Comments on: LA or NY. Pick One. http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/ Former Photography Director Rob Haggart Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:24:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Stewart Waller http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-24642 Stewart Waller Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:43:17 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-24642 Hey W.F. Hire--I live and shoot in Durham and I'll happily walk across the street for $500. As much as I would like to charge as much as the NY guys, I find my equilibrium price is simply lower for what I do in Triangle (as is the cost of living!). While I try not to lowball, I do need pay the rent. I did a one-hour location portrait for PR Newswire the other day for about that much and a studio shot for Parade for considerably more, the point being that they don't always fly someone down for the job, if you're willing to work within their budget. Hey W.F. Hire–I live and shoot in Durham and I’ll happily walk across the street for $500. As much as I would like to charge as much as the NY guys, I find my equilibrium price is simply lower for what I do in Triangle (as is the cost of living!). While I try not to lowball, I do need pay the rent. I did a one-hour location portrait for PR Newswire the other day for about that much and a studio shot for Parade for considerably more, the point being that they don’t always fly someone down for the job, if you’re willing to work within their budget.

]]> By: Adam http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-893 Adam Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:45:47 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-893 ... only because Chris Buck is amazing. No one else could do his job :) … only because Chris Buck is amazing. No one else could do his job :)

]]> By: Daniel K. Gebhart http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-863 Daniel K. Gebhart Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:46:57 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-863 I'm in Europe, Austria / Vienna. But I'll be in New York to work for magnum photos between March and June 2008. Allways open for interesting photo jobs... I’m in Europe, Austria / Vienna. But I’ll be in New York to work for magnum photos between March and June 2008. Allways open for interesting photo jobs…

]]> By: sye williams http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-728 sye williams Tue, 23 Oct 2007 06:39:57 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-728 I'd like to thank Francis for calling attention to my New York number in a previous entry. I do live in Los Angeles, I feel so much better now that I have said it. I’d like to thank Francis for calling attention to my New York number in a previous entry. I do live in Los Angeles, I feel so much better now that I have said it.

]]> By: Da Vin http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-712 Da Vin Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:06:38 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-712 I enjoy being mobile, but I assume most photographers do not have an endless supply of buddy passes to fly where they wish. I enjoy being mobile, but I assume most photographers do not
have an endless supply of buddy passes to fly where they wish.

]]> By: Eric Larson http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-659 Eric Larson Sat, 20 Oct 2007 11:38:37 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-659 Mike, flying in NY/LA shooters should not be a bothersome thing. As an industry we should encourage these types of budgetary decisions. When money isn't an issue and time is, it's a no brainer to fly someone familiar in. What's bothersome is the notion that good talent only resides in NY/LA. Mike, flying in NY/LA shooters should not be a bothersome thing. As an industry we should encourage these types of budgetary decisions. When money isn’t an issue and time is, it’s a no brainer to fly someone familiar in. What’s bothersome is the notion that good talent only resides in NY/LA.

]]> By: hans http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-620 hans Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:54:25 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-620 Why not just say to the photographer: The shoot is in LA. We need someone who is there. We don't have the budget to fly someone in. Are you there? Then either: No? OK sorry. or Yep? OK great. Then go spend the money you saved on $2k of catering because Nic Cage likes his sandwiches with a special type of moroccan butter and no less than 4 varieties of orange soda or whatever the celebrity demands are. Why not just say to the photographer:

The shoot is in LA.
We need someone who is there.
We don’t have the budget to fly someone in.
Are you there?

Then either:
No? OK sorry.
or
Yep? OK great.

Then go spend the money you saved on $2k of catering because Nic Cage likes his sandwiches with a special type of moroccan butter and no less than 4 varieties of orange soda or whatever the celebrity demands are.

