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Sorry for the length of this one guys, I just need to vent/word vomit a little.
A bit of background to start with; for the last 6-7 years I've been taking photos at nightclubs and events (along with private parties-birthdays etc for even longer) for a few reasons. Originally to try to get to know event promoters, and start to get DJ work out of it (which worked, but have since lost interest) and to see some of my favourite international acts without paying the entry price.
It's also worked wonders for my self esteem and communication skills (along with working in retail) as my camera was originally something to "hide" behind I guess when I went out, no need to feel socially awkward if I had something to keep me occupied. Being a non-drinker and quite shy don't really fit in with these environments.
Over the years I've carved out the sort of reputation I never expected to have when I started out, consistent, high quality photos with my own "style" - which can actually be identified scarily enough, as well as having relatively high standards of what I'll publish. I'm also one of the few photogs out there that'll rock out on the dance floor between shooting. It's gotten to the point where I'm booked solely on my reputation and my photos. I don't advertise anywhere, and I work 1-2 nights a week at a minimum.
I've also met some of my closest friends, and my partner of the past four years due to taking the plunge and saying, "I can do that."
However this site is customers suck, and in this case it's the punters that suck.
"Where's my photo?"
This is probably my biggest/most common complaint. It's usually directly related to my previous mention of having standards which I'll explain a little here. Basically, as I go through the photos from a night for upload, I'll assess them on a number of criteria - first was the shot itself decent? In focus, good exposure etc. Those that are out of focus or too under/over exposed to rescue get culled. I usually spot these as I shoot, so the next shot is usually OK.
The next category is to do with the subjects of the photos. Unfortunately with the scene(s) that I shoot, alcohol and other narcotics are fairly prevalent, and the local tabloids/current affairs shows love the vilify such events - making a big deal out of 4 people overdosing at an event where there were 20,000 attendees for example, I don't want to give them anymore ammunition - so if someone looks seriously under the weather/influence - bye-bye photo, even if it's just one person out of a group. I also won't publish too many photos of the same person - so no, I won't publish 20 photos of you with a different person in each shot, you're not that special. (Exceptions are of the acts/DJs, that's OK, people came to see them and the photos should reflect that). Essentially I'm there to make the event look good, bring more people to the next one.
Most of the time, people are OK with this, however I did get sick of essentially saying the same thing to dozens of people, so several years ago I created a basic "Your photo was cut due to one or more of the following reasons:" template that I'd copy/paste, listing the reasons above without saying which reason it was (for diplomatic/self preservation purposes) and eventually posted it publicly so I'd only have to copy/paste a link from now on.
Some however, don't get the hint.
Last Friday's sucky punter is an example:
SP: *pulls gurning face*
Me: Normal face mate, or no photo
SP: What the f*ck man, go on *other photographer's site* and you see hundreds of my party faces!
Me: So?
End up getting the photo, decent enough one, so I thought that was the end.
Nope. The following are comments on the photo on Facebook:
SP: This is the guy that hates my party face
Me: If by "party face" you mean the appearance of being totally drug f*cked, well I do have standards I have to maintain. *posted link to the above mentioned statement*
SP's girlfriend: He wasn't on drugs?
Me: Doesn't matter. Note the word "appearance"
SP's GF: Fair enough chief
SP: I have been of shit for two years. Wtf. ???? Fuck of prjkt delete the picture and your comment. I'm close friends with *other photographer* and this is disrespect to him. And my first time out sober. If you don't want this full violent please do as I asked. With out another comment
Yeah. I was threatened. By someone I'd only met once, because I wouldn't take a photo of him looking like a d*ck. At this point I went on some tirade about the other photographer having no relevance to my practices and vice versa and making the night look good. Haven't had a response yet, but will post if it gets amusing.
Other sucky punters I've had over the years include;
People who'd grab my arm for a photo - strongly enough to leave a bruise on one occasion and yank me their direction - when I'm already taking a photo of someone else. I've never been so close to punching someone in the face as I have with one particular "specimen" - Would grab me from behind, even kicked me square in the elbow - which left my camera arm weak for the rest of the night. Eventually got kicked out. None of his photos were published.
I can't be certain if it was him, or another overweight, middle-aged guy, but had similar behaviour less than a year later, in addition he was also groping several of my friends. This guy also got kicked out (and had the balls to ask where his photo was….)
Those that can't comprehend I don't drink alcohol/partake in drugs and try to force me to do so - most often alcohol, rarely other substances but there have been a couple of times I'd felt quite pressured. Having my foot stomped on with a stiletto by a girl who was pissed I wouldn't drink something she stole of someone else was probably the most memorable.
Inconsiderate smokers. In general, I understand that if I'm in the outdoor smoking area of a venue, there's going to be cigarette smoke. But don't blow it in my face and ask for a photo in the same breath. I'm just going to cough in yours. And no, you are not allowed to smoke inside so get the f*ck away from me. (Cigarette smoke in enclosed spaces really affects me - headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing etc - outside where there's some airflow is a different story.)
People that want a photo a photo every few seconds, multiple poses, with a different person each time, or who'll just jump in any photo regardless of if they know them or not. As above, you'll only get one or two posted, three if you're lucky, so leave me alone for a change…
It's OK if people are having fun in the pics - really captures the vibe of the night, but there is one girl who will have the same blank face, saucer eye'd look in every shot. It doesn't look good, and no one wants a photo with you so leave them alone…
Anyway, for those that have had the patience to read this rambling rant, thank you, it's been a long time coming.
