When You Submit A Photo

I was going to post this in another thread and realized there's no way I can say it without it sounding like it was directed at the OP of that thread, which it is not nor will it ever be the case. So if you do the minimal digging it will take to figure out what inspired this know that you're doing exactly the opposite of what I intended when putting this out there for the record.

As the brother of a four time NJ Press Photographer of the Year who was laid off after four years of pay cuts I feel obligated to remind every one of us who will submit a photo to a newspaper or TV station so that we can be recognized for our work remember that this wasn't always the way things worked. People with families to provide for used to get paid to provide what we're now willing to give away in exchange for a "Photo by" caption. This is the new media dynamic and our participation or boycott of submission contests or invitations will change nothing. But for the sake of those who went before, when you snap and submit a photo to a company that used to pay a professional for their work, thank those who paved the way, because some of them are actually still fighting for the space that your photo will occupy.

This is not a guilt trip, it's just a reminder lest we forget.

I always ask people who want to use my work in exchange for "Photo by..." credit if they're doing their work for 'credit'. Hey if it's 'such a great deal' that I get 'exposure', then by golly, think of the 'exposure' they will get when the whole world sees what a fantastic job they're doing! Foregoing any monetary numeration today for 'credit' will surely make them rich beyond their wildest dreams in the future. What a deal!!!! Who can pass that up?!?!!?!?!?

"Secretarial work by......"
"Published by....."
"Production work by......"
"Edited by....."
"Graphic layout by...."
"Display by....."
"Reviewed by...."
"Article written by...."



I find this usually makes my point.

I'm asked all the time why don't you submit your photo for _________? My response, I don't give away my work for free. The response, "Oh yeah, I can see that."

Hear Hear.