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Providing a Track A CD/DVD of Photo's taken at there track?
CanadianRacingOnline:
OK I have been to many tracks with Press Passes and today I was requesting press pass for a couple of my photographers.
I got a reply saying they this:
We ask that photographers receiving media passes, submit a DVD/CD to the track of the pictures taken in high res that we can use for promotional materials.
I have never heard of this from any tracks and if a track asked me if they could use one of my photo's I would say sure here it is free of charge but requesting a copy of all the photo's I have taken?
I was shocked and replied can I watermark them and the reply I got was yes as long as the watermark is not across the image making them useless. First thought comes to my mind if they did use one of the photo's my watermark would be cropped out.
I guess that track will not get any free promotions from this site, as I just use the photo's to share with users here. I also guess I will not be attending this track as well as maybe they will stop me on the way and ask me to dump my Camera's Media Card before they will let me out of the track. (Just joking but who knows)
File this under Strange Requests.
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=14378.msg98141#msg98141
CanadianRacingOnline:
The photographers already made plans to go somewhere else. I guess they weren't impressed with it either.
I have been doing this for 12 years now and this has never happened. I guess I was more shocked then anything else and it caught me off guard.
I could see if they were paying me to take photos to get a copy but just for giving press passes?
All tracks I have asked were greatfull that I wanted to attend the track and take photos as they know it's free promotion for the track.
I usually do a write up on the track if it's the first time there. I'm not asking for the royal treatment or anything like that. I'm not like that.
Tracks really need to get up to date with the times and understand the more free press they get the more people will come to the tracks to watch races.
I notice this trend with tracks and series. They don't put out any press release or anything to let people know they exist.
It's a shame as there is a ton of good tracks and series in Canada but they are the best kept secrets you could say.
I try my best at CRO to get them to send me stuff on the series or tracks but a lot of times I don't even hear back from them.
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=14378.msg98146#msg98146
John:
--- Quote from: CanadianRacingOnline on September 30, 2011, 12:27:06 AM ---OK I have been to many tracks with Press Passes and today I was requesting press pass for a couple of my photographers.
I got a reply saying they this:
We ask that photographers receiving media passes, submit a DVD/CD to the track of the pictures taken in high res that we can use for promotional materials.
I have never heard of this from any tracks and if a track asked me if they could use one of my photo's I would say sure here it is free of charge but requesting a copy of all the photo's I have taken?
--- End quote ---
Evan, I’m not certain from which speedway you requested the credentials, but to add a bit of information from a speedway’s position:
The request for a CD / DVD of the photos is very common (if not industry standard) in grassroots stock car racing, and has been standard at our track for a number of years for most outlets (depending on media type).
It is usually seen as a cooperative gesture where the media and the speedway work together to accomplish their goals. In this case, the speedway opens its doors to allow the media access for coverage, the media outlet helps the speedway by sharing some of the material gathered. This is especially useful for outlets with low-circulation as when the photo is used with a photo-credit, it can drive traffic to that outlet and help it grow in reader / viewership.
Instead of asking for a full CD, I’ll often ask photographers to send in a few of their ‘best’ shots they feel showcased the event. I’ve never had a photographer carry issue with this policy. While you may be willing to provide a photo upon request – how can the speedway request a copy of a photo it has not seen?
Because of the volume of requests, it can be difficult for a speedway to determine who is a ‘legitimate outlet’, and who has (as the other poster put it), simply purchased a high-end camera and started a word-press blog to get free entry to races. Requesting of copies of the photos is a way that a track can establish a relationship with the media outlet, one that if handled correctly becomes a win-win for everyone.
-John Houghton
Delaware Speedway PR
(519) 652-5068 Ext 201
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=14378.msg98150#msg98150
CanadianRacingOnline:
This is why we opened our classifieds site at http://www.RacingClassifieds.ca.
Many people have thanked me for this free site where they can post their ads and not only be seen at their home track but from racers all over Canada.
