Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Most of us Photographers get a little tired of these postcard/driver autograph card people who think they can ask a photographer to send them car & driver headshots for FREE by simply giving them "photo credits" on the card.

These postcard people get a little confused with those who have cell phones with those us that have over $10,000 invested in photo equipment.

What I am building up to is, when you call a photographer and ask for car/driver shots, don't give them this crap about giving him "photo credits", ask how much do they charge. "Photo credits" don't pay for equipment. T-shirts don't pay for cameras either. I can't remember the last time the local camera store accepted a case of T-shirts as payment for a new camera.

To all the new shooters out, trust me you won't get a hit cuz they "gave you a link". Thats' BS.

If these sprint car publishers have seen anything more then dirt tracks, they'd find that single shots get into the 4-digit charge range in other fields of auto racing.

The issue here, as I see it, is that some photogs will give away the pictures for free, as long as they're acknowledged on the picture/post card/hero card.

So as long as someone/anyone gives something away, it lessens the value that ALL photogs provide and drives down the prices....

My solution/recommendation - Don't give anything away; but as a for profit business, expect to pay for every pit pass and picture that you take....it's a two way street. If it weren't for the tracks amd the racers, you would not have any pictures of race cars to shoot... You're the one who chose to invest $10K in equipment - use it to take nature pictures and landscapes. Maybe you can sell those to someone and recoup some of your investment.

Its a simple business decision that is up to the individual; if one chooses to give away the pictures, or the product of their business efforts, it is up to them. You may not like it, and you don't have to do it. Some might call it marketing.....

But don't blast those who do - or hate those who have the nerve to ask for a picture.....

Chuck.....

Yeah, folks in the Express Line and then they write a check...

That car that speeds up and slows down on the interstate when you are making a pass...

Kids running wild in public venues with no care why they are even there....

Toyota Racing Development is to be feared...

Oprah finding a legal way to funnel millions and millions into a Presidential candidate...