Hobbiest and Professional/Freelance

Seasoft

Paulw's success lately prompted my grey matter to ponder! Congrats to him.

I'm firmly in the "Hobbiest" league, having recently retired, bought a camera, etc. In my career (not photography obviously) a number of non-qualified people often tried their hand at the job, and usally failed miserably. But there was a perception that anyone could have a stab at it.

Is photography the same? I would never dream of stepping on a professional's toes. On one occasion I came across newsworthy events, took some photos, and one was used by a local paper. No fee was offered, and I did not ask. I am an amateur. I only submitted the images as I was the only photographer there.

What's the feeling here. Was I right? How do professionals, with overheads, large investments in equipment, etc., feel about amateurs submitting images, and maybe getting paid?

Paulw

You should have invoiced them.

Me, I'm not a full-time professional photographer. Photography is my hobby/passion and a part-time earner.

I do compete for business with the full-time professionals, and many I know and get along well with. I don't go out to under-cut their business, and I think I have some mutual respect with the majority of them.

On major events, I compete like for like with them.

For smaller events, I tend to have little competition, since I ask around before covering an event. Some I do because I know I may have little or no competition, or else because it's something I want to cover.

There are many out there who take photos and submit them to the papers. The majority of images are not used (this is in general anyway). Sometimes the papers won't use the images if they can't get them for free.

But, you should be charging for your images. If they're good enough to print, then they're definitely good enough to be paid for.

Sometime you also need to consider - if you're doing it (and even earn just 1c), then you need proper professional insurance (gear, PL, maybe even PI).

Seasoft

Thanks Paulw for the sound advice.