Photographing events where there are other photographers

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connersz

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Say you had an event and there were a few togs including you photographing.

Would you have an issue with that?
 
I have no problem with other photographers anywhere I shoot and usually end up chatting to them for a bit.

There have been a couple of occasions where another photographer has annoyed me either by doing something stupid or just being rude, but that is very rare.
 
Depends who's got the best lens! (Joke)
 
Say hi, share experiences. It's good to meet other togs and to talk about gear, yes you will get the occasional prick but isn't that life? :)
 
Nope, was shooting somewhere Sunday with other photographers around, I even am room for one and asked if he had enough space.
 
OK, now say that one photographer had paid £20 to be there with a promotional pitch taking photos with a natural backdrop of people for whatever reasons, one photographer was there taking pictures for the magazine and then there was me on foot, taking photos for my own promotional reasons.

Would that make any difference?
 
connersz said:
Say you had an event and there were a few togs including you photographing.

Would you have an issue with that?
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No.

connersz said:
OK, now say that one photographer had paid £20 to be there with a promotional pitch taking photos with a natural backdrop of people for whatever reasons, one photographer was there taking pictures for the magazine and then there was me on foot, taking photos for my own promotional reasons.

Would that make any difference?
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No.

There's a back story to this.
Instead of talking in riddles, and asking for opinions where we have no facts, tell the full story.

Sounds to me as if somebody has their nose out of joint...
 
Well I offered a prize for a fete raffle and was also hoping to photograph the day as a means of promoting myself and showing my face locally but couldn't quite arrange it because a couple of other togs have already asked, one does the magazine, the other is doing some kind of booth setup.

They told me that they had political issues before with something (not photography) and thought that I would be treading on there toes.

I said that I have done similar things before and not come across this as being an issue but I wanted a second opinion, perhaps the togs have asked for something, I don't know.
 
Well the guy shooting for "the magazine" whatever that may be, probably wouldn't care in the slightest, as his photos are already sold.

The guy doing the photo-booth is probably looking to sell on site to the guests, so may not want another photographer there potentially giving people other options. Especially if he has paid for the privilege (even if it's a token amount).
 
connersz said:
Well I offered a prize for a fete raffle and was also hoping to photograph the day as a means of promoting myself and showing my face locally but couldn't quite arrange it because a couple of other togs have already asked, one does the magazine, the other is doing some kind of booth setup.

They told me that they had political issues before with something (not photography) and thought that I would be treading on there toes.

I said that I have done similar things before and not come across this as being an issue but I wanted a second opinion, perhaps the togs have asked for something, I don't know.
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Political issues ?,sound like BS to me :)
 
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There's a back story here that we're not being told,.

The guy with the booth/backdrop/whatever has setup an area and I'd probably respect his space and not get in his way.

The magazine guy - what magazine, parish, local village or more? Obviously he's after copy for print but I'd expect him to not deliberately get in my way any more than I'd expect any other person. If they did I'd politely ask them to move slightly.

Me, I'd respect other photographers and not get in their way and hope the others acted the same, whether professional or not. If there was a particular promotional shot I was after then I'd speak to the relevant people and get them to pose.
 
I always try to say hello to other photographers, gives you a chance to find out what they are doing/shooting for.

Depends on what the agreement was with the organiser, If I was there as the event photographer with permission to sell prints to the punters then I wouldn't want anyone else there doing the same and that would have been agreed with the organiser, it is also their responsibility to make sure no one else is there doing that. If at the event someone does rock up taking photos and handing out cards then I would speak to the organiser and make sure they were aware and ask them to deal with them its not my place to ask them to leave and stop.

Press, just let them do their thing they are often gone after 10-15 minutes after getting their shots and off to another assignment. I find it interesting to watch them shoot and how they work.
 
Little John said:
Press, just let them do their thing they are often gone after 10-15 minutes after getting their shots and off to another assignment. I find it interesting to watch them shoot and how they work.
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It is worth noting who is there as I find the paper will nearly always use a photo from their representative even when they only turned up for a short period of time and missed the good stuff.
On the other hand, if you spot some of the local papers haven't sent someone and it is the sort of event they would usually cover, then the odds are very good!
 
I cover lots of events where they may be several photographers. In general we all have a reason and purpose to be there and are generally all respectful and professional in each others attitudes towards the other photographers.

I'll usually be there covering for a magazine or the event organisers. There may be another 3 or 4 photographers covering for other magazines and other covering for the local paper. Perhaps the promoters have also organised their own photographer and maybe even the caterers have sent their own photographer along for promo photos.

No worries. Everyone is respectful. Everyone gives each other room, and if one or more of us needs the same shot we allow each other time and space to get the shot. Even when photographers are shooting for syndicated press and there can be a bit of a bun fight there is still respect.

And after the event again its all respectful. Everyone knows the rules and where their photos are going and what to do with them.

From experience the only photographers to buck these trends and break the rules are the unpaid amateurs. They don't have the same respect towards other photographers, they are slow to react to situations, but even worse they don't know what to do with photos or the rule afterwards.

