Surprise Surprise…….

It would appear that the Guardians bully tactics may have in fact backfired on them….

I had a chance to work with a very good snapper who also happens to be a regular contributor to the Guardian…..  I was pleased to here from him that he simply was not even going to entertain the new terms that they have attempted to impose.

 ”Its my photography,  why should I just give it to them”  was his reasoning. 

So,  like at least 2 other of the Guardians regular contributors,  he now attaches a note to his material that “These pictures are provided under my standard terms and conditions and no syndication is allowed.”

This is a huge shift in position,  which the Guardian will  find it difficult to undo….and which will probably spread to other papers as well.  Photographers are finally at the end of their tether and are realising that there is no downside to moving their relationship with the newspapers to the same standards that they would have with any other commercial client,  and working to a set of terms and conditions which they impose. 

For too long the papers have had a hugely advantageous relationship which they are now abusing for commercial ends,  effectively they are dealing with contributors the same way they would deal with any other commercial supplier.  So why shouldn’t we as photographers treat them the same way?