Robert Wright... When he is right, he's right...

I just caught this on APE's site. As you know, APE is and editor, and would be considered a 'them', but that doesn't mean he has no concern about where things are going. Pop on over and read what he has to say about it as well. It's good.

Look, if editorial photography is being threatened in a time where the local Barnes and Noble actually expanded their magazine racks for all the new titles that are coming out, then there is a real problem... a disconnect. Where it started, I don't know... as well as who started the slide. I can tell you there is more than enough blame to go around, and photogs have their share to handle. I think this is a very cogent, and powerful set of articles for all of us to think about.

Think hard. The clock is ticking.

robertwrightphoto.com » Blog Archive » US vs. THEM…or flogging a dead horse:
"So I know that position on rights is blasphemy, I have just farted in the darkroom, but I am not advocating work for hire, I am just saying give the magazines the rights they want because, they’re gonna take’em anyway folks! Conde Nast is going to reprint all those nice interior photos of beautiful apartments from HG and recipes from Gourmet over the last 30 years as a coffee table book, the Grey Lady is going to make calendars and mugs available, they are going to put the entire archive online (pity the writers too) for free and there is not a damn thing we can do about it…

But-

What if there was a way, a way unexplored, a kind of ju-jitsu way of using the strength of the publishing monster against itself? A shining third path? I have been thinking along these lines lately, and I have come up with some “moves” that might be useful."

This very informative post is quickly followed up by this second post with more information, ideas, and fairly powerful shit. I am hoping that photographers who are feeling this pinch will read this and be aware... very aware... of where it could lead. While photographers are facing more and more expenses, the people that hire us are simply seeing lower and lower fees and reimbursements. And that makes no business sense. After all, it's a business. Isn't it?

"To reiterate, have the travel office book all travel, including hotel and car. It is in their interest to negotiate corporate rates for this stuff, which will save them money in the long run. Next, get an advance for the rest of the expenses. You should be very adept at firing off an estimate the moment you get off the phone, the costs are pretty known once you do this enough, you should be able to get into the ballpark for meals, transport, tips, overweight luggage, etc and while you are at it, add the assistant in there too. The Goal is that when you submit your final invoice, it is fees-only. Plus, even if the advance does not arrive in time before you leave, your advance invoice is “on the stack” of invoices to get approved and get paid. The more regularly you get paid the better. What is the best business in the world-a cash business, daily."