I received an email a few weeks ago, forwarded from Paul Hudson at Lawrence Photo, from Ken Vandruff, director of communications for Go Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The email reads, in part, “Go Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau is working to update and improve the photo library that we use to promote Wichita as a convention and tourism destination. I am trying to make contact with photographers who would be willing to participate in this project….
“I want to set up a meeting with interested photographers who like to shoot editorially as well and commercial-style to determine who is interested in assisting with this project. I have a limited budget available, so I would hope to work out a co-operative arrangement offering courtesy credit for each use of the images they are willing to share.”
In a followup email I asked Ken about his “limited budget.”
He replied, “To be honest, ‘limited budget’ means I’d like to work out pro-bono agreements if at all possible.” He further explained, “Currently, Go Wichita works with several photographers in this manner. They give us permission to use their photos for the noncommercial promotion of Wichita as a destination for tourists and conventions. In exchange, we give the photographer credit each time his or her photo is used.”
The way I figure, there are two very basic principles of Economics 101 at work here, the first being, the value of something is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it.
The other is about scarcity: as the availability of something increases, it’s inherent value decreases. It follows that, people will not pay for something freely available.
Everyone has a full-auto digital camera, everyone wants to be published and people who need photographs are trolling for freebies. It’s not even a buyer’s market anymore.
Many aspiring photographers assume that if they provide a few free images it will somehow help them sell pictures later. That may work for street drugs, but that’s not how it works for photography.
Gary Crabbe says as much in his blog, Enlightened Images when asked about working for free in exchange for a courtesy credit line: “That kind of exposure will very very very rarely ever get you any additional work. Plus, once a magazine gets you to work for free, you will most likely never be able to stand up and say, “Now please pay me for the next job.” There won’t be a next job. They’ll move on to find the next photographer who wants to work for the lure of credit and exposure.”
However, if people want to give away their work, that’s fine by me. I’ve done pro bono work for various charity and mission outfits myself. We all make our own choices. Even celeb photographer Annie Lebiovitz, who is facing bankruptcy, works for free sometimes.
Ken is meeting with interested photographers October 29, 2009 8:00 AM-9:30 AM at the Go Wichita office at 515 S Main, Suite 115. He asks for RSVPs no later than Tuesday, Oct. 27 to Danika Swoyer at dswoyer@gowichita.com
3 Comments
Amen, Mike. A photo credit doesn’t pay the mortgage or fund our retirement accounts. The audacity of some executives to offer “photo credits” in exchange is laughable at best and ludicrous at worst. I received this same email. It was quickly deleted.
What exactly does their membership dues pay for? I betting outrageous salaries. I am a local tourist business and in no way shape or form have gotten any support from them the city and even the state. I think they don’t even care. They wont even answer my emails. Compared to other cities Wichita is rude and unprofessional. I would love to work with them on the tourism guides, I would do it for a article and free ad space in the guides or other publications. But then again that is why I gave up on local and started taking clients out of state.
Dead on, skippy! This is an old scam that photographers and musicians (You can play for the Exposure!!!) have faced too long. I have given away plenty of my work over the years, but I try to be at least a little selective. I tend to give to those that I support, without any expectation other than a nice “Thank You,” which isn’t always forthcoming. It’s a great world out there!