Working for a studio

[StevenRosen]

I have an interview with a studio to work as an associate photographer. They want a work for hire contract which would mean I wouldn't be able to use any of my shots to promote myself and my business. I'm feeling ambivalent about this. The pay starts at $400 for shooting a full day, and I don't want to give up all my rights to a whole days worth of shooting for so little money. Has anyone else ever worked for a studio, and if so, what kind of agreement did you have regarding rights and usage.

[David_Buzzard]

That sounds like a pretty good opportunity to me. Most photographers get their starts (like me) from working at studios, or for other photographers, for low money and then take what they learn and apply it to their own careers. The other thing to keep in mind is that being a professional photographer is only about 25% taking pictures, and the rest is sales, organization, client relations, etc. You'll get a insiders view of all that, which is priceless.

If you're working for a studio, someone else has gotten the client or account, then come up with the concept, and then taken the risk to set it up, so not having the rights to those photos is not that big of a deal to me. Spend some time in a working studio, and you'll see that focusing and shooting the cameras is usually the easy part of the job.

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[DougAxford]

I you want to work for me (not that you are) you must sign a non-compete contract that you will not compete against me for a min of 3 years within my market region. I do not train my competition.

In light of that, I guess your terms are pretty good.

[ChrisPerry]

It makes sense to me. It would look pretty strange if my company's images show up on some other photogs website, wouldn't it? Why else would you want to keep the images, other than to use them to promote yourself.

$50/hour isn't bad, even if you have to bring your own equipment and provide your own insurance. You should be able to deduct all your expenses.

[EricC]

This is such a 'digital age' problem. In days of olde you would swing by the studio and pick up a brick of film. Then following the wedding you would bring said film back to the studio. You never even got to see your work, unless the was a problem. Believe me that you are getting much more out of this than the studio, even with the WFH in place. Mind you that if you somehow screw up it is THEIR reputation that will get tanked and you're into the wind.....

Ambivalent indeed. Sorry to take it out on you but I recently had a 19 year old who thought that I owed him for the privilege of letting him tag along with me.

Rant over.

[dkphoto1]

Doug:

If you dont want to train your competition, fine, but it just might be possible for the trainer to learn a wee small thing from the trainee, Hmmm?

[DougAxford]

I regularly hire summer help and have co-op students here at the studio many years. So, I've given back more than my share in addition to all my work in the professional photographers assn.

I simply make sure that they are not my future competition.

Have I learned a wee bit from the students? You bet. Most students I have here know a lot about what they have been taught - basic photography and computer skills. Absolutely nothing about what they really need to succeed - business and people skills.

Ya just got to walk a mile in my shoes to understand and be cynical.

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