Hello, i’ve been a photographer for sometime now. I have my own instagram page, my own equipment, and i have already posted a bunch. Recently i got hired at an event agency (photo/video) and i get to shoot most of their events (parties, weddings… you name it)
My problem is as follows: They want me to use their editing style (presets and colors) and put their logo on everything i take. I understand that those are their clients and hence they have their brand to show. But the real problem is that even the pictures i take myself, outside work, let’s say i call a friend out or take pics of my girlfriend and want to post them on my page, they won’t let me post without their presets as well (for marketing purposes) and to associate me with them.
I really hate this, because i can’t be creative anymore.
They pay really good money, so idk what to do.
How would you guys handle this?
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Unless your employment contract says you agree to doing this… they can get stuffed.
Too many businesses want their employees to use their personal social media presence to increase their business exposure… I mean, you could just give them an invoice for the time you spent creating your own images after hours, processing and uploading. If they have expectations, they need to pay for them. If you’re not on the clock at that time… then they should have realistic expectations: none.
I would expect them to have something in your contract about bringing their business in disrepute via your social media, but other than that they should butt out. But as I said, it depends what you agreed to. Really good money doesn’t mean they own your entire life, but if you think it will benefit you in the long run then you might want to suck it up. I hope this helps.
Make a fake alternate persona. “I didn’t take or post the photos, Jackie Daytona did!”
Regular human photographer
Crete another private Instagram account?
There is a lot of information that is missing from this for me to give you any real advice. But based on what you posted, here are some hypotheticals:
If they won’t let you post your own personal photos, then it becomes a simple matter of “Are you going to pay me for these?” If so then cool. But if not then I don’t see how they have any claim to your personal photos. UNless of course, you are using their equipment, software, ect, then they would have some claim.
You say they pay well. So is this your FT job, one you’d like to keep? Based on the condition of your employment with them, I would reread your contract and know what they are due and not due.
IF they are overstepping their bounds and demanding what they have no right too then you have a decision to make. Is the pay worth the frustration you’re feeling?
I know this isn’t much, but hopefully you can find a gold nugget here somewhere.
This is so stupidly easy to solve. Just make a new instagram account with a pseudonym that does link to you at all and post whatever you want.
That said, this is super weird and unprofessional.
IF this was performing, you get paid twice.
Say you get paid for a series of commercials - but their contract also says “If you’re in our commercials, you can’t be in any other commercials until the series is over.” In which case THEY ALSO NEED TO PAY YOU TO NOT WORK.
Sounds like your employer needs to pay you to be their photographer and also NOT be a photographer anywhere else. And that should be “afford-a-new-lifestyle” expensive.
Did you sign a contract with that clause in it? That seems like a gross overreach
If you are a 1099 contractor the contract probably doesn’t include a bin compete and you have a big say in your working relationship. If you are a W2 employee however, chances are there is a non compete clause in the contract and hence why they ask you to associate your outside work with them.
How do other photographers of your level at the company handle this? See if any of them had the awkward conversation already and take notes.
Unless you signed a non-compete contract and it explicitly says they own any work of yours/you cannot work on other projects, then they cannot enforce it nor can they use any of your images without your consent. They’d need to pay for licensing to do that. Especially if it’s on your time, your equipment, your art direction, editing, etc. That photo is legally yours.
I also understand the income issue…if you can’t afford to lose the income, then pick your battles, especially if it’s an at-will state. If it isn’t, then keep everything documented and maybe consider getting your work copywritten so that even if, for whatever reason, things went south, they can’t keep or use your images once you leave, they’d need to buy the rights or a license. Always do written communication for the same reason. Your boss sounds…very insecure, to put it nicely and i definitely would NOT trust them to take a moral or ethical approach if it came down to it.
Protect yourself and your work. It obviously has value.
I think base the decision on whats more important freedom of expression without any limitations or a stable income. Personally a well paying photography jobs are hard to come by so you don’t want to hurt yourself by chasing own goals that may not reward you financially but will creatively.
It’s pretty strict to force a move like that on to someone though but i definitely think you need to have a sit down and negotiate something that works for both.
Are you using their equipment, software licenses, or doing it on company time?
if they’re putting their name on it, then you deserve to get paid for it. if they arent paying you for it, they dont get to put their name on it…
What is in your employment contract?
Where are you located? Seems a very strange setup