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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
New wire service
Robert Benson, Photographer
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San Diego | Ca | USA | Posted: 12:50 AM on 06.07.10 |
->> Sandy Huffaker and I, both sportshooter members for quite a while, have developed a photo wire service and wanted to let the community here know about it.
www.CreativeBusinessWire.com launches next week, and offers a very specific type of imagery: business images (economy, transportation, energy, business leaders, dc, etc). It's a coop of sorts, we have a deliberately small group than 10 talented shooters in key cities across the nation that will hunt down the day's most popular business stories and make available through our website for clients.
Check 'er out! |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 3:35 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> The server seems to be down at this time.
What sort of sales and marketing resources do you have?
Why will clients choose CreativeBusinessWire.com instead of other choices?
--Mark |
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Joel Hawksley, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Sandy Huffaker, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 6:19 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> Mark,
I think what will hopefully make clients choose CBW over others is we have a really talented, hand picked crew of photojournalists who are all currently working for national and international publications. Pooled together, I think we will be offering images from the biz world that are a step above what is currently being offered from the bigs on a daily basis, as well as some name credibility. I consider us somewhat of a boutique wire service where quality of photography is more important than quantity of images.
We have a full-time salesman as well who will be contacting publications. |
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John Todd, Photographer
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Palo Alto | CA | usa | Posted: 6:32 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> Sandy and Robert,
Good luck to you and your photographers. This photo world needs more small groups of photographers doing co-ops like this as an alternative to the monster agencies.
I applaud your venture. Go get em!
-John |
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Brian Blanco, Photographer
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Tampa / Sarasota | FL | USA | Posted: 9:15 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> Sandy,
I'm not intending to shoot down your idea or get into the, long-debated, discussion of spec-based wire services, but I do have a question about some of the images on the site. It appears, for instance, that if you click on "Housing" that you get a few generic images of homes with a foreclosure signs in front of them with generic captions.
These types of images appear to be what I would describe "clip art for editorial use". In fact, I see a lot of images on the site that appear to be ready-to-use clip art intended for the editorial market. My question is, are these images there temporarily, simply as "filler" in an attempt to populate the site for the launch or is that done by design and will be part of the ongoing offering by your new wire service? |
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Steven Mullensky, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Port Townsend | WA. | USA | Posted: 9:25 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> Isn't if fun to start your own business?
Congratulations and Good Luck! |
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Sandy Huffaker, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 9:39 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> Hey Brian,
Many newspapers and other publications use these generic "Clip art" shots to describe(Visually)everything from housing prices to company earnings reports to bankruptcies, etc... We have a Brands section that has just logos and signage of hundreds of companies. It's one part of what we offer. Check out most newspaper web sites and you'll see these types of images.
I call them the "easy money" shots. |
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Brian Blanco, Photographer
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Tampa / Sarasota | FL | USA | Posted: 10:03 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> Sandy,
I know they're, unfortunately, used industry-wide and are not unique to your particular site. I shoot a lot for wire services (and arguably might shoot more if it weren't for this type of clip art). I guess I was asking because offering these one-size-fits-all images just seems counter-productive if you're selling your service as a higher-end "boutique" wire service.
It's not intended as a criticism, but rather as an observation. |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 10:10 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> I also recommend John Harrington's blog posting http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/
John illustrates that it is critical to understand that good photography is not enough to survive in the editorial space. there's just too much good photography out there. The editorial sales environment is implacably brutal and the sales people are the most important people in the organization.
--Mark |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 10:11 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> The telephone number on the About page is not complete.
--Mark |
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Sandy Huffaker, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 10:13 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> Brian,
We are actually trying to take these types shots to a higher level. For instance, I'm trying to shoot Brand shots at dusk or open up to f1.4 just to separate us from the others and make them a bit more appealing. My hope is our overall quality will stand-out from some of the other wires. |
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Scott Serio, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Colora | MD | USA | Posted: 10:55 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> Not that I know much, but I think it is a little early to judge the sites future until they get a true flow of timely images. I mean, they haven't even launched yet people are throwing stones.
In my eyes...anything that fight the evil giant, and we know who that is...is a good thing.
