I'll tell you my reaction...

[br1078lum]

Toms post about getting his work ripped-off was a reminder that it is hard to make someone understand the value of your work when all they care about is making their life easier.

My lesson in this came at an early stage in my photo life.  I was just out of high school, and had an outfit that would make any pro happy, albeit it all came from Sears.  But it looked good, and worked perfectly, so I tried to get as much practice with it as I could.  One day, there was a special train coming to our hometown, an experimental turbine powered type that Amtrak was toying around with.  There was to be much fanfare with the arrival of the train, with dignitaries making speeches and such.  Afterward, when everyone else had gone home, I still hung around taking pictures of the depot, as it was an old brick design with a lot of character, and the late day sun made for some interesting shots.

Suddenly, a car comes rushing up the drive, stops in front of the depot, and a man gets out and comes around to the trackside where I was.  He asked me if the train had come yet, and I told him he was about 30 minutes late.  He explained that he was from the local newspaper, and was supposed to cover the arrival, but that he also was the sports editor, and lost track of time watching a game on TV.  He asked if I got any shots of the Senator, and I told him I took many photos, but that I didn't know who was in them.  He asked if he could use my film for the story, that he would give me free developement and printing.  So I agreed, and handed over my film.  Well, my photo made the front page, but with no attribution, and was I glad.  He was in a rush when he developed the film, and those were the saddest looking negs you ever saw.  I didn't even keep a copy of the paper for my records I was so embaressed, nor did I ever show the prints to anyone.  I just rolled the negs up, and stored them away in a film cannister.  One of these days I'll scan them, and make some decent prints.

Later in life, I was doing some work for a friend of mine who would get me an occasional gig, and we were shooting a record album back cover.  I did get paid, but there was no credit when the album came out.  His explanation was I was doing the work for his company, therefore he gets the credit.  Some friend.  I did keep one of the albums, which I got for free, and I have the part of the print I made that was trimmed off for cropping purposes so I could display it along with the album.  But I never did any work for him again, even though we stayed friends for a while after that.

There are a few others to tell, but not enough room here to post it all, so just to let you know, it happens to us all at one point or another.  I attribute it to the human condition; why work when you can get someone else to do it for you.

Keep shooting Tom, and don't let the turkeys get you down!

[radiophoto]

Say, do you have a name, or do you want people to address you as PFM or br1078lum?  Just curious, you can remain anonymous if you want.

Anyway, whoosis, what you have to say is very valid.  Many of us have stories we could relate (I have a doozy but I think it's already here someplace) and yours -- both of yours -- are very good.  You were right to be angry at your "friend" who failed to give you credit.  How much ink would it have taken to add "Photo by (whatever his name is)"?  Am I right?

In today's economy it's hard to get paid what you think you're worth, but unfortunately the old adage still holds true, that the amount of respect you receive (or your work receives) is in direct relation to how much money they paid you to do it.

[Scott]

This has kicked my butt to get into action again.  Had an editor for a large tool and gardening company contact me over the summer about two of my images.  I've done work with him before; I sent him the slides he'd requested.  They made scans, and that was the last I've heard from him.

I'm contacting him today to see if they'll be used, and when I can expect my compensation... :rolleyes:

[denis_HR]

Here's a video I linked to on my (almost dead) <a href="http://translationrants.blogspot.com/">translation blog</a>:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

Since we're on the issue of expecting remuneration

NSFW, some strong language there (Harlan Ellison on being paid)...

[Scott]

Well, I heard back from said editor, who claims to have never received the slides.  I forwarded him his last email to me wherein he states they've scanned and are processing the images, and let him know that he returned the slides to me personally. 

Now I remember why I quit trying to sell images...  :rolleyes:

[br1078lum]

Scott, it is hard to sell images on your own, but sometimes it works out.  Especially if you get it all in writing!  I would never think of selling an image today unless the interested party signed a release, and agreed to terms of payment.  Another fiasco I had to deal with was an agency that opened up in Columbus, OH.  They promised all sorts of things, and I submitted a series of slides for sale.  Fortunately they were copies, as the outfit went belly up in short fashion, but I was never able to establish who had control of the inventory in order to retrieve my property, so I guess someone bought a huge load of material that they are probably still using to this day.

Peter,  my name is Philip F McFarland.  When I was doing work for pay I found it easier to just use my initials, and old habits die hard.  I also use my old submarine moniker of farlymac sometimes, but only if I know you well!  So PF is my preferred way of announcing myself.

PFM

[radiophoto]

OK, just so long as you don't decide to go by "P", or "the photographer formerly known as Philip McFarland".    I used to sign my stuff "PJL2" because I am Peter J. Lutz II after my great-grandpa.

A submariner?  Man, you could never get me down in one of those.  Surface navy, that was me all the way for 20 years.  Larry's gonna feel outvoted now, he was a sergeant in the Air Farce. 

So it's nice to know more about'cha, that's all.  Wasn't trying to give you a hard time.

[LarryD]

We are all brothers we just wore different Uniforms. One of my best friends in Arizona is the same age as me and he was a Sergeant in the Polish Army at the same time I was one in the U.S. Air Forceand we found out we were stationed 50 clicks apart across what was then the East West boarder on opposite sides of the cold war. Time has a way of changing all things.

[br1078lum]

Well Pete, there already was someone on the forum using Philip, so I just stayed with my old standby.  Helps to keep the confusion level down.  I hope.

GO NAVY!  BEAT ARMY!

[radiophoto]

Helps to keep the confusion level down.  I hope.

Duhhh...don't help me none...