SkvLTD
Senior Member
Within the first or so week I did all my homework on all the regular photo ops here, and one was SpyOnVegas big hotel even coverage company. I figured, I've been doing that over a year, might as well shoot em an email. Sent links to my site/fb page for them to glance over. Got a reply that brass is on vacation, but isn't trying to ignore me. Then he followed up complimenting my work and asked for my gear list, and I replied with all of that.
Half a week goes by, I'm still hopping bars and chatting people up for any potential leads and strike gold - one barista tells about a well-established local photog lady. I get home, message her asking for any tips and opinion about Spy. She tells me that first off, they only pay 30-50 tops per album (and looking at their site, some parties get 2, but you're there for roughly 6 hours glued) and make you sign non-competition and that's why she never bothered w/ them.
I take that into account, and email the Spy guy again earlier today to see if he's even alive after his vacation. Here's what he replies:
"Hey Igor,
I'm back, just been crazy busy since I've gotten back. Let's do a test shoot tomorrow. Meet me at the Linq at 10:00pm for the Bloq Party( if it doesn't get rained out ).
This test shoot, I want to see you capture shots of people posed, candid shots of the activities , branding of all the venues with their merchandise / food, atmosphere shots of crowded area, and so on.. Basically everything asked for within event photography. And from there, I'll have another test shoot in a nightclub and dayclub.
My number is @#$%^&*(). And please don't show up to these test shoots shooting in auto or Av or any other assist mode in camera. Lol"
To which I reply, knowing their rates and contract terms that he neeeeeever mentioned yet-
"
Feeling pretty badly under the weather, event aside, so if I can pull myself off of the bed I'll let you know by 6pm.
And really, I'm not some kid with a beginner camera and on-board flash. I've been shooting indoor and outdoor events for well over a year."
Next reply back from him:
"Oh damn that sucks. Hope you feel better soon! Shoot is for Tuesday not today, sorry for that confusion lol.
But I just wanted to clarify the event photography stuff. I had a handful of idiots with cameras on test shoots and had no idea what to do. "
I reply,
"That and, do your guys shoot Jpeg or crop sensors to have to shoot full manual?"
And the next from him as follows:
"
I shoot JPEG (there's no need for me to shoot in RAW), and I believe all the others do also.
I believe all my photographers have full frame cameras, and only 1 with a crop. Everyone shoots in manual in camera. Everyone does their own editing and own uploading, and the backend of the site watermarks all the images when uploaded. "
At this point I just do a HUGE facepalm. Seriously? With the parties and names they get to cover, they all would rather shoot in cellphone more? On the flip side, I don't blame them given how atrocious the pay per time is - sometimes not even minimum wage.
At this point I just shot him this last one, and I bet he will not have the guts to reply back since everything is soooooo hush crappidy hush:
"
So, flat imagines where any edits degrade the quality? I get the necessity for manual in this case, but why even use a DSLR then?
I've seen countless guys on the east coast shoot boring, flat shots, hence why I have my own technique and style.
You've also seen my site and some of the event albums I have there.
What's the general comp rate per event? No need to specific numbers, but 100+ or - ?"
Real fun, right?
I think I'll keep hitting other events even if without a cam and build individual connections with people bigger than these clowns that haul azz for ~6$/hr with ~3000$ worth of gear.
Half a week goes by, I'm still hopping bars and chatting people up for any potential leads and strike gold - one barista tells about a well-established local photog lady. I get home, message her asking for any tips and opinion about Spy. She tells me that first off, they only pay 30-50 tops per album (and looking at their site, some parties get 2, but you're there for roughly 6 hours glued) and make you sign non-competition and that's why she never bothered w/ them.
I take that into account, and email the Spy guy again earlier today to see if he's even alive after his vacation. Here's what he replies:
"Hey Igor,
I'm back, just been crazy busy since I've gotten back. Let's do a test shoot tomorrow. Meet me at the Linq at 10:00pm for the Bloq Party( if it doesn't get rained out ).
This test shoot, I want to see you capture shots of people posed, candid shots of the activities , branding of all the venues with their merchandise / food, atmosphere shots of crowded area, and so on.. Basically everything asked for within event photography. And from there, I'll have another test shoot in a nightclub and dayclub.
My number is @#$%^&*(). And please don't show up to these test shoots shooting in auto or Av or any other assist mode in camera. Lol"
To which I reply, knowing their rates and contract terms that he neeeeeever mentioned yet-
"
Feeling pretty badly under the weather, event aside, so if I can pull myself off of the bed I'll let you know by 6pm.
And really, I'm not some kid with a beginner camera and on-board flash. I've been shooting indoor and outdoor events for well over a year."
Next reply back from him:
"Oh damn that sucks. Hope you feel better soon! Shoot is for Tuesday not today, sorry for that confusion lol.
But I just wanted to clarify the event photography stuff. I had a handful of idiots with cameras on test shoots and had no idea what to do. "
I reply,
"That and, do your guys shoot Jpeg or crop sensors to have to shoot full manual?"
And the next from him as follows:
"
I shoot JPEG (there's no need for me to shoot in RAW), and I believe all the others do also.
I believe all my photographers have full frame cameras, and only 1 with a crop. Everyone shoots in manual in camera. Everyone does their own editing and own uploading, and the backend of the site watermarks all the images when uploaded. "
At this point I just do a HUGE facepalm. Seriously? With the parties and names they get to cover, they all would rather shoot in cellphone more? On the flip side, I don't blame them given how atrocious the pay per time is - sometimes not even minimum wage.
At this point I just shot him this last one, and I bet he will not have the guts to reply back since everything is soooooo hush crappidy hush:
"
So, flat imagines where any edits degrade the quality? I get the necessity for manual in this case, but why even use a DSLR then?
I've seen countless guys on the east coast shoot boring, flat shots, hence why I have my own technique and style.
You've also seen my site and some of the event albums I have there.
What's the general comp rate per event? No need to specific numbers, but 100+ or - ?"
Real fun, right?
I think I'll keep hitting other events even if without a cam and build individual connections with people bigger than these clowns that haul azz for ~6$/hr with ~3000$ worth of gear.