Hi Conrad
This method of commissioning is not quite new. Some companies have been putting work out to tender via dutch auctions for some years now. A consequence of this has been a significant lowering of fees as commissioners will tend to opt for lower bids. The effect of this is that many highly experienced photographers are now unable to charge the fees that they used to. I guess this is a symptomatic of a very challenging market place. It does nothing to secure the future of the industry.
My fears are raised as soon as I read "stock libraries" against "emerging talent" (second paragraph).
This infers that work will be commissioned at stock prices.
There is the risk that emerging talent would be making images at break-even or at a loss to "get their foot in the door."
I note that there is no mention of IP.
Do ImageZesst have a licensing policy or is this at the behest of the commissioner?
Who would negotiate the license and payments for further use?
Regards
Phil Harris
South Nottingham College
On 31 Oct 2012, at 16:46, Conrad Tracy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Colleagues
> Please see below an email sent from an agency called ImageZest and my response and their subsequent one to my questions.
>
> I'd be interested to know your thoughts. Does this look like an opportunity for our students, or just another opportunity to get photographers on the cheap, while undermining those already working as photographers in our industry?
>
> Best
>
> Conrad
>
> Conrad Tracy
>
> Chair
> Association for Photography in Higher Education
> http://www.aphe.ac.uk/
>
> Course Leader
> BA(hons)/FdA Commercial Photography
> The Arts University at Bournemouth
> Wallisdown
> Poole
> Dorset
> BH12-5HH
> UK
>
> +44(0)1202-363276
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> aucb.ac.uk/bacp
>
> On 31/10/2012 11:44, "imageZest Info" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
> Hi Conrad,
>
> Many thanks for your reply to my email.
>
> imageZest is intending to carve out a new segment for commissioned work
> that essentially sits between stock libraries and commissioning of
> professional photographers. It is expected that where the budget allows,
> image buyers such as art directors will continue to commission
> professional photographers in the traditional way. We expect imageZest to
> be used either where the budget does not stretch to the use of a
> professional photographer or where the image buyer is interested in
> working with emerging talent.
>
> The feedback we have from art directors is that they are excited at the
> possibility of being able to commission images when otherwise their
> budgets would have restricted them to stock libraries. There is also an
> excitement about working with emerging talent.
>
> The way imageZest works is that image buyers submit briefs to imageZest
> stating the budget they have available. imageZest photographers can then
> apply to do the brief stating how much they want to be paid. It is
> expected that some photographers may bid more than the budget if they feel
> they are particularly qualified to do the work.
>
> It is certainly not our intention to drive down fees but rather to open up
> a new area for commissioning images.
>
> I would be very happy to talk with you further about this if you would
> like.
>
> Very Best,
> Bill
> CEO imageZest
> 01934 712226
>
> On 31/10/2012 11:10, "Conrad Tracy" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
> Hi Bill
> I think the idea of the organisation is interesting, but as it is a new
> kind of model, I feel I should know a little more about it before I
> forward the email to my students. Obviously the first concern I would
> have would be that such representation of student photographers, would
> undercut photographers who are already finding it difficult to compete in
> times of austerity, and would be unhappy if this was the case. Therefore
> the question has to one of how you are establishing an appropriate rate
> for commissions, and if the rate is not significantly lower than those of
> working photographers, why do you envisage advertising agencies would use
> you and, what is essentially, a stable of untested photographers?
> Personally, I have no doubt that many of my students are more than
> capable of meeting the expectations of client led briefs, however, I see
> my question as a broader one that needs to be considered.
>
> Are you in talks with the AoP, I would also be interested to know their
> thoughts on fee scales etc.
>
> I look forward to hearing from you soon.
>
> Best
>
> Conrad
>
>
> Conrad Tracy
>
> Chair
> Association for Photography in Higher Education
> http://www.aphe.ac.uk/
>
> Course Leader
> BA(hons)/FdA Commercial Photography
> The Arts University at Bournemouth
> Wallisdown
> Poole
> Dorset
> BH12-5HH
> UK
>
> +44(0)1202-363276
>
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> aucb.ac.uk/bacp
> From: imageZest Info <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]><mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:45:16 +0000
> To: Conrad Tracy <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]><mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> Subject: Possible photography commissions for your students
>
>
> Dear Conrad,
>
>
>
> Do you have any students, current or recent, who might be interested in
> getting paid commissions from leading advertising agencies?
>
>
> imageZest has a number of Art Directors engaged in work for some of the
> UK's leading advertising agencies who are interested in offering
> commissions to talented photography students. To be eligible for these
> commissions your students need to register at
> www.imagezest.com<http://www.imagezest.com/>.
>
>
>
> ImageZest is a web-based service that gives your students direct access
> to professional commissions from leading advertising and design agencies,
> advertisers and individuals.
>
>
>
> ImageZest helps photographers to:
>
>
> ? Find work
>
> ? Handle briefs
>
> ? Protect their copyright
>
> ? Manage contracts, image usage, model release forms, etc.
>
> ? And, most important, get paid
>
>
>
> As a web-based service, our commission fee can be very low - only 25%.
> So please share this opportunity with your students who are keen to get
> work in the world of commercial photography.
>
>
>
> Please note this is our beta phase launch, so while wešre registering
> photographers, do not expect to see any briefs for a while.
>
>
> Students who register prior to launch, in the next few days, get the
> following benefits:
>
>
> ? Chance for studentšs portfolio to be promoted on the home
> page.
>
> ? More exposure for the student as we promote the site for this
> launch.
>
> ? Opportunity for student to get an imageZest rating by
> applying for imageZest briefs. Photographers with a rating are much more
> visible and attractive to buyers.
>
> ? Upload more images to their portfolio. (In time, we plan to
> charge a fee for more than 10 images in a portfolio.)
>
>
>
> To find out more, visit www.imagezest.com<http://www.imagezest.com/> or
> call Bill Noble on 01934 710310.
>
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
>
>
> Bill Noble
>
> CEO imageZest
>
>
>
>
>
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