Why Photographers are Disrespected

Sometimes I get the stare, or that condescending look.

Here’s a classic example of disrespect: a new book showing photos that “changed Canada” doesn’t credit the individual images to the photojournalists who shot them. What’s worse than not getting a credit? When you don’t get a credit and you don’t get paid. There have been articles written about this before, like this one on photographybiz.com and another one by Harrison McClary. Everything they say is wholly true. Flickr is a great community of photographer and archive of stunning images, but it’s also a harlem for sneaky editors to gain something valuable for nothing.

So why are photographers disrespected? It’s because there is an over-supply of them. Almost every one in the developed world owns a camera. It’s all thanks to digital technology, and don’t misunderstand, I’m not dissing it since digital is how I started as well. But the surge of photos every where makes the general population think photography is cheap and that anyone can take a photo.

Sure, anyone can take a photo, but can all them deliver quality that reflects whatever you’re trying to showcase? Is your product that cheap? Is your daughter’s wedding so unimportant? Hell, many people can drive a car, but will you ask them to drive for you in a race that you have money on? Everyone cooks, but are you going to a restaurant to just get ‘anyone’ to cook for you? “Oh it’s just throwing everything into a pan and frying it.” “It’s just pressing a button.” Look, photography’s not a hard science, just like driving and cooking. But it’s an art.

Watch this hilarious video of respected writer Harlan Ellison diss the amateur community. Sure, he’s referring to writers, but trust me, it’s not difference between them and photographers. I know, because I dreamt of being a professional writer as a kid, and now I aim to have a successful photography business. What Ellison said is true: it’s the amateurs that undercut the pros. There’s nothing wrong if you pursue photography as a hobby (which is a good one), but if you’re good, heaven forbid don’t undervalue your talent. The world’s becoming an increasingly self-centered and manipulated one. If someone needs something from you, make sure you get something in return, even if it’s not monetary compensation.

Now and then I still do the occasional pro-bono gig, but really only if it puts me in contact with the right people who can lift me up to bigger platforms. It’s not a difficult formula. You  get more dedication and final product, and I get something in return from you.

It gets a little dicey when it comes to family and friends. For kin I can still shoot as a favor, but I’m increasingly less inclined to do so. Back in October, a friend decided to cut me loose from covering her 21st birthday dinner because she found a amateur photographer who would do it for free (I had charged her $100). The point here is I could have been pressed to match that $0 price tag because I knew her personally, but I didn’t because it would be insulting to myself and my business.

Don’t demean yourself. If you don’t love yourself, who will? If you don’t believe you’re worth something, who will?