Thursday, May 28, 2015

My "Own" Instagram Photos

I'm having a hard time understanding, not necessarily why someone is paying $90,000 for Mr. Prince's so-called art work (which is just a blatant rip-off of somebody else's creation/work), about the fact that there is no law it seems that just because you alter somebody else's work, even just a bit, it's considered fair game. I mean, if you copied somebody else's style, I can understand that. But to take literally somebody else's, photo move something around, add/delete something here and there, and then have the audacity to sell it as your own work, is just another thing on the list of things that baffle me and make my head spin. I'm referring to the following story that has been trending for the last couple of days, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2015/05/25/a-reminder-that-your-instagram-photos-arent-really-yours-someone-else-can-sell-them-for-90000/?tid=sm_fb

To celebrate my 25th year in the photography business, I just created a gallery of my 40+ Instagram photos that I've discounted from $25,000+ to now just $6, on up. http://jackmccoyphotography.com/instagrammyownphotos
You think anyone is going to buy a print, or do I have more of a chance if I raise the price to the five-digit dollar mark?

I get it that people share photos, give them away to news organizations for free, or submit it to company web sites and their social media sites. It's a different day and age when it comes to this medium but that said, please undertand I don't have that luxury -- I don't have a trust fund I'm living off; I'm not a retired teacher with a pension who loves to take photos and give them away for free to friends and strangers. I don't own and operate a restaurant, and have specials and restaurant deals during certain times of the year. I don't have a civil service or government job with amazing benefits. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. I'm a self-employed freelance photographer who is trying to adapt to the ever-growing change of this industry. It's been tough these last several years, and have seen many a fellow photographer go out of business because they just couldn't pay the bills.

Thanks for reading and if nothing else, I hope I shed a little light on a profession I dearly love and am trying desperately trying to hold on to. Did I mention I'm available for your next company conference, family wedding/party, your headshot for your Linkein page or that photo you want for your dating site but are to afraid to ask a professional to do. How's that for my one semester of business marketing class?