For Photographers

Best Photo Sayings

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With a business seemingly based on “we can’t pay you but you’ll get a credit line” and “I can buy my own camera for that price”, who says photographers don’t have a sense of humour?

Some funny-because-it’s-true photography sayings:

My sensor is bigger than yours

Film is a four-letter word

My other camera is a Leica

If all else fails . . . Photoshop!

I brake for photo ops

I’d back up my hard drive if I knew how to put it in reverse.

If at first you don’t succeed, reformat.

Power corrupts. Buy a surge protector.

Trust me, I’m a photographer.

If you’re not in focus, you’re in the way.

I’d rather be taking pictures

A bad day of photography beats a good day of working

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Canadian Freelance Union

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If you are an “independent media worker”, which is a terrible, politically-correct-sounding phrase, then this may be of interest.

The Canadian Freelance Union (CFU) (CEP Local 2040) is starting up with the support of  the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP).

The CFU is a child of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union. The CEP is one of Canada’s largest unions, with over 160,000 members across the country. The CEP is also Canada’s largest media union, with over 25,000 workers already part of the organization. It is this existing strength that the CFU hopes to build on.

There are some freelance unions in Europe. In Canada, there is the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) which includes CBC freelancers. The CMG has negotiated freelance issues into the CBC collective agreement.

While I think the CFU will be accepted by a couple of larger media outlets, in these economic times, I wonder if this will be a case of too little, too late.

Had this union started 20 years ago, when times were good, then it would be in a good position today. It’s always a tough slog trying to build a shelter during the storm.

Here We Go Again

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I wish I could say, “back by popular demand.”

After a couple of years, I thought my first blog had run its course, assuming it was even on a course. That blog attracted a number of viewers from across the continent, which led to lots and lots of e-mails asking the inevitable, “how much should I charge for . . .”, “they stole my picture, what should I do . . .”, “what does this contract mean . . .”, and “how do I start my business . . .”

Unfortunately there are no easy answers or shortcuts. If there were, everyone would have taken that route by now. For any photo business to have a chance of succeeding, hard work and smart work are the only tools. I use the word “chance” because there are no guarantees.
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