Author Topic: My Photo on CBS News - but not very nice (Read 19828 times)

angelawaye · « **on:** January 09, 2016, 21:55 »

One of my images was used on cbs news and at first I was happy to hear but then when I saw the story I was taken back. Take a look at this video: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/agencies-updating-stock-photos

They talk about stock photography images being "generic" and use one of my images. A rep from shutterstock is on it as well. What are your opinions...

ShadySue · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2016, 22:23 »

I have no idea which was your image, but I strongly agree with the point they were making.
I've always thought most people stock images were <deleted>, so many women with perfect hair, skin and teeth (especially the superwhite, superstraight American teeth!) (unless they were being presented as a 'problem') but assumed that was what the US market wanted.
Fine that that company was hiring togs to create work specially (that would look much more upmarket), but they totally ignored the fact that the generic stuff is what has traditionally sold in numbers, and if images are selling for pennies, they need to sell often. They can't expect to have low demand images at a low cost.

Who was that 'news' item actually aimed at?

klsbear · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2016, 22:47 »

Generic does not have to be a negative, it just means it is not fitting into a narrow niche. Stock photos with a generic, broad appeal sell for a reason, they can fit a wider variety of needs. They also fit the trends that were in place for a long time. The trend of late seems to be going for a look with more variety, more flaws, more like the family down the street that may be less than perfect. Is your image the first one with the woman running? I suppose that would work in a number of countries and cultures where the buyer wanted to identify with young white blond mothers, hence a generic look. Is it selling? That is the real measure of its appeal.

marthamarks · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2016, 23:36 »

Quote from: ShadySue on January 09, 2016, 22:23

Who was that 'news' item actually aimed at?

I happened to catch tonight's CBS Evening News and saw that segment. Couldn't help thinking about the MSG group, although we clearly weren't the target audience.

I have no clue why that subject was considered worthy of a national program, even on a slow-news Saturday night. Made no sense to me, even as I was watching it.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2016, 05:06 »

Jumping on the "Lean In" bandwagon. Yeah, why can't Shutterstock just go in and "clear out" all the stock photos that make millions for them? Lol.

ShadySue · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2016, 09:31 »

Relevant section from 2:50 - 3:55.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_t_wB7t5Yo

memakephoto · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2016, 11:39 »

*Sigh*

It's human nature to deny human nature. This issue has come up over and over since commercial photography began but in the end the result is the same.

Ad agencies are not interested in what people really look like. They are interested in grabbing attention with their ads and the ugly truth is people are attracted to pretty things. It might be argued that the hypocrisy here is that even the women that complain about this don't go to work the way they look when they get out of bed. They put on make up and style their hair and dress attractively with high heels no less not because society demands it but because they want to look good. They want the world to see the ideal versions of themselves then complain because ads feature the ideal versions of other women.

In the end the market determines the kind of photos that are successful. Shutterstock won't delete those images of stereotypical women because they sell. When that stops (it won't but for the sake of argument) then you'll see a different kind of model in stock photos.

ShadySue · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2016, 11:49 »

Quote from: memakephoto on January 10, 2016, 11:39

It might be argued that the hypocrisy here is that even the women that complain about this don't go to work the way they look when they get out of bed. They put on make up and style their hair and dress attractively with high heels no less not because society demands it but because they want to look good.

I'm happy to say that if I comb my hair, that's my 'better version of me', even when I had a daily job.

But now I'm old and paint my nails blue.

Besides, having conventionally-stunning looks, gallons of makeup and a wardrobe full of expensive clothes doesn't guarantee happiness. Ask Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 10, 2016, 11:50 »

Quote from: memakephoto on January 10, 2016, 11:39

It might be argued that the hypocrisy here is that even the women that complain about this don't go to work the way they look when they get out of bed. They put on make up and style their hair and dress attractively with high heels no less not because society demands it but because they want to look good. They want the world to see the ideal versions of themselves then complain because ads feature the ideal versions of other women.

