[link]

I'm sure any and all photographers that are really photographers and not wannabes has seen this video, but if not, you really need to watch it.

I know personally it's so damn frustraiting to see my work on someone elses site, magazine, etc without my permission and without credit much less payment. It is flattering that someone thinks my work is worth stealing, but at least give credit where credit is due. It doesn't take but a few more seconds to give credit to the photographer, model, support people, etc that made the work so worthy of being printed, uploaded, downloaded, stolen, etc.

Now, as far as everyday paid work, like family portraiting, portfolio building, glamour shoots, etc, I haven't won the lottery! Why is it, when someone sees a photographer they automatically think we work for free, or will pay them to photograph them? I had another email recently asking me how much I would pay them (female "model") to come to me and build their portfolio. I don't know what they were thinking but camera equipment, practice, supplies, etc cost money and lots of it, it wasn't given to me on a govt bailout plan. The worst of those doing that usually don't have any "portfolio" to speak of, just cell phone shots for filling myspace and have never done any paid commercial work in any sense.

I don't mind doing coloboration to build portfolios, including my own. It's great practice and usually inspirational when you get to compaire ideas and work together for a common idea. Just wish there were more out there that really wanted to creat art, not just get paid or cheat others out of pay.