But whose business model can compete with freebies?

I don't see many people fixing cars for free on a regular basis or plumbers fixing leaks for free or exposure or because it will get more work.

If amateurs want to shoot models for fun and can't afford a model there are plenty of models who will shoot for CD along with make up people willing to do the same. Or join a photography club that has studio nights.

When you start giving stuff to businesses you are laying the foundations for next time they want free imagery.

He certainly doesn't like photographers, before the show the security told us the rules.

1 No cameras on the stage, if he see any he will kick them off
2 No leaning on the stage he will kick you off
3 Absolutely no flash guns on your camera, if he sees one security will be instructed to kick you out of the pit & remove your memory card
4 Do not stand in front of him at all, again you will be escorted out of the pit...

Oh & a 9 minute intro comprising of Stone Roses I Am the Resurrection...

"Anyway my work cant compete with a professional photographer anyway so i dont think i am stepping on anyone's feet!? well i hope not..."

The quality of work is irrelevant, the fact a business wants to use your image is!!!

Don't give away for credit, a credit will not get you any exposure or advertising, this is a fallacy created by tight fisted publications & businesses which fools many amateurs into giving their work away. Before you know it the hair dresser is telling his mate where to get free photos from, then you will be getting a few more knockers on your door wanting free images... See how this progresses, put value on your work, tell him you want a hair cut

It is hard to make Liam Gallagher look exciting lol... Most of the lighting was also white, so there was not really a lot that could be done about that

Pleased you liked the watermark ))

Number 5 is fantastic & can see that selling well on teh sock sites, an ideal postcard / birthday card...

Finally Finally got to shoot Liam Gallagher & his new band Beady Eye (Oasis without Noel).

I noticed the white lights at the side of the stage & knew I wanted a shot of him facing the light which I got... Tremendous lighting, a fascinating lead singer & a great set of imgaes.

Unfortunately there was a very very strict contract with this shoot so have had to heavily watermark.. Also strictly 60 day usage on these so they will have to be deleted in June...










As always more on my Flickr stream here

OK here are my thoughts on this, today I have had an email from my agency telling me they are cutting back on concert photography because they can no longer sell it. The reason they can no longer sell is because magazines are snowed under with images from amateurs willing to give their work away for a bye line.

I usually cover 5 to 10 shows a month for them, next month I have been given just two assignments. I post some of my work on this forum to show what Pentax system is capable of & have to put huge copyright watermarks on them which upsets people yet my work is repeatedly stolen over & over again....

Every time someone gives an image away to a business or a charity they are destroying this business, much of which has already been destroyed. The BBC, the local press are always asking for free imagery, even Sky tv owned by billionaire asks for free imagery.

Now a hair salon is a business, would you expect the hair salon to give away haircuts on the grounds of exposure & it will bring you more work??? No because everyone else would want a free hair cut on the grounds it is good for exposure.

Does the hair salon get free rates, free power, free staff even??? No so why should you give your work away??? Charge them, charge them anything, just charge them something, put some value to your work, hey even if its some hair cuts...

The business obviously recognises value in your work or they wouldn't be asking you.

Please please do not give your work away to a business..

Cracking lens that, I had the mf version at one time which looks identical.

Good set, I like building 2 & 3. The first image I really like, definite feeling of height & great textures in those steps...

You need to price for a licence for usage, this varies from a book to an advertising campaign.

Register with alamy & use their calculator to work out cost of a licence for your client...