Success, well that is a different thing, but at least someone has the stones to "see" there might be a better way and take a shot. |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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SLC | UT | USA | Posted: 11:30 PM on 06.07.10 |
->> I think it is great that people have gathered together to offer an alternative.
People complain about the big services. These people have actually set out to offer an alternative. Sure it might not be perfect, but it is a start.
I challenge those of you at newspapers to bring this option to the photo editors and management as an alternative instead of just doing the same thing you have been doing. |
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Sam Morris, Photographer
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Henderson (Las Vegas) | NV | USA | Posted: 12:02 AM on 06.08.10 |
->> Scott, nobody is throwing stones - seems to be some constructive criticism and feedback (unless you [not meaning to be pejorative] are so thin skinned that you shouldn't be in the business).
Sandy and Robert, best of luck. If I can be of any help, let me know. |
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Brian Blanco, Photographer
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Tampa / Sarasota | FL | USA | Posted: 12:28 AM on 06.08.10 |
->> Scott, I have to agree with Sam. I certainly wasn't "throwing stones", I had a legitimate question. And if you're referring to Harrington's blog, I think he brought up some very valid points that likely will help Sandy and Robert in the long run.
Also, Scott, I'm not 100% sure who the "evil giant" is. I work regularly for 3 of the largest wire services in the world, and they've never treated me anything but well. They've been great clients, they pay competitive day rates, have reasonable contracts, they treat me with respect, cover all of my expenses and the editors I have direct contact with have ALWAYS gone out of their way to take care of me.
My wire service clients may be big, but since getting laid off from my staff job they've been a blessing to me and to my family and have really helped to fill the gaps between higher paying gigs. |
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Jody Gomez, Photographer
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Murrieta | CA | USA | Posted: 1:17 AM on 06.08.10 |
->> I couldn't be happier - two of my favorite shooters (and both good friends) daring to take on the big guys.
Kudos and big hugs to both of you Sandy and Rob! I wish nothing less than the best photographers, the wisdom to learn from mistakes, and the greatest success for you guys. You know I love to brainstorm ideas, so I'm here if either of you need a sounding board.
:~)
Jody |
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Scott Serio, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Colora | MD | USA | Posted: 8:41 AM on 06.08.10 |
->> @Blanco
"Evil Giant" is the wire service who routinely undercuts smaller wire services who have contracts just to crush the opposition. You know, say going in and taking a basketball image contract from a card company where the price was a whopping $5 an image and making it $1 an image.
They might treat you well, but for everyone who doesn't work for them, they make life suck.
Throwing stones, ok maybe not. I just felt that "negative vibe" some of these threads start to generate and just wasn't in the mood. I may have jumped the gun a little bit there.
Either way, good luck to anyone, in this market, willing to take a stand. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 9:14 AM on 06.08.10 |
| ->> Scott, with all due respect, I too am confused as to who the "evil giant" is and if they are treating you poorly it begs to ask, why do you offer your services to them? I have always been treated fairly by the wire services who have asked me to work for them....that said, I won't work on spec. Harrington along with a lot of people way smarter than me have been saying that for years. it's a bad idea to spend your own time, money and resources on the hopes someone might sell a photo and you might get a cut. In all honesty you would most likely be just as well investing those funds into a lotto ticket. I do wish these guys luck. it's like any other business venture....we'll see where they are next year. |
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Brian Blanco, Photographer
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Tampa / Sarasota | FL | USA | Posted: 9:37 AM on 06.08.10 |
->> Scott,
You said, "They might treat you well, but for everyone who doesn't work for them, they make life suck."
... and you think adding a spec news wire service is going to help elevate the industry as a whole?
It's an honest question; I'm not trying to be argumentative.
I agree that the undercutting practice that you described is certainly harmful to the industry but I just don't believe that we're going to find the answer in shooting NEWS (which has little resale value compared to sports and celebrity images) on spec. I don't say that to disrespect Robert or Sandy or their new venture. I'm not familiar with their business model and I really do, sincerely, wish them the best of luck and prosperity. |
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Scott Serio, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Colora | MD | USA | Posted: 11:36 AM on 06.08.10 |
| ->> Chuck, I don't "offer my services" to them. But, if you are the photographer who WAS making money shooting those sports and EVIL GIANT came along and ripped the contract away from your wire service by ridiculously undercutting them, well, I think you might think they were evil. |
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