]]> By: mike http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-608 mike Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:21:02 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-608 So, this question of flying NYC-LA photographers to where ever the shoot happens to be is so bothersome to me and the answer, I think, is one of pure laziness. Brand names are easy to recognize and grab off the shelf. No one wants to take risks. No one is interested in digging any deeper than what their own Rolodex already has – a Rolodex that is approved by all the other magazines up and down Manhattan – face it, you all have the same phone numbers on speed dial and in your Outlook address books. Granted, many of these folks are geniuses and produce amazing work. But, I can say with absolute certainty that in every major city across the States, you’ll find an equal creative genius – whether it’s Albuquerque or Seattle or Indianapolis or Denver. It’s just no one is brave enough to look outside the box and find them. You’d rather go with what an established tastemaker already has given their own stamp of approval on. I mean, good Lord, the one photographer that I absolutely disagree with most everyone is Terry Richardson.. Derivative, un-creative, un-inspiring, amateur. And, let’s look at the Newsweek feature story some months back talking about greening of the planet and environmental solutions – and they had this batch of portraits in there – where they flew photographers in from all over to be the photographer on the shoot! I know for a fact that on at least one of those portraits, a fantastic option could have been found in the city where the subject lived without having to fly a photographer in from 1200 miles away. Doesn’t sound too environmentally friendly to me. Sigh. OK, I’m through with my rant! So, this question of flying NYC-LA photographers to where ever the shoot happens to be is so bothersome to me and the answer, I think, is one of pure laziness. Brand names are easy to recognize and grab off the shelf. No one wants to take risks. No one is interested in digging any deeper than what their own Rolodex already has – a Rolodex that is approved by all the other magazines up and down Manhattan – face it, you all have the same phone numbers on speed dial and in your Outlook address books. Granted, many of these folks are geniuses and produce amazing work. But, I can say with absolute certainty that in every major city across the States, you’ll find an equal creative genius – whether it’s Albuquerque or Seattle or Indianapolis or Denver. It’s just no one is brave enough to look outside the box and find them. You’d rather go with what an established tastemaker already has given their own stamp of approval on. I mean, good Lord, the one photographer that I absolutely disagree with most everyone is Terry Richardson.. Derivative, un-creative, un-inspiring, amateur. And, let’s look at the Newsweek feature story some months back talking about greening of the planet and environmental solutions – and they had this batch of portraits in there – where they flew photographers in from all over to be the photographer on the shoot! I know for a fact that on at least one of those portraits, a fantastic option could have been found in the city where the subject lived without having to fly a photographer in from 1200 miles away. Doesn’t sound too environmentally friendly to me. Sigh. OK, I’m through with my rant!

]]> By: mark http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-597 mark Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:11:29 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-597 what about SF? I'll be between SF and NY soon. Holla what about SF? I’ll be between SF and NY soon. Holla

]]> By: A Photo Editor http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-593 A Photo Editor Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:41:59 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-593 Trying to be witty. Geof Kern lives there and he's pretty stiff competition for people trying to snag jobs. Trying to be witty. Geof Kern lives there and he’s pretty stiff competition for people trying to snag jobs.

]]> By: Dallas photog http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-590 Dallas photog Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:10:52 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-590 hi photoed, What's wrong with Dallas? Just curious. hi photoed, What’s wrong with Dallas? Just curious.

]]> By: W.F. Hire http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-586 W.F. Hire Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:23:54 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-586 In a dream world, the reason that Vanity Fair sent a NY photographer to Durham, is because they called twelve local photographers in Durham, and every one of them turned them down, due to their rights-grab ridiculous terms, and their low rate. Ideally, all twelve photographers responded identically, in the phone call: "I wouldn't drive across the street for $500, for a WFH contract". The 212 guy is paying $3200 a month, for that one-bedroom in the East Village, so, as in so many cases involving rent coming due, you bite the pillow and get on the plane. In a dream world, the reason that Vanity Fair sent a NY photographer to Durham, is because they called twelve local photographers in Durham, and every one of them turned them down, due to their rights-grab ridiculous terms, and their low rate. Ideally, all twelve photographers responded identically, in the phone call: “I wouldn’t drive across the street for $500, for a WFH contract”.

The 212 guy is paying $3200 a month, for that one-bedroom in the East Village, so, as in so many cases involving rent coming due, you bite the pillow and get on the plane.

