Raedeke, John
For the record I have done a lot of professional photography over the course of 25 years. This is always a question that comes up from clients, or prospective clients. Why is it so expensive? Can't you just take a couple photos at my wedding and I will pay for the film and processing, it's a small wedding. Sure you could get the average Joe out there and have him take a photo for you. What you don't know is what you will get as a result for an image.
These photographers you see at the races are not racking in bucks by just standing there with a camera taking snapshots. They are highly skilled professionals that have had to learn a lot of very technical skills to get those images you see. Not every image will be perfect, that is just the nature of the business.
What they carry around for equipment is very expensive too. Figure two or three of your fancy $3-6000 bikes hanging around their neck and in bags. And in the instance for Mudslinger, a Cross race, or dusty Bend race they cannot simply hose off the camera give it a good lube and be ready for the next ride. They have to be much more careful than that.
They need plenty of experience to actually operate these cameras correctly in the environment the cyclists are in. Often they hike quite some distance with load of gear to set up well before racers will get there to test shots and get exposures correct.
Then you have 1000's of images you have to sift through and make available for people to buy.
I don't want to sound like a rant but they work hard for what they get and deserve a big thanks every time you see them at the races. And every once in a while just don't buy a few Mochas from Starbucks and buy a photo from a local photographer.
john
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From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Marc Fortier
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 12:53 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Why are event photos so expensive ?
OK I will start by saying I'm ignorant of the whole event photography business model, but from a consumer standpoint, I don't see why a digital photo costs so much. For example, to get a full resolution digital copy of the photo of myself from the Echo race will set me back $40 (for a photo that's not even exposed very well - although I will mention that many of the photos from the race look spectacular). Now if these cost me say $5 apiece, I probably would have spent hundreds of dollars in the last few years, but as it is I've spent about zero dollars. Couldn't there be a cheaper purchase option for downloading hi-res digital photos 'for personal use only' (no reselling, etc) ?
I always feel bad I'm not funneling $$ towards these photographers who spend their time running around the course taking cool shots of everybody, but I really can't justify the expense at the current rates.