fair fees for photos

Time for a new deal. Majority World at fotofringe 2012 Copyright Robert Piwko / TopFoto.co.uk

Fotofringe has seen many interesting launches including the fight back for fair fees for photos, reproduced here:

“Fair Fees for Photos

Nothing comes from nothing, ex nihilo nihil fit, and as CEPIC President Christina Vaughan will say at the London Congress (15-18 May 2012) “the rise of free content, microstock and subscription is creating volatile trading conditions”. Jim Pickerell of Selling Stock quotes that speciality agents may be shooting themselves in the foot if they too widely distribute through agencies who dramatically discount and photographers regret the low prices being paid.

fotofringe brings an opportunity for a fusion of interests. Picture suppliers learn first hand of the new challenges that publishers face in the e-publishing age and researchers learn of the pressures that photographers and picture libraries are under to stay in business. It can be a case of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object but it need not be if we recognise that a dialogue that starts from the base of “keeping the other person in business” will bring solutions.

Fair Trade is a concept gaining ground fast and it should underpin all negotiations, something which both sell and buyer need if imagery is to flourish. Fair Trade, imagination, perspiration, product and technology are all we need to enjoy and prosper.

The PRA, BAPLA, CEPIC, our media partners PhotoArchiveNews.com and AboutTheImage.com, our visitors and our 92 suppliers tables today are working to this end. As Steve Jobs said, “let us stop eroding the value perception of our products in customers’ minds” and unite behind fair fees for photos.”

Alan Smith, 26 April 2012
Ex Chairman of BAPLA and President of CEPIC (1997-2009)