Bored, Cranky and Frustrated

[AcadieLibre]

Well I was, since having to cut out concert photography I have been going stir crazy as it was about half of the photography I did. I have a gallery that I am associated with but you know I don't do much after I get the photos I want, I print and frame them and it is the last I see of them sometimes. I need to rearrange my office before I bring in a print/negative scanner, so shooting film is waiting on me to get it done but I am not sure how I want to do the office, so it is progressing slowly, oh so slowly moving along.

Anyway Monday I received a call from another gallery wanting to talk about me being part of the permanent collection (as with any gallery permanent is until you tire of each other). So today I got another call and tomorrow we will be finalizing me selling through them also. This now means I need to get my ass going and start producing again since now I have a second gallery to furnish and since I am so picky on what I will sell it will take me time to have enough quality photos for the two galleries now and enough back items so when something sells I have a photos ready to print and frame to replace what I sell.

With the new gallery I will be their first and only photographer. The Gallery started in Europe in 1908 and then moved to Montreal from 1967 to 1975 and then to Toronto since. So with the heritage of the gallery being the first photographer is a thrill to be associated with a gallery of with this history. Now I feel motivated and maybe get me out of my old man crankiness lmaooo.

Well between trying to get this deal done and getting times and locations set up for the book shots seems I am more of an office worker than a photographer sometimes, now things seem to be falling into place with both, the book is still a while away but at least have two locations worked out and dates and times settled on to get a few more photos for it done. So I guess dealing with the business side is the one part that takes getting used to. Just too hyper to be at home dealing with that side of it. Usually I am running around taking photos, doing things, this sitting around home/office can drive a sane man mad. At least it is not for naught.

[kat]

I'd take your bored, cranky and frustrated any day!

[Michaelaw]

Good for you AL. I'm curious as to how the concert shooting bit works. Do you have to pay royalties to someone or get special permission to shoot and sell or are you hired by people who take care of all that? I have zero idea how any of that works

[Marko]

That's great news about being the first photog on the gallery's roster A.L.

[crystalb]

Congrats! It will all work out

[AcadieLibre]

Good for you AL. I'm curious as to how the concert shooting bit works. Do you have to pay royalties to someone or get special permission to shoot and sell or are you hired by people who take care of all that? I have zero idea how any of that works

Well it depends, if your hired by someone to do the photos it depends what is in the contract and I always have contracts that are in my favour. Usually you are freelancing so you and who has hired you have your own contract then the festival, concert or band may want you to sign something also. I have retained all rights to any band or performer I have shot. To get media accreditation you have to have someone in the media who will say you are freelancing for them, or they actually hire you. One thing is you do not pay, you are either paid to do the show or freelance and sell the photos after. It just depends on what connections in the media you have. I knew people and I did a few small bands did some killer work and I was sought out to do work for different media companies and bands and their management. At first it was a pain to get your foot in the door but once you do and your work holds up you can usually get hired. If you retain the rights to your photos all depends on what you can get the people hiring you to agree to. I would not do a show where I did not retain all the rights. I have sold the rights for an exclusive period of time but that costs whomever hires me more, a lot more. It is never forever, the longest I have ever agreed to is 24 months, but that has only ever happened a few times but the money was good enough, usually people are to cheap to pay for those rights. You can also make arrangements with more than one media company willing to buy after the show or arrange to buy x amount pre show. So many variables that I could not explain it in a post. You learn as you go or you could try and get hired full time by someone and be their photographer which what I was considering when I had to stop doing it. Lots of people want to be concert photographers so you need to have work that really stands out and never be caught without proper gear or with out door festivals the ability to shoot in pouring down rain, just because it rains does not mean the show always stops.

Well I signed with them today so now with two galleries. I found out they also have a gallery in New York which if I would have read their website more I would have been aware of. So nothing for sure but if I do well here they will send a few for the NY gallery. The owner is also associated with the Modern Art section of the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), I doubt I will make the AGO but can always hope eh.

[Michaelaw]

Thanks for the details, very informative. I have zero ambition to shoot concerts, I don't even go to them, just not a large crowd kind of animal I was wondering how the "ownership and rights" got handled. Very interesting stuff

[AcadieLibre]

Thanks for the details, very informative. I have zero ambition to shoot concerts, I don't even go to them, just not a large crowd kind of animal I was wondering how the "ownership and rights" got handled. Very interesting stuff

I loved it, the only time I can deal with crowds, but your in the media pit usually and only with other photographers and mostly you have lots of room, although on occasion people who do the set up don't think and it can be cramped but that is rare. I am a music junky so it is different and you also you get free T's, CD's and other crap. It was fun and I met a ton of wonderful people, will miss it a lot but oh well. I did a ton of shoots for charity gigs which I will also miss, have to find another way to help and donate to the charities that I would do the shoots for.

[Michaelaw]

That you "loved it" is probably the kicker as your more likely to get the goods if you're in a passion zone IMHO. Got any links to some of your work I can carouse? As I said, it's not something I see myself doing but having said that, If I could get close to Pink Floyd, The Stones or many of the other bands that help my world turn, I'm sure I'd have a ball and do some good work. I've done a few live shoots though not in still land but rather video which is basically the same animal except your comp has to change moment to moment. Here's to hoping you can adapt (assuming the accident has changed the variables a tad) and get the ball rolling again

[Mad Aussie]

This all sounds like great news for you AL. Nice going. You are obviously doing something right!