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How much control are you willing to give up?
Howdy folks. I was in another thread about professional shooters and I got into a discussion with a pro shooter. He raised some interesting points and as I was replying a thought about this topic. I shoot as a hobbyist - I've never gotten paid to do photography, I make my $$$ making video games, doing filmwork, and gallery shows. For every gig that I take I've declined quite a few - I only take on 2 or 3 gigs per year. For the one's I decline I simply didn't like the concept and\or the team or I felt that I had no control - I was just being hired as a "wrist"... Now I know that people have bills to pay - but I also know that their are quite a few professionals in here that can stop shooting for the next 3 months and not be worried. So my questions are 1) How much creative control would you give up before declining a gig? and 2) have you always been selective or is this something new? (I know for me even when I was broke I'd walk away from a job if I didn't like it even if the pay was good...) anyways - I'd like to hear from everybody esp. the pros (you don't have to put out how much you make - but I am interested in hearing the input from the pros on this subject) Feb 17 06 04:34 pm Link I walked away from commercial photography when I woke up one morning and realized I had little or no control over my photography. That was something like 14 years ago. I've never regreted that decision. -Don Feb 17 06 06:21 pm Link Same as with Don. When you get paid, then it's the client who rules - and as it should be. So I make my living doing something else, and then have total control over my photography (although I always welcome input from bright and imaginative models!). Don't get to do a lot, but I do get to do it as I choose. Feb 17 06 06:25 pm Link I'll sometimes let an assistant drive.... that is about it. Feb 17 06 08:33 pm Link The Art of CIP wrote: Back when I was doing commercial work, how much creative control I had was never a factor I thought about. The only question I asked myself was whether I could deliver what the client wanted. In the end, there was always a lot of give and take. Ad managers, art directors, and marketing execs always seem to have ideas that seemed to defy physics (and the budget). The fact is, I was paid to do my best to deliver something that made their concept work. The Art of CIP wrote: Now I shoot strictly for enjoyment and I keep all the control to myself. :-) Feb 17 06 10:30 pm Link The Art of CIP wrote: If it is a PAID gig... Feb 17 06 11:29 pm Link I shoot mostly on spec so I have control of the show 99% of the time. The few assigmnets I do get the client usually is pretty flexible...if there not and a PIA i just refuse it. Paul Feb 17 06 11:50 pm Link |
