but – when asked for a quote now, I refer to the link first and then ask people to come back to me if they’re serious about parting with their hard cash… some do reply, some don’t!….

It’s definitely a good polite technique to remind people how offensive they are being, though…

I don’t see any sort of adjustment back up to realistic rates any time soon. It is time to reinvent ourselves – multi-media is the way forward I think, and working and selling collaboratively, on features that mix interviews, video and stills, may well be the way to go.

Chris – thanks for the link, I will use that in the future!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2a8TRSgzZY

I suggest all professionals out there refer to this clip in future…. it’s well worth it…

All the best for now,

Chris

Absolutely ridiculous prices that the web designer quoted. Sadly, however, that’s the way the world is going.

A publisher representing BBC contacted me and offered US$300 for one of my images with about 10 humpback whales in a heat run, for unlimited use in all forms in perpetuity. She suggested this amount was more than generous. I suggested otherwise, given the tens of thousands of $ and hundreds of hours of time that had gone into getting the image.

If the BBC is undervaluing so much, everyone else will be worse.

Cheers,

Tony

I will stick to my guns, but I am making some changes at the moment and shooting underwater stock is not going to be the priority any more. Planning on going back to school to do a Masters in photojournalism next year – in China! Hopefully it will stand me in good stead and I will be combining pj work with shooting travel images, above and below the water. Fingers crossed!

Stand firm, your shots are awesome!

Barter is a good way, and if you ever head down the Kiwi way again, you are welcome to be on our boats for as long as you like.

I think the trouble is that people wander around the world with reasonable digital cameras and can take a resonable image. They are a dime a dozen. This guy probably thinks, that if he had the time, he could take the shot, or one of his divers could, but he doesn’t understand the difference between a good shot and a truly great shot.

What you have is an incredible eye, and the ability to make the passion shine through with an “X” factor in your work. You capture something that most people don’t get.

Take care my friend, we think of you often down here!

Cheers

Kate

I am in the UK at the moment, hopefully back in Indonesia in a few months, we shall see. Probably based in Bali. Where are you now, KK?

I’ve seen your work before when we were still colleague and that offer you gave to that web designer is actually very cheap. I was surprise he didn’t take the offer while it was still “hot”.

May be you need an art dealer or something

All the best.

BTW, which part of Indonesia are you going to?

Cheers,

Amillson Baragus
http://www.abaragus.com

Of course it gets harder and harder for professionals to sell their shots as there are plenty of enthusiasts with often excellent shots that are willing to give away their photos for free, just for the kudos of having their name appear on a website or brochure.

A tough game … maybe time to start selling real estate, jelly beans or anything else with ‘hard value’.

Cheers

Tim Hochgrebe
underwater australasia
http://www.underwater.com.au