I was having a discussion with a friend and mentor the other day about the digression of the business model of photography. The topic was about how too many companies (agencies/magazines) are starting to ask for someone to shoot for next to nothing and how too many photographers are more than happy to do it.Here is what I came up with...
1. Every year a new batch of young kids graduate Photo schools with hope and dreams of making it big in photography.
2. Every year a new batch of young kids graduate Advertising schools in hopes and dreams of making it big in advertising.
3. It seems every month a new workshop, website, blog, podcast, book, or article is made in the effort to teach the population the skills of photography.
4. It also seems there is yet another organization, association, group, network or club made to meet the most specific and unique parts and aspects of photography out there.
ALL OF THIS IS AWESOME!!!
God bless a simple type of a theme in Google and within 15 minutes I can learn and do a technic that in the past would have taken years of mentorship or schooling to accomplish.
BUT
Of all the colleges in both Photography OR advertising, where are the classes on business practices? How about the lectures and handouts on usage rights, copyright law, licensing of images, the pros and cons of Work for Hire, Buy Out, Speculation, etc.
Of all the "Professional Photographers" out there, how many are actually doing podcasts, lectures, workshops, books and articles on negotiating, quoting, invoicing, licensing, etc.?
Of all the "Ad agencies" out there, how many are actually teaching the younger generation how to negotiate, quote, understand and invoice, read a contract, etc???
Yes, there are the guys out there like John Harrignton who is amazing in teaching people how to do business and Blake Discher who rocks with teaching Sit Optimization or Leslie Burns-Dell'Acqua who is an inspiration when teaching marketing techniques. But there are not enough people like this. I have been reading too many articles from too many 'old pros' complaining too much about the same damn thing. Why is that company wanting me to sign over my rights? Why is that kid shooting this for nothing? I will tell you why, Because they can and because no one has educated them. The kid probably lives like a starving actor in L.A. working as a waiter waiting for the big break that will get him noticed. He will do it because he is desperate. The companies also know this and many of them feel that cameras are so idiot proof that even monkey can point a D3 on program mode and get a shot.
So I ask this,
What are you doing about it?
Are you making an effort to teach the local photographers what you know about business?
Are you handing out booklets to companies and agencies to teach them what a photographer is looking for?
Are you doing it without being asked???
This should not be a charged workshop. There should not be a fee to get the information to make a photographer's business plan work. One of the reasons we are n this mess is because no one share's their business plans. So what is the harm in teaching others? Do you actually believe it is going to hurt you?
I think there needs to be a movement on this. I don't know if I should be the one to start it. I am only one year in this business after 14 years as a military photographer.
I've become a member of ASMP (the best org for business), attended the Strictly Business 2 workshop. The last time it happened was 10 years ago. Who knows the next time it happens. Around 500 or so attended and there where 4 workshops only. That is not enough. This education should not be for the elite. If everybody knew it, I think we would have a better chance of avoiding low ballers and ignorant agencies.
What do you thnk?
Aaron