]]> By: Bruce DeBoer http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-565 Bruce DeBoer Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:04:13 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-565 If perceptions don't matter, how do you explain Vanity Fair sending a photographer from NYC to Durham, NC to take a photo of the house where the Lacrosse boys partied instead of calling a local guy who could do it with there eyes closed? My take is that if the desire is there, the money is there. All us girls who choose a secondary market still need to prove we got the goods (and then some since we're not there) - however we can try to lower the barriers. I always thought I was being gracious when I let east and west coast prospects make local calls. I guess Vanity Fair felt house shooting talent was only available in NYC. That said, however, I never did hide the fact I live in NC. No one is fooled by non disclosure - besides ... all you NYC people ... don't you want a break in a really nice location? If perceptions don’t matter, how do you explain Vanity Fair sending a photographer from NYC to Durham, NC to take a photo of the house where the Lacrosse boys partied instead of calling a local guy who could do it with there eyes closed?

My take is that if the desire is there, the money is there. All us girls who choose a secondary market still need to prove we got the goods (and then some since we’re not there) – however we can try to lower the barriers. I always thought I was being gracious when I let east and west coast prospects make local calls. I guess Vanity Fair felt house shooting talent was only available in NYC.

That said, however, I never did hide the fact I live in NC. No one is fooled by non disclosure – besides … all you NYC people … don’t you want a break in a really nice location?

]]> By: Hatnim http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-564 Hatnim Thu, 18 Oct 2007 03:18:20 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-564 "too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation." ~elizabeth drew “too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation.”
~elizabeth drew

]]> By: Suzanne http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-563 Suzanne Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:41:09 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-563 When I photo edited for a national newsmagazine, back in the pleistoscene era... my rolodex was organized alphabetically, and by state. I can't imagine it'd be organized differently these days... though perhaps easier to keep up to date electronically, but airline tickets were not always possible with budgets, so finding folks whose work fit with us nearby was key. When a story was big enough, and we needed to fly people around... they were the photographers very well known to us. If I had no idea where someone spent most of their time, I probably wouldn't have bothered calling... deadlines were too tight to take a day of calls to figure that out... When I photo edited for a national newsmagazine, back in the pleistoscene era… my rolodex was organized alphabetically, and by state. I can’t imagine it’d be organized differently these days… though perhaps easier to keep up to date electronically, but airline tickets were not always possible with budgets, so finding folks whose work fit with us nearby was key. When a story was big enough, and we needed to fly people around… they were the photographers very well known to us.

If I had no idea where someone spent most of their time, I probably wouldn’t have bothered calling… deadlines were too tight to take a day of calls to figure that out…

]]> By: Don Giannatti http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-562 Don Giannatti Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:37:17 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-562 Oh Dang. I already had my business cards made up. Gila Bend, Pahrump and Phoenix. The only good thing is being the only beauty shooter in Gila Bend. Damn, that exclusivity is freakin' awesome. Rent is cheap too. Oh Dang.
I already had my business cards made up.
Gila Bend, Pahrump and Phoenix.

The only good thing is being the only beauty shooter in Gila Bend. Damn, that exclusivity is freakin’ awesome. Rent is cheap too.

]]> By: Werner http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-561 Werner Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:31:16 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-561 My home is Berlin. I also shot in LA. NY is in the middle :-) My home is Berlin. I also shot in LA. NY is in the middle :-)

]]> By: APhotographer http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-559 APhotographer Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:22:15 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-559 Um - I think that you made your own point. If you have the budget and they're right for the job, you'd fly the photographer out there. But for the jobs that you don't have the budget, you'd like to know where they are. Makes sense. Yet you find yourself adding plane tickets to the budget. Herein lies the rub - you *do* have the budget when absolutely necessary, but you'd rather not do it. You could tell their agent, "Hey - you say he's in both, so I'm not paying for a ticket - take it or leave it." But I'm guess they're saying "leave it" and so you're paying for their ticket rather than finding someone who's in town. Photographers travel a lot. We hate missing out on a big job because the magazine will pay $2K for catering but wouldn't consider us if we're not in town. Basically we're saying, "Yes, I am comfortable shooting in these places and can put together your last minute shoot comfortably and recommend which studio will be appropriate for the elephant you need in the shot." Um – I think that you made your own point.

