Expensive BrightRoom Event Photos

[Running Mommy]

Yeah knotted it, is steep, but then I figure that they had to go through all the pics and try to get them in order, publish them on the site, and then there is the cost of having the folks out there taking them, and the equip. etc. And of course they are there to make some $$ too. It is a service to you, and you have the choice to buy or not to buy (or steal I suppose, but that is just WRONG! ).
Personally I usually always cough up the dough. In fact at IMAZ I spent a TON on pics! Because I preordered them and paid 100 clams for the package, and then went back and ordered the cd- also 50 clams... But hey, it was my first IM, so I figured it was worth it.
And the good thing about the cd is you can make as many pics as you want.
So I say yeah, if you can afford it- go for it. You only do your first race once, and to have it documented on film is priceless. IMO- of course....
Denise

[roshelleuop]

Knotted,

I have purchased Bright Room photos before and yes, it was expensive but unless you are a photographer and are able to get all those shots, I think the money is worth it.

I was happy with what I received. I purchased a couple single pictures of my husband at a triathlon last year and it was cool becuase they printed the name of the triathlon, city, state, and date on the bottom of both pictures. I bought 2 6x9s and with shipping, etc. it cost me about $40, so I would strongly suggest if you are going to order, to order the whole CD. That way you can do whatever you want at your local walgreens. Plus, you have them online to post on TE!!!!!

Hope this helped!!!!

Roshelle from Milwaukee

[Trek420]

I'm in the "art is intellectual property" fold. One of the reasons I don't post drawings, cartoons online is that for many artists while imitation may be the highest form of flattery, seeing your work used without permission is not flattering.

If I link a homepage or slideshow to my homepage (got tons of links to ALC'ers) I ask permission. We can seed the course with camera carrying friends at these events and or take pictures of each other but if the Pro has the shot of me I want, sure I'll pay.

S/he probably went to the same art school I did and that's expensive so should be able to recoup that cost.

[DrBee]

I agree - snagging pics off the web is wrong. Kit - just put yourself in the shoes of the photographer and think about how it would make you feel.

[pooks]

I think it's safe to say Kit understands the reality of the photog biz now!

[Trek420]

Yes, I think this whole thing was not a crit of Kit or anyone else, more a poll of common attitudes.

Even the artists themselves have to deal with how they feel about and the extent they want to protect their work. For example there are drawings I don't mind if people "take" other pieces...not so much.

[Kitsune06]

Alright, alright. It's not 'okay'. For the record, When I do have $20 that's not going to be going toward gas or groceries, and something like that comes up, I do pay for it, because I do recognize the time and effort it takes for the photographers who are actually employed by businesses and have to take those kinds of numbers of shots for events, not that I necessarily in any way respect the exorbidant prices they feel they can charge people for a simple .jpg file or 3x5.

Yes, you have to recoup the costs of camera gear, and yes, it's rediculously expensive, but when you're looking at 6 professional photographers taking in excess of 4k shots each, of over 3k participants, then charging $6.50 for a 3x5 print (and $3 for every one after that) or $16 for a single high-res image on disc... Assuming that only half of the participants decided to purchase a single 3x5.
that's still $9,750. This isn't, of course, counting the photos professional groups like the sponsors will be purchasing.

I just have a problem with most photographers and their prices in general. I have an ex who was a photographer. He charged, generally, over $300 for a shot that honestly would have been very easy for pretty much anyone to get with a regular, bought-from-Walmart camera (they're getting pretty good now, a pro Nikon from 'back in the day' is your run of the mill $400 camera at Walmart or Target), had decent artistic merit but wasn't anything beyond what I'm capable of, and now that all of the work is digital, he didn't have to mess with dark rooms, chemicals, or the like. Just adjust the levels, highpass then soft light the highpass, and you're done... 30 minutes of work on a shot you took on your vacation, then charge someone who has too much money and too little sense $300+ for it. That is Theft.

Then again, I tried to sell my art once upon a time and failed miserably because I hate to take advantage of something I do well for money. So... I just post it online and let people take it.

[Veronica]

I don't think you really understand what's involved in getting a really great shot. Like this one, which I've seen on other sites and NO ONE has ever asked if they can use it. Just to get the shot took 8 hours.



Good action photography isn't easy either. There's a lot of planning ahead to get a good location. You have to think about lighting and plan accordingly. You can't get a great shot of everyone.



Taking something from someone else because you think it's too epensive is theft. Would you walk into McDonalds and swipe a burger off the counter because you thought they were too expensive or you didn't have the money to pay for it?

Selling a product at whatever price you want is called the free market.

Veronica