Paulstw Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 So you're out doing your thing and out of no-where robbers flee from a bank you quickly snap some pictures and get back and upload them to ALamy. Or you are driving down the road and a plane crashes in front of you and you click away. I'm talking about things that happen that are never planned and you happen to be in the right place and the right time and its only you, so you've clicked a special, unique set of pics. Do you get some special price for the unique pics or do they just get sold for a few dollars in the news scheme? What I mean is that, there's always some really special pics in the news feed. Pics of war zones, and the like. Photographers putting their lives at risk all the time so it must be worth their while or they wouldn't take the risk. Maybe i'm going off in a strange direction with this one but I was just thinking about it. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nacke Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Been involved in big ticket "exclusive" page one pictures several times during the last three decades. Every time I worked with or distributed the images through a real news photo agency (not talking local bank robbery). Several licensed for more than $100,000.00 USD for first use and syndication for several times that. I would be interested to know if Alamy currently has the staff with the ability to handle big ticket exclusive images on braking news deadlines and if they understand the negotiations that it takes to secure that kind of sale? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Endicott Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 All of my images are unique. Even if you're standing in the same spot at the same time, the image will be different than the other person's. I've had this happen many times over again. An example - here is a link to theirs.... http://media.washtimes.com/media/image/2012/07/21/colorado-shooting_live_r640x400.jpg?5f283927f7404204a81e453b153d50eb7d86d89b http://www.aurorasentinel.com/asuplads/20120720-4826K-Batman-Shooting-0898-WEB1.jpg https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&authuser=0&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=910&q=Aurora+Theater+Shooting+Vigil&oq=Aurora+Theater+Shooting+Vigil&gs_l=img.3...1930.6793.0.7392.29.16.0.13.13.0.92.965.16.16.0....0...1ac.1.26.img..3.26.996.QkzeaJZpODk#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=PW3ROX7lkbACAM%3A%3BIpSCtcY4b30IZM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.vosizneias.com%252Fassets%252Fuploads%252Fnews_photos%252Fthumbnails%252F700_yznaqemipdl8vvpz5bg5zbf0zyzgvdnf.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.vosizneias.com%252F110336%252F2012%252F07%252F21%252Faurora-co-in-photos-aftermath-of-colorado-shooting%252F%3B700%3B467 https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&authuser=0&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=910&q=Aurora+Theater+Shooting+Vigil&oq=Aurora+Theater+Shooting+Vigil&gs_l=img.3...1930.6793.0.7392.29.16.0.13.13.0.92.965.16.16.0....0...1ac.1.26.img..3.26.996.QkzeaJZpODk#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=Gnz65c-Y0tb81M%3A%3BJD61DflB4SKIUM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimg.ibtimes.com%252Fwww%252Fdata%252Fimages%252Ffull%252F2012%252F07%252F21%252F289782-aurora-colorado-shooting.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ibtimes.co.uk%252Farticles%252F365471%252F20120721%252Faurora-colorado-shooting-dark-knight-rises-premier.htm%3B950%3B676 https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&authuser=0&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=910&q=Aurora+Theater+Shooting+Vigil&oq=Aurora+Theater+Shooting+Vigil&gs_l=img.3...1930.6793.0.7392.29.16.0.13.13.0.92.965.16.16.0....0...1ac.1.26.img..3.26.996.QkzeaJZpODk#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=Oj_Wz90KXCxs1M%3A%3Ba4wZP6uWywATJM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmediacdn.reuters.com%252Fmedia%252Fglobal%252Feditorial%252F2012review%252Fpopup-content-holder%252Fimg%252Faurora-shooting-slshow-img1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmediacdn.reuters.com%252Fmedia%252Fglobal%252Feditorial%252F2012review%252Fpopup-content-holder%252Fv2-aurora-shooting.html%3B600%3B340 Here are links to mine.... http://l1.alamy.com/thumbs/4/%7B9A31C84F-AEB8-4D59-9BDC-18689F380855%7D/CMCXY3.jpg http://l2.alamy.com/thumbs/4/%7BE2737C87-8972-487F-8972-85788818AC32%7D/CMCXXX.jpg http://l1.alamy.com/thumbs/4/%7B9AB3CF51-6077-4849-BAAD-27F47376EF44%7D/CMCXXR.jpg http://l2.alamy.com/thumbs/4/%7BDE6CF675-746A-427E-AFA3-4D24740F5F7E%7D/CMCXXM.jpg http://l1.alamy.com/thumbs/4/%7B9D819735-324C-41A5-B841-11C0F83D83D1%7D/CMCXXJ.jpg The difference - they are paid a salary, I am either paid a day rate or shooting on spec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long journey Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 You certainly wouldn't upload them to alamy news to be rewarded with micro level prices. You'd hold on to the photos and make contact with either the newspapers direct or an agency who could syndicate the photos. Then you'd be in a position to negotiate. If you read 'The Insider' by Piers Morgan you get a lot of insight into the world of exclusive photos and what they could be worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulstw Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 