Them :
“We see from your Twitter profile that you like clicking. Participate in this contest and maybe you’ll win something for clicking!”
Yes, I like “clicking”. Assuming you mean “photography”, which is so much more than “clicking”.
I enjoy, like, love, am passionate about and GET PAID for “clicking”.
I also read the terms and conditions of “contests”. And when I read that the contest will have all ownership of MY images as soon as I submit the image to the contest, I run away in the opposite direction. This condition applies ON SUBMISSION, not ON WINNING. Photographers, whether amateur or professional, please read Terms & Conditions of website and contests and market places before you sign up and start submitting.
Just because you are not a professional photographer who makes their living photographing does not mean you should ignore your rights and allow yourself to be taken for a ride. Brands and platforms use visuals to attract potential customers. They use images to build their brand’s image online and in print. Great images can help make brands. As someone who might have captured such an image, you have value. And that value can be traded for compensation.
When you get paid for an image, you aren’t getting paid only for “clicking” the shutter button at the right time. You are getting paid for the potential that the image represents for the buyer.
When you are a professional photographer, in addition to the above, you are also getting paid for your years of experience, which led you to the moment of that “click” where you pointed your camera in the correct direction, framed the subject just right, let in enough light onto the camera’s sensor, got the photo, spent hours in post-production and then presented the image online or offline for viewers to enjoy and consume.
Spend time pursuing clients who might value your work instead of spending time submitting images in “contests”. Most of these contest are marketing activities for brands where ALL the value is derived by the brand. Some photography competitions might be useful to submit in and might require a fee to let you submit photos – please read reviews of such contests and competitions beforehand and see photo of previous years’ winners. I do not participate in any contests.
Don’t be fooled by, “It’s just a click.” It most certainly is not.
More anecdotes and stories in the #WTFNaina series. ( These are all true stories by the way. Some written emails, some from face-to-face meetings. They have all been piling up for years now and I’ve decided to put them to use! )
Photo from one of the weddings I photographed a few years ago. I am photographing weddings again! See Weddingsbynaina.com for more of my previous work and hit me up!