A bit of background to start with; for the last 6-7 years I've been taking photos at nightclubs and events (along with private parties-birthdays etc for even longer) for a few reasons. Originally to try to get to know event promoters, and start to get DJ work out of it (which worked, but have since lost interest) and to see some of my favourite international acts without paying the entry price.
It's also worked wonders for my self esteem and communication skills (along with working in retail) as my camera was originally something to "hide" behind I guess when I went out, no need to feel socially awkward if I had something to keep me occupied. Being a non-drinker and quite shy don't really fit in with these environments.
Over the years I've carved out the sort of reputation I never expected to have when I started out, consistent, high quality photos with my own "style" - which can actually be identified scarily enough, as well as having relatively high standards of what I'll publish. I'm also one of the few photogs out there that'll rock out on the dance floor between shooting. It's gotten to the point where I'm booked solely on my reputation and my photos. I don't advertise anywhere, and I work 1-2 nights a week at a minimum.
I've also met some of my closest friends, and my partner of the past four years due to taking the plunge and saying, "I can do that."
However this site is customers suck, and in this case it's the punters that suck.
"Where's my photo?"
This is probably my biggest/most common complaint. It's usually directly related to my previous mention of having standards which I'll explain a little here. Basically, as I go through the photos from a night for upload, I'll assess them on a number of criteria - first was the shot itself decent? In focus, good exposure etc. Those that are out of focus or too under/over exposed to rescue get culled. I usually spot these as I shoot, so the next shot is usually OK.
The next category is to do with the subjects of the photos. Unfortunately with the scene(s) that I shoot, alcohol and other narcotics are fairly prevalent, and the local tabloids/current affairs shows love the vilify such events - making a big deal out of 4 people overdosing at an event where there were 20,000 attendees for example, I don't want to give them anymore ammunition - so if someone looks seriously under the weather/influence - bye-bye photo, even if it's just one person out of a group. I also won't publish too many photos of the same person - so no, I won't publish 20 photos of you with a different person in each shot, you're not that special. (Exceptions are of the acts/DJs, that's OK, people came to see them and the photos should reflect that). Essentially I'm there to make the event look good, bring more people to the next one.
Most of the time, people are OK with this, however I did get sick of essentially saying the same thing to dozens of people, so several years ago I created a basic "Your photo was cut due to one or more of the following reasons:" template that I'd copy/paste, listing the reasons above without saying which reason it was (for diplomatic/self preservation purposes) and eventually posted it publicly so I'd only have to copy/paste a link from now on.
Some however, don't get the hint.
Last Friday's sucky punter is an example:
SP: *pulls gurning face*
Me: Normal face mate, or no photo
SP: What the f*ck man, go on *other photographer's site* and you see hundreds of my party faces!
Me: So?
End up getting the photo, decent enough one, so I thought that was the end.
Nope. The following are comments on the photo on Facebook:
SP: This is the guy that hates my party face
Me: If by "party face" you mean the appearance of being totally drug f*cked, well I do have standards I have to maintain. *posted link to the above mentioned statement*
SP's girlfriend: He wasn't on drugs?
Me: Doesn't matter. Note the word "appearance"
SP's GF: Fair enough chief
SP: I have been of shit for two years. Wtf. ???? Fuck of prjkt delete the picture and your comment. I'm close friends with *other photographer* and this is disrespect to him. And my first time out sober. If you don't want this full violent please do as I asked. With out another comment
Yeah. I was threatened. By someone I'd only met once, because I wouldn't take a photo of him looking like a d*ck. At this point I went on some tirade about the other photographer having no relevance to my practices and vice versa and making the night look good. Haven't had a response yet, but will post if it gets amusing.
Other sucky punters I've had over the years include;
People who'd grab my arm for a photo - strongly enough to leave a bruise on one occasion and yank me their direction - when I'm already taking a photo of someone else. I've never been so close to punching someone in the face as I have with one particular "specimen" - Would grab me from behind, even kicked me square in the elbow - which left my camera arm weak for the rest of the night. Eventually got kicked out. None of his photos were published.
I can't be certain if it was him, or another overweight, middle-aged guy, but had similar behaviour less than a year later, in addition he was also groping several of my friends. This guy also got kicked out (and had the balls to ask where his photo was….)
Those that can't comprehend I don't drink alcohol/partake in drugs and try to force me to do so - most often alcohol, rarely other substances but there have been a couple of times I'd felt quite pressured. Having my foot stomped on with a stiletto by a girl who was pissed I wouldn't drink something she stole of someone else was probably the most memorable.
Inconsiderate smokers. In general, I understand that if I'm in the outdoor smoking area of a venue, there's going to be cigarette smoke. But don't blow it in my face and ask for a photo in the same breath. I'm just going to cough in yours. And no, you are not allowed to smoke inside so get the f*ck away from me. (Cigarette smoke in enclosed spaces really affects me - headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing etc - outside where there's some airflow is a different story.)
People that want a photo a photo every few seconds, multiple poses, with a different person each time, or who'll just jump in any photo regardless of if they know them or not. As above, you'll only get one or two posted, three if you're lucky, so leave me alone for a change…
It's OK if people are having fun in the pics - really captures the vibe of the night, but there is one girl who will have the same blank face, saucer eye'd look in every shot. It doesn't look good, and no one wants a photo with you so leave them alone…
Anyway, for those that have had the patience to read this rambling rant, thank you, it's been a long time coming.
. I know it is more sucky person in general then a true troll, but I found that similar rules apply. Just post your rules on why, and leave it at that.
).
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