Comments on: Royalty-Free Orphans: Why the Current Distribution System Doesn’t Work http://rising.blackstar.com/royalty-free-orphans-why-the-current-distribution-system-doesnt-work.html Professional Photography Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:56:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Peter Bennetthttp://rising.blackstar.com/royalty-free-orphans-why-the-current-distribution-system-doesnt-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-255 Peter Bennett Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:04:25 +0000 #comment-255 Good points Ron. Unfortunately the 'reward me now and damn the consequences' mentality that is pervasive in our economy and society was embraced all too quickly by our industry as well. It may be too far gone to put back right, but as you say, some corrective measures might make a difference.The real damage in regards to Orphan works is that the proliferation of untraceable RF and micro images may be offered up as evidence in Congress that in fact photographers have already orphaned much of their work themselves, and if so, why should they be protected. Good points Ron. Unfortunately the 'reward me now and damn the consequences' mentality that is pervasive in our economy and society was embraced all too quickly by our industry as well. It may be too far gone to put back right, but as you say, some corrective measures might make a difference.

The real damage in regards to Orphan works is that the proliferation of untraceable RF and micro images may be offered up as evidence in Congress that in fact photographers have already orphaned much of their work themselves, and if so, why should they be protected.

]]> By: ian campbellhttp://rising.blackstar.com/royalty-free-orphans-why-the-current-distribution-system-doesnt-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-251 ian campbell Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:54:21 +0000 #comment-251 I shot for European photo agencies in the 1980s, and saw not only them but also their clients swallowed up and done away with in the 1990s. The reality is that there simply are too few markets being chased by too many pictures, and royalty-free just hastened the death of agency photographers. Royalty-free will be the next to go, because the only people shooting will be part-timers rather than full time shooters, and they'll subsidise themselves down to nothing. As professional photographers,we have to either create new markets, or accept a lower living standard, that simple. Either way, the glory days are gone. I shot for European photo agencies in the 1980s, and saw not only them but also their clients swallowed up and done away with in the 1990s.
The reality is that there simply are too few markets being chased by too many pictures, and royalty-free just hastened the death of agency photographers. Royalty-free will be the next to go, because the only people shooting will be part-timers rather than full time shooters, and they'll subsidise themselves down to nothing.
As professional photographers,we have to either create new markets, or accept a lower living standard, that simple. Either way, the glory days are gone.

]]>