Very interesting perspective folks, thanks. Not that anything big happens in Glasgow, apart from the attack on the Airport years ago, but Sometimes things do happen in front of me and I sometimes wonder what would make the news. The Glasgow Steiner school went on fire and it was literally 2 mins walk away from my work. My work wouldn't let me get away to take pics, and I would have been the first person there. I was sooo angry I could have wept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedSnapper Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 "Not that anything big happens in Glasgow" news happens everywhere... I've had front pages in numerous UK nationals for events in the last 12 months I live in Aberystwyth km Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulstw Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 "Not that anything big happens in Glasgow" news happens everywhere... I've had front pages in numerous UK nationals for events in the last 12 months I live in Aberystwyth km Your experience is worth ten times what I could learn on the net, probably built up over years of learning the street situations, people and traits. Knowing when to step in and own the shot and when not too lol. I'm quite happy to keep at it and learn from my mistakes but I was really just wondering, because it's likely I'd have just fired said pictures up to the alamy feed and never thought about it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kensplace Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 A related question, lets say you did snap some bank robbers fleeing the scene - whats the legal situation with giving them to a photo agency rather than straight to the police? Is there an issue or am I just over worrying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulstw Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 A related question, lets say you did snap some bank robbers fleeing the scene - whats the legal situation with giving them to a photo agency rather than straight to the police? Is there an issue or am I just over worrying? I was wondering that too. The reason I say bank robbery is that I pass a Post Office everyday that has been robbed 4 times in the last year lol. I think if you had any pics of said incident the rozzers would be happy to take them off you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecadet Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 You're perfectly at liberty to publish them and the police are perfectly at liberty to seize them as evidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Spiers Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 It all depends on the nature of the photo. For something like the fire that you mentioned then I would put them through Alamy Live News. I have had some good sales through them. If I had something particularly unique then I would go through a specialist agency or direct to the papers. One problem going direct is understanding the true value of the photo. When I had a unique photo, I thought it would be worth in the region of £250 but wasn't sure so approached a friend who ran a celebrity agency. They sold it to The Sun for 10 times that. With the loss of commision, I still came away with far more than if I had gone direct. Understanding the market is the key thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulstw Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 I see Andrew. In that case I'd be bumped big time as I have no idea. I'm still fixing my jaw from dropping off that $100,000 price tag Chuck was saying earlier. Just astounding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long journey Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 When Eric Cantona was sent off all those years ago most photographers pointed their cameras back at the action on the pitch. When he karate kicked someone sitting in the stands, apparently there were three snappers who caught it and all made large 5 figure sums from what I've heard. I stand to be corrected but that's how it goes in that type of photography. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulstw Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 Well if I ever get the chance to snap a historic moment that demands a bit of help selling then I'll be sure to hire the right person for the job lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladikirn Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 A related question, lets say you did snap some bank robbers fleeing the scene - whats the legal situation with giving them to a photo agency rather than straight to the police? Is there an issue or am I just over worrying? Instead of worrying you should try and get MR-es so you may get in to creatives and increase the chances to sell... sorry - licence the pics Seriously, in my local paper I can see more and more pics credited "citizen something". There is les and les chances (for well known reasons) to get figures Chuck is talking about. Old good times have gone. BTW, Who Shot The Photographer? Good luck to all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustydingo Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Been involved in big ticket "exclusive" page one pictures several times during the last three decades. Every time I worked with or distributed the images through a real