Yes they need to understand that fans need to get results as they can only attend one or maybe to races a weekend. So results and pictures from a track gives them a picture of what happened and if there is no picture they don't attend the tracks.
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=14378.msg98151#msg98151
John:
... As a quick note of reminder - - Delaware Speedway was not the track Evan requested credentials from. I am simply answering these as a PR representative who is active on the boards to try to help add some insight into a topic rarely discussed: speedway media rights.
These posts are detailed, but a part of my job is spent handling these rights and doing so in such a way that benefits media through partnership, as well as improves the promotional reach of the track.
--- Quote from: yetti69 on September 30, 2011, 03:35:09 PM ---The calling card of a site like this is the online presence, not a photo portfolio. Would the track ask The Toronto Star to submit all their photos? They might be agreeable to do so if you pay part of the costs they are paying to their freelance/contract photographers, but otherwise not a hope in heck you are getting them for free.
--- End quote ---
Without getting into the details of specific speedway policy -- no. The track likely would not require a large print outlet to provide photos, as in general, we have specific use guidelines for photos taken by those outlets. We enjoy a great deal of cooperation with local newspapers and because of this relationship I am 100% certain we would enjoy their cooperation for a photo request.
--- Quote from: yetti69 on September 30, 2011, 03:35:09 PM ---You have an online print media here, requesting to take some photos to compliment the FREE press they are giving you.
--- End quote ---
Which is all the more reason to work together to promote the event. Speedway's have invested interest in the continued success of message boards. Delaware is one of the tracks that has invested notable resources in doing so.
Declining to provide copies of the photos would likely not result in the cancellation of a media pass, but if the media and the track are in a cooperative relationship, there is generally no issue.
--- Quote from: yetti69 on September 30, 2011, 03:35:09 PM ---I’ll suggest that is of far more benefit, and different, than the shutter bug/post on their website no one follows, sort who would actually give away their work (pictures) for free.
--- End quote ---
Absolutely there is a big difference - - but it can be difficult to determine what that difference is. My argument is that it is not out of line for a speedway to request copies of photos taken at speedway-run events as part of a media agreement. While they may not always receive these copies (workload on photographers etc...), they do retain the rights to do so under such an agreement.
--- Quote from: yetti69 on September 30, 2011, 03:35:09 PM ---But yet they setup roadblocks asking for free stuff that no professional is going to give away, and irrelevant to the services offered?
--- End quote ---
Professional outlets are familiar with media agreements and licensing, they are not roadblocks, they are part of the business. Even speedway competitors are loosely familiar with it (at least at Delaware) as each of them signs a media release as part of their competitor licensing which allows images of them and their vehicles to be used in speedway promotions.
Media agreements are about developing relationships with media partners that are long-lasting and benefit both parties.
In licensing media, certain rights are given to those outlets to cover the events. They benefit through having material to publish to increase their readership, the track and it's drivers benefit through this additional coverage and awareness. Within that partnership there is room to maneuver to ensure that no unreasonable burden is placed on those covering events, but the request to see the photos and potentially use them in promotions is not unreasonable within a standard speedway media license.
To use a real example:
Last season a group of photographers came out to the track. They were provided free admission to the speedway under a standard media license. This license granted them the rights to post photos in their gallery and allowed the track to have high-resolution copies to use in speedway promotions. The CD’s came in several weeks later - - one photo was used as the poster picture for the ISMA Super Modifieds (with photographer credit). Had the track not made the agreement with the photographers in advance of the photo being taken that promotional photo would not have been available for use. The photographers were able to use their media rights to use the photo in their gallery, the speedway was able to exercise its rights in using the picture as part of a promotion.
I hope this is helpful in understanding how media licensing works (at least at one track). It's designed to be a system that works for everyone involved, and is one that we often discuss and make changes to based on suggestions from media outlets we work with.
-John Houghton
Public Relations
Delaware Speedway
(519) 652-5068 Ext 201
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=14378.msg98154#msg98154
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