Really? You don't think societal pressure has anything to do with it? That's amazing.

And I have yet to see a man show up at work the way he looked when he got out of bed, with the exception of my friend Dave, who showed up for work on "Casual Friday" wearing a bathrobe and slippers after people kidded him about what he'd wear because he dressed so casually every day.

He wore that getup all day, btw. Hilarious.

memakephoto · « **Reply #9 on:** January 10, 2016, 12:00 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on January 10, 2016, 11:50

Quote from: memakephoto on January 10, 2016, 11:39
It might be argued that the hypocrisy here is that even the women that complain about this don't go to work the way they look when they get out of bed. They put on make up and style their hair and dress attractively with high heels no less not because society demands it but because they want to look good. They want the world to see the ideal versions of themselves then complain because ads feature the ideal versions of other women.

Really? You don't think societal pressure has anything to do with it? That's amazing.

And I have yet to see a man show up at work the way he looked when he got out of bed, with the exception of my friend Dave, who showed up for work on "Casual Friday" wearing a bathrobe and slippers after people kidded him about what he'd wear because he dressed so casually every day.

He wore that getup all day, btw. Hilarious.

See? I said it could be argued and it was.

There is no law that says you have to put on make up. There are no hair police. If you went to work with bed head and and no makeup you would not lose your job but people around you might think you couldn't even be bothered to run a comb through your hair? What a slob. Even the women would say that thus the hypocrisy.

By the way, you won't see many male models with man boobs, hairy backs and male pattern baldness. Why? Same reason. Society likes pretty things. you might not like it, you clearly don't but it's the way it's always been. Break the trend, stop presenting yourself to the world looking your best with make up and pretty hair. Be the brave soul that starts the world down a better path. But you won't, which is kind of my point.

ETA: Sorry, felt compelled to add this: Of course there's societal pressure. I never said there wasn't. I said you don't have to bend to it. Aside from the disapproving looks of your co-workers there would be no consequences to stripping away all the things that make you look your best. But we do bend to it. all of us. Society is not some illusive, mysterious "them" that lurk in the shadows and make the rules we all have to follow. Society is us. We create the problem we then complain about.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #10 on:** January 10, 2016, 12:19 »

Quote from: ShadySue on January 10, 2016, 09:31

Relevant section from 2:50 - 3:55.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_t_wB7t5Yo

That's a link to a comedy show?

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2016, 12:27 »

Stock photographers try to produce images that customers want to license. The conversation is incomplete without discussion of the demand side of this supply & demand business. And the Shutterstock person had clearly been media trained, but wouldn't say that they honestly don't care what customers buy as long as they keep buying.

There is nothing authentic about most stock photos - they were set up and shot on purpose. Most studio family photos aren't "authentic" either - people get dressed up and the photos are carefully lit. My take on this current talk about authenticity is that it really means "don't look quite so stocky" - it's akin to Steven Colbert's truthiness.

This was an easy filler on a slow news day that probably filled some slot of covering more women's issues.

ShadySue · « **Reply #12 on:** January 10, 2016, 12:35 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 10, 2016, 12:19

Quote from: ShadySue on January 10, 2016, 09:31
Relevant section from 2:50 - 3:55.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_t_wB7t5Yo

That's a link to a comedy show?

Yes.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 10, 2016, 12:54 »

Quote from: memakephoto on January 10, 2016, 12:00

Quote from: Shelma1 on January 10, 2016, 11:50
Quote from: memakephoto on January 10, 2016, 11:39

Sorry, felt compelled to add this: Of course there's societal pressure. I never said there wasn't. I said you don't have to bend to it.

No, you said "They put on make up and style their hair and dress attractively with high heels no less not because society demands it but because they want to look good."

You changed your mind after I pointed out that men do the same thing. Maybe not makeup and heels (depends on the man, I guess; actors and rock stars wear makeup a lot, and male ballroom and latin dancers wear heels), but shaving, showering, wearing a suit or uniform, getting regular haircuts, wearing nice shoes, ties, etc.—all societal pressure.

