Hi Leslie, What our colleagues are trying to say is, the prices you charge are way too low. What equipment you have, bring or do not bring have no bearing on the subject. You queried us because you knew that we would provide you an answer. It is your call to follow it or not. Sure a trip to Egypt would be cool there are many who would do it just for that alone. But you will not be there on vacation. Accepting low fees hurts all of us when we are the next photographer behind you to talk with the editor. Commercial photographers would charge more, as would many editorial photographers. This is not PJ work. I don't think you are there to report the news. Magazine articles are written and photographed well in advance of usage. News happens now and stales quickly. In the future get your CODB plus at least 30%. You have already made this deal - if you get the gig-. Emily ( her advice was spot on as usual ) and other seasoned pros on this list would love to help you in the biz aspects, so will I. But you need to ask in advance, and then be ready to heed the advice as much as possible. It's not really about the romance of travel and taking pictures. It's more about being able to have some sort of retirement when you grow older. Everyone here loves the creation aspect of photography. Nobody relishes the biz side. But you cannot be successful without both. Good luck, Les (another leslie) Baldwin ----- Original Message ----- From: <LScottPht@aol.com> To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" <photoforum@listserver.isc.rit.edu> Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2003 7:08 PM Subject: Re: magazine publishing rights help > I appreciate all of this, but keep in mind that I am not a commercial > photographer, but more of a photojournalist. I am not going in with lights, > assistants, etc. I don't think photojournalists really make that kind of money, but I > know commercial type photographers do. As I had previously stated, I have no > desire to do any "commercial" type work even thought it pays well. In fact, I > know many a freelance photojournalist that actually pay their expenses and hope > someone buys their photos afterwards. Another thing to keep in mind is that > they are thinking of paying my way and all expenses to Egypt and I get $200/day > for one-time rights. I wouldn't mind a free trip to build upon my portfolio. > Finally, I really appreciate all of the advice, but do keep in mind that I am > not a beginner. I am just trying to break into photojournalism. I have been > selling my prints through a corporate art consultant for $600 a piece. Since I am > fairly new to photojournalism, I just needed to check on pricing assignments > and rights. I am doing an apprenticeship so-to-speak with a photographer from > the Dallas Morning News, but he is staff, and I am just doing it to learn from > him all that I can. Anyway, just some things I needed to say about where I > was coming from. Commercial work is definitely the way to go for the money, but > my passion lies in photojournalism and if I have to photograph an event of > this type, I want to do it in a photojournalistic way. That's it!! Thanks for > everything. This has been a very interesting discussion, and I am glad I joined > this forum with what seems to be a number of accomplished photographers with > good advice. > > Leslie Spurlock > <A HREF="http://lesliescottphotography.com/";>Leslie Scott Photography</A> > <A HREF="http://www.lesliescottphotography.com/phototours.htm";>Leslie Scott > Photography and Tours</A> > 1-888-381-0854 > lscottpht@aol.com >