I have come across many occasions where the amateur photographer runs straight back home and posts loads of photos from the event on his facebook / flickr / whatever page. Usually he'll word things making out that he was THE offical photographer. And usually he'll post poor photos, that do not show the event or the people in their best light. Often even if a contract is signed saying they cannot post they still do. They just break the contract.

This ruins it for everyone. Magazines and newspapers have paid for photographers to supply photos, but the news and images become old because the amateur has posted them on facebook. The syndication photographers images now become worthless. And the event organisers are unhappy that poor amatuerish photos have been posted by their 'offical' photographer, which just paints them as a bunch of amateurs.

Many people have been bitten badly. And its for these reasons that the inexperienced unpaid photographers are not welcome, especially when they are not needed as its already covered from multiple angles.
 
Little John said:
I always try to say hello to other photographers, gives you a chance to find out what they are doing/shooting for.

Depends on what the agreement was with the organiser, If I was there as the event photographer with permission to sell prints to the punters then I wouldn't want anyone else there doing the same and that would have been agreed with the organiser, it is also their responsibility to make sure no one else is there doing that. If at the event someone does rock up taking photos and handing out cards then I would speak to the organiser and make sure they were aware and ask them to deal with them its not my place to ask them to leave and stop.

Press, just let them do their thing they are often gone after 10-15 minutes after getting their shots and off to another assignment. I find it interesting to watch them shoot and how they work.
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Yup. This.

I shoot both press and event stuff. For event, there may well be an exclusive right for commercial work granted to one firm who might have paid a fair amount for access. Clearly any wannabes trying to muscle in won't be welcome. Shots for personal use should be fine, and most of us are happy to answer questions; but please bear in mind that we are working!

Press demands are for the flavour of an event, so usually only enough for a page or two will be needed, and the tog will quite likely have another shoot to get to so won't be hanging around for long.

If you want shots for any commercial use, you must make sure you have the right to obtain them. This is called 'being professional'.
 
I can only say what I was told after speaking to the organiser yesterday.

The person with the pitch is not selling her prints, I think it is like a trial mini shoot of family photography, I am also told she will be taking some pics around the event (no idea for what purpose etc.)

The magazine shooter is a hobbyist, he is not being paid, I havnt seen any of his work but I image its just pics of people participating etc.

Then this is where I come in, I was not charging, just offering to cover the event, perhaps from a slightly different angle, I would give them a copy of the pics but I would hopefully be able to engage in some conversation with local store holders and visitors which would be beneficial in promoting myself.

I get the impression that the organisers are agreeing to certain terms from stall holders, or that they have done this before. I know it is just a fete but it is quite a large one with local promotional benefits so perhaps people are treating it like a sponsorhip opportunity.

I am still giving the prize and FYI, the other togs arent offering anything so maybe next time around I will be able to arrange something with them.
 
connersz said:
Well I offered a prize for a fete raffle and was also hoping to photograph the day as a means of promoting myself and showing my face locally.
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Probably would have been advisable to ask first before offering the raffle as it would have given you more sway with getting what you want.

They have no reason to allow you to shoot if they don't want you to, and you now have nothing to barter with.
 
ajax_andy said:
Probably would have been advisable to ask first before offering the raffle as it would have given you more sway with getting what you want.

They have no reason to allow you to shoot if they don't want you to, and you now have nothing to barter with.
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I had made the decision that I would offer the prize anyway because it is for a family shoot which is something I only recently started doing, so I also need pictures etc.

I won't lose much money on it but next time round I won't be offering any prizes unless I can at least promote myself a bit somehow.
 
So what sort of event was this? Local/school fete or something else?
 
connersz said:
Say you had an event and there were a few togs including you photographing.

Would you have an issue with that?
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If any one single photographer have an issue with being at an event where there are other photographers, then each of them would have the same issues as one photographer do. If you have an issue, surely other photographers would have the same thoughts. So if you all have issues about being at an event, surely it would be easier for every of them to walk away from others, find their own spots.

Similar to when you sit at a long seat at a rail station, or take a seat on a bus, in a public park, wherever, someone sat next to you, you seems to have an issue with sitting too close to some stranger, and moved aside to the other end of the seat or go to a different seat.

But I see in newspapers, on television, and even in real life, a group of photographers are together, they don't seems to mind being in the same area, so it seems that they don't have issues with each other, it seems they don't have issues about being at an event where there are other photographers.

Akin to as if someone have no issues about some stranger sitting down next or too close to them, and they don't mind, and won't move over to another seat.

Issues? What issues? If photographers had any issues about being in the same area at an event, surely they would've fan out away from each other? Looks to me they've never had issues. Don't forget photographers had been like that for years and years and years, maybe there were issues long time ago during the later 1800's, image in the Wild West where the sheriff shot the bad guy, a photographer came and set up a camera, then another photograher came and set up, and they both had issues with each other being at the same event, but looks to me that photographers had evolved to a point where we don't mind being together at the same event.

Plus, like most other members above already pointed out, they get on fine as long as they respect each other in a professionalism manner.

I don't mind being at an event where there are other photographers.
 
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