"
http://www.myspace.com/tailwindimaging
[ BROKEN LINK ]

.. to make sure that shooting pictures for the music business remains a viable career. Selling yourself out with free image use hurts us all, not just you. It conditions music artists, record labels, publicists, managers, merchandisers, etc, etc, etc, that all photography should be free.

Please don't do that.

Walter Rowe - Rowe Images
Professional Photographer
Columbia, Maryland - USA

Founder, MusicPhotographers.net
www.WalterRowePhotography.com
Columbia, Maryland - USA

Thanks for posting that, Jamie. Many of us feel this way and that is probably a large driver behind why people are on this site.

I have not posted such a quote on my Myspace page, but now I am going to.

Thanks!

Best,
Will Hawkins

Will Hawkins Photography, LLC.
http://www.willhawkinsphotography.com


Will Hawkins Photography, LLC. http://www.willhawkinsphotography.com  

For posting that! I've been looking for a way to write something like that out. Even my friends in bands realize they're going to pay me, but my issue is with the bands that don't know me expecting free photos.

I've been into photography since I could hold a camera and finally got licensed this year as a business (I'm doing more than just music photography although that is my main passion). So all this costs money. So people wanting freebies at this point is a little crazy after all the money I've poured into the business this year. Even with the jobs I've had I still haven't broke even on what I've put out. I really don't expect to just yet, but freebies aren't going to get me there.

Anyway thanks!!

"United We Stand, Divided We Have to Bend Over and Take It Up The Tailpipe."

Or something like that. I was UAW a long time ago during a break from school and UCFW while between journalism jobs. So I know it's SOMETHING like that.

The important thing we have to stick together as a group. ONE person giving freebies to a band hurts ALL of us.

Jamie "Shooter" Taylor
Photojournalist Extraordinaire &
Grumpy Old Man in Training
"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." -- Buddha
http://www.myspace.com/tailwindimaging

Jamie "Shooter" Taylor
TailWind Imaging
"Away you will go sailin/In a race among the ruins/If you plan to face tomorrow/Do it soon." -- Gordon Lightfoot
http://www.myspace.com/tailwindimaging
http://tradewindimaging.photoreflect.com

I kind of like the notice that Daniel Knighton has on HIS MySpace profile, too. If he's a member, maybe he'd be willing to post it here.

Jamie "Shooter" Taylor
Jamie Taylor
Photojournalist Extraordinaire
"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." -- Buddha
http://www.myspace.com/tailwindimaging
http://tradewindimaging.photorefl

Jamie "Shooter" Taylor
TailWind Imaging
"Away you will go sailin/In a race among the ruins/If you plan to face tomorrow/Do it soon." -- Gordon Lightfoot
http://www.myspace.com/tailwindimaging
http://tradewindimaging.photoreflect.com

Jamie, thanks for the props and I am happy to share my Intro..

"All photos are © 2003-2008 www.PixelPerfectImages.net and are for VIEWING ONLY. They may not be used or reproduced without prior written consent of Pixel Perfect Images or the photographer, Daniel Knighton. Any theft of images will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law including recovery of licensing fees, attorney's fees, and possible punitive monetary damages up to $150,000 per image per use. Removal of copyright watermark will incur additional penalties up to $25,000 per image."

Sometimes the best way to get peoples attention is to hit them with a hammer first....lol.

Daniel Knighton
Pixel Perfect Images
(760)730-3224/(858)335-4540 cell
Carlsbad, CA
www.PixelPerfectImages.net
www.MySpace.com/PixelPerfectImages

 

Daniel Knighton, PIxel Perfect Images

(858) 335-4540 cell

http://www.pixelperfectimages.net