If you have the budget and they’re right for the job, you’d fly the photographer out there. But for the jobs that you don’t have the budget, you’d like to know where they are. Makes sense.

Yet you find yourself adding plane tickets to the budget. Herein lies the rub – you *do* have the budget when absolutely necessary, but you’d rather not do it. You could tell their agent, “Hey – you say he’s in both, so I’m not paying for a ticket – take it or leave it.” But I’m guess they’re saying “leave it” and so you’re paying for their ticket rather than finding someone who’s in town.

Photographers travel a lot. We hate missing out on a big job because the magazine will pay $2K for catering but wouldn’t consider us if we’re not in town.

Basically we’re saying, “Yes, I am comfortable shooting in these places and can put together your last minute shoot comfortably and recommend which studio will be appropriate for the elephant you need in the shot.”

]]> By: Jason http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-555 Jason Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:00:25 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-555 205 works! 205 works!

]]> By: Craig Pulsifer http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-554 Craig Pulsifer Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:58:52 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-554 ... make that (250); I should call home more often. … make that (250); I should call home more often.

]]> By: A Photo Editor http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-553 A Photo Editor Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:58:41 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-553 Hey I'm stuck in NY too. You think I have a choice? NY or LA because that's where most of the stories need to be shot. If I have a story in Raleigh I'll check there first. Just don't move to Austin, Whitefish, Mountain Home or Dallas... Hey I’m stuck in NY too. You think I have a choice?

NY or LA because that’s where most of the stories need to be shot.

If I have a story in Raleigh I’ll check there first. Just don’t move to Austin, Whitefish, Mountain Home or Dallas…

]]> By: healthy http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-552 healthy Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:58:35 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-552 skype can get you a number in any one of those spots ha skype can get you a number in any one of those spots ha

]]> By: Craig Pulsifer http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-551 Craig Pulsifer Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:56:27 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-551 And let's not forget (205). And let’s not forget (205).

]]> By: Bruce DeBoer http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-549 Bruce DeBoer Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:46:23 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-549 Option 3 please. Option 3 please.

]]> By: Paris Texas http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-548 Paris Texas Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:40:15 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-548 Let's face it, girls, unless you're the exception (Geof Kern, Dan Winters, Andy Anderson, Kurt Markus), the world revolves around 212, 971, 646, 213, 310, or 323. So you either keep your Family Life, or move to one of those area codes, or become Exceptional. Let’s face it, girls, unless you’re the exception (Geof Kern, Dan Winters, Andy Anderson, Kurt Markus), the world revolves around 212, 971, 646, 213, 310, or 323.

So you either keep your Family Life, or move to one of those area codes, or become Exceptional.

]]> By: Bruce DeBoer http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-547 Bruce DeBoer Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:36:38 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-547 Sorry PE - you made our point for us. You want either LA or NYC - I'm a local call from NYC, SF or Raleigh - take a wild guess where I call home? Now be totally honest with me and yourself: what do you think about a photographer from outside a major market? Sorry PE – you made our point for us. You want either LA or NYC – I’m a local call from NYC, SF or Raleigh – take a wild guess where I call home? Now be totally honest with me and yourself: what do you think about a photographer from outside a major market?

]]> By: Matthew http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-546 Matthew Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:25:31 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-546 I'm in New York and Albuquerque! Albuquerque's basically the LA of the southwest, minus the whole beaches, and LA thing... I’m in New York and Albuquerque! Albuquerque’s basically the LA of the southwest, minus the whole beaches, and LA thing…

]]> By: Jason http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-544 Jason Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:50:52 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-544 So, do you have to live in either? If photographers are being flown in for shoots, can't they just as easily come from a place other than NY or LA, where they can have a standard of living they enjoy and raise a family the way they want? So, do you have to live in either? If photographers are being flown in for shoots, can’t they just as easily come from a place other than NY or LA, where they can have a standard of living they enjoy and raise a family the way they want?

]]> By: michelle http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-543 michelle Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:31:18 +0000 http://aphotoeditor.com/2007/10/17/la-or-ny-pick-one/#comment-543 not to mention all the emails indicating their elusive whereabouts! ack! not to mention all the emails indicating their elusive whereabouts! ack!

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