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Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

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Re: Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

#171
post #5

I might get downvoted for that, I still gonna say it: That might be due to the demand-supply situation in photography. They probably will find photographers doing this for the promotion effect described in the email.

The promotion effect seems like a fair trade IMO.

I was a software freelancer at one point. I would've traded 5 days of work for getting my business (and face) in front of 30 million people.

Re: Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

#172
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would you assume they're desperate? If I took a gig like this, I'd be damn sure that: 1) I am included in the rolling credits, 2) I have several cameo shots within the show, 3) I can use thumbnails of my appearances within my own web site and 4) that I am able to use the show's logo and likeness to promote my own business. My site would lead off with : "Award winning photographer. You may have seen my work recent…

> "Award winning photographer. You may have seen my work recently on the hit Netflix show, 'Love Is Blind'". Don't you first need to win an award?

If I were a photographer, I wouldn't expect anything less from myself.

Re: Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

#173
post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's bad for everybody when professionals work "for publicity" or are encouraged to do so It's important that we not allow our moral judgments to interfere with the facts. This is obviously false.

It’s bad for other professionals because it creates expectations that people will work for free and it reduces the amount other professionals can earn. That’s why it generates negative reactions and shaming in those communities. In the short term, that’s good for whoever gets a free service. In the long run, it’s not great for sustaining a population with a valuable expertise.

They're not working for free though. If you are a wedding photographer the value in saying "I did all the photographs for season X of " has huge monetary value. If the supply/demand economics were such that you still had to pay them $stipend/minimum wage/premium this would still be the case. Photographers are free to accept in-kind payment or not.

Re: Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

#174
post #21

The US continues to support unpaid work in a pretty major way. I think unpaid internships being socially acceptable is one of the roots of this insidious habit. They've been illegal up here in Canada for a while and it hasn't really caused any economic disasters. It'd be a good change to advocate for down there as well. And, honestly, internships aren't free for companies unless there is literally nothing of value be…

I had to straight up refuse some internships in college as they wanted at least 20 hours / week without pay...

Come on, when am I supposed to make the money required to live?

Re: Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

#175
post #21

The US continues to support unpaid work in a pretty major way. I think unpaid internships being socially acceptable is one of the roots of this insidious habit. They've been illegal up here in Canada for a while and it hasn't really caused any economic disasters. It'd be a good change to advocate for down there as well. And, honestly, internships aren't free for companies unless there is literally nothing of value be…

> They've been illegal up here in Canada for a while and it hasn't really caused any economic disasters. It'd be a good change to advocate for down there as well.

Unpaid internships are illegal in the United States, and the regulation isn't new.

The loophole is if the intern is the primary beneficiary of the internship rather than the company. Some internships are structured more like classes where the students shadow people around their jobs but aren't given assignments. Even these are often paid.

I haven't actually seen a real job at a real company (not a wannabe startup or some guy looking for a free Wordpress site or something) advertised as an unpaid internship in years.

The only exception I've seen lately is when family or acquaintances give kids a fake pseudo-internship so they can have something to put on their resume.

Re: Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

#176
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right but abusive and predatory behaviour is STILL abusive and predatory in an oversupply situation.

The promotional aspects could be worth much more than whatever money they'd earn.

This is one of those things often asserted but rarely proven.

Re: Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

#177
post #42
post #21

The US continues to support unpaid work in a pretty major way. I think unpaid internships being socially acceptable is one of the roots of this insidious habit. They've been illegal up here in Canada for a while and it hasn't really caused any economic disasters. It'd be a good change to advocate for down there as well. And, honestly, internships aren't free for companies unless there is literally nothing of value be…

>I think unpaid internships being socially acceptable is one of the roots of this insidious habit. When I worked with interns they were all paid... but every one was more time and expense to work with than any value they provided. In weeks they accomplished what I could do in an afternoon, and we spent WAY more than an afternoon of work with them. Amazingly many seemed to have a very high opinion of their productivit…

This has to be the fault of the organization. _Every_ intern!?

I've worked at places where the onboarding was generally terrible and I'd still say 80% of the co-op interns we hired were value-positive.

Although, when I do reflect on it, I suppose there was a lot we did right: - always willing to help newcomers - answering their questions - knowing when not to answer questions and let them learn through failure instead - reassuring them through mistakes (and just being positive overall) - checking in on them once in awhile

But none of these things take any sort of preparation. It's all just cultural.

> Amazingly many seemed to have a very high opinion of their productivity.

Well, you could be correct. I've definitely seen the situation where developers have a reputation that I know first-hand through their work isn't merited. It could also be that maybe your standards are just a little too high for what you expect people right out of (or still in) college.

Re: Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

#178
I think the scale of the 'Exposure' does matter here (please don't just downvote, hear me out).

Exposure = Advertisement, right? Wouldn't you pay for advertisement?

Now, if you invest very little for advertisement, you might get very little in return.

Say, your investment is doing a free 'exposure' gig for a return of 20-30 potential customers. This might not be equitable to your time/equipment/team/etc.

Now, in the example of doing exposure for a well known show (I don't watch any reality shows, btw), then: 1) Getting exposure to millions of people 2) Gaining the ability to say you worked on 'x' show 3) Your pictures being out there 4) How about other negotiated perks for doing this? (Right to use and ownership of material, being most important).

5 days of this investment does sound like a lot of money, but I believe the real question is: "Does my investment have the potential to yield to not only cover initial costs, but turn a profit?"

If the answer is 'yes', go for it. If it is 'no', then decline. I truly believe this is a business decision.

I am not saying people should be working for free. I truly think your time and resources are highly valuable. What I'm saying is that 'free' might not always mean 'no return on investment'.

Re: Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

#179
post #5

I might get downvoted for that, I still gonna say it: That might be due to the demand-supply situation in photography. They probably will find photographers doing this for the promotion effect described in the email.

Right but abusive and predatory behaviour is STILL abusive and predatory in an oversupply situation.

That's why I always pay the highest historical price for everything, regardless of changing market conditions. Fairness /s

Re: Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings

#180
Isn't this very similar to uber/lyft which undercut "professional" drivers? Or airbnb undercutting professional hotel services? I thought we let free market decide who wins and so if people are willing to do for free by their free will, why shouldn't they?
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