news photo agency (not talking local bank robbery). Several licensed for more than $100,000.00 USD for first use and syndication for several times that. I would be interested to know if Alamy currently has the staff with the ability to handle big ticket exclusive images on braking news deadlines and if they understand the negotiations that it takes to secure that kind of sale? Chuck, this thread has wandered somewhat, whereas your question addresses what I think is the essence of the OP's question: is Alamy the place to send a "big ticket exclusive" news pic? I know I would send it elsewhere (direct to a paper, Reuters, maybe one of the big 2, maybe even Demotix), mainly because I have seen no indication that Alamy is indeed equipped to "handle the big ticket exclusive image" as you put it. Doesn't mean they aren't, but I've not seen anything to indicate they are. Along with you, I'd be interested to know. dd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Spiers Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 There is no point in sending pictures to the local papers as they always seem to have no budget for photographs. If I attend a local event where there is no photographer from the local paper, then I will usually send them an email with a link to an Alamy lightbox but never had a bite yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulstw Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 There is no point in sending pictures to the local papers as they always seem to have no budget for photographs. If I attend a local event where there is no photographer from the local paper, then I will usually send them an email with a link to an Alamy lightbox but never had a bite yet. Funny you bring that up, because I sent an ALamy lightbox to our local paper about a local event and they promptly replied "We have our own photographers for this sort of stuff" Well thanks for that lol Yeah the point I was making was whether I'd be shooting myself in the foot if I trusted the pics on the Alamy news feed and the consensus seems to be yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Spiers Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Paul, You have to make your own judgement. I photographed a murder scene just up the road from me last year - lots of press there. I put the pictures on Alamy Live News and sold one online to the Daily Mail and online/paper usage with The Sun. These pictures were not exclusive - not even anything special, just general views but for whatever reason they were used from ALN. The fees were good (not newspaper scheme prices)- the papers could have used PA pictures but they didn't. ALN is good for general news photos, good for weather/seasonal pictures but probably not the best place for that once in a lifetime shot. For that kind of shot, you really need to be talking to people at agencies / papers rather than just uploading to a feed and hoping for the best. I am not an expert at this but those are the lessons that I have learnt over the last 8 years. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulstw Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 Certainly sounds like common sense I guess. Ach well unless I get to leave my IT support desk for any length of time I'll be reading the news like everyone else rather than helping it along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Spiers Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Paul, All you need to do is stay informed. Keep up to date with all of the things going on locally. Follow local papers etc on facebook / twitter. You will be surprised how opportunities crop up. The unique shot I talked about earlier - taken in a lunch break, didn't do anything with it until 5 hours later. Mind you, I wouldn't make that mistake again - just got lucky that it was an exclusive. The murder scene - heard about it on the radio on a Sunday. It took be no more than an hour to drive to the scene, photograph and file the pictures. I have sold pictures of a van stuck in a water filled ditch and of a snow covered racecourse both taken whilst travelling home. The opportunities are out there, you just have to look for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulstw Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 Don't doubt what sells Andrew. All of my sales have been via ALN and the one that baffled me was footsteps in snow only because they were looking for snow pics. I love that aspect of Alamy although sometimes it's short lived when you see the real guys doing their thing on tele outside courtrooms all day waiting then its all fight fight fight and flashing about lol. I'm surprised any of them getting a decent exposure with everyones flash going off lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanRohrer Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Well if I ever get the chance to snap a historic moment that demands a bit of help selling then I'll be sure to hire the right person for the job lol On a ten minute notice, how do i find the right person next year while the then breaking news is still hot? What outlets should be on my pocket list "just in case"? Do the local (USA) newspapers do the syndication? How about TV stations? I certainly don't understand how this all works and may need some of these memory cells remaining on the day I need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.