ArenaCreative · « **Reply #14 on:** January 11, 2016, 10:39 »

It really must be a slow news day, if this made the nightly news... goodness gracious.

Angela you have nothing to be ashamed of. This is just a baloney news story, and these people being interviewed know nothing. There is a huge need and a market for EVERY type of image, both authentic and posed / corny / stereotypical. People are going to try and say this or that, at the end of the day who gives a rats cooley if it's selling and paying your bills.

Even if some don't like the corny posed and stereotypical type images, guess what!? Millions of folks are still buying them, thinking that it's what folks actually want to see on their company website or advertising. What do we care... I am not losing sleep over it. I produce both types of imagery, and will continue to do so.

cathyslife · « **Reply #15 on:** January 11, 2016, 11:53 »

Quote

Even if some don't like the corny posed and stereotypical type images, guess what!? Millions of folks are still buying them, thinking that it's what folks actually want to see on their company website or advertising.

The old saying applies...one man's trash is another man's treasure.

YadaYadaYada · « **Reply #16 on:** January 11, 2016, 13:44 »

Quote from: angelawaye on January 09, 2016, 21:55

One of my images was used on cbs news and at first I was happy to hear but then when I saw the story I was taken back. Take a look at this video: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/agencies-updating-stock-photos

They talk about stock photography images being "generic" and use one of my images. A rep from shutterstock is on it as well. What are your opinions...

When you upload to Microstock and send your photos off to the internet you need to accept that you have nearly lost all future control of them and the use is virtually unlimited except extreme misuse or porn. I don't know which photo is yours. None was terrible as the last lady in the interview about stereotyping. Microstock is stereotyping for general use. That's what sells. Pretty models doing something that a buyer can use.

But you need to accept that you uploaded and give up any idea that you have any control of your photos. They will be stolen, copied, used and sold. The day we upload is the day we lost our power over our own work. We make 29-38 cents and knew that in advance.

charged · « **Reply #17 on:** January 11, 2016, 14:19 »

Anything I shoot that sells, I will shoot again. Anything I shoot that doesn't sell, I won't do it again, there is no good reason to waste time on things that don't sell. I primarily shoot very stocky/generic looking things, mainly because it is easy for me. I keep doing it because people buy it. They buy enough of it for me to do this full time.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #18 on:** January 11, 2016, 15:23 »

There's a use for (most) every photo. Just because a trendy designer with a nose ring thinks everything out there is garbage and useless, doesn't make it so. And shooting with colored gels against a yellow background doesn't make an image more "real" either.

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #19 on:** January 11, 2016, 15:49 »

this is normal for when viewers ratings are low, and there are no news about some countries at war or whatever. it's like grunge and those selfie movies with the camera shaking all over and they informed the world that this is the new big thing in show business, and not the well-produced movies like Batman, Matrix,etc.. whatever.

this is also when some used to be national TV was the household station that everyone tunes in to
every day and night... but is not ever nowadays. so they need to get noticed, so they bring in some grubbie from the street and made him/her the TV news manager or whatver instead of the sanitation director.

if it is all so true, i will be the first one to change my look and stop combing my hair and brushing my teeth; not even bother getting out of my pyjamas before i get out of the house.

i will believe everything is au natural and smelly is in ... the day i look at all those boxes and ads of
makeup, hair coloring, etc when they start exchanging the super made-over gorgeous stars for some grubbie with brown teeth and clothes like they robbed a ruggamuffin.

until then, i will say it's all a lot of BS ... and i don't mean "Big Stock"

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #20 on:** January 11, 2016, 15:51 »

oh yes, i forgot to say...

that also when the toilet paper i buy ... start having a stray cat on it, instead of that cute fluffy furry white * cat.

ShadySue · « **Reply #21 on:** January 11, 2016, 16:04 »

Quote from: etudiante_rapide on January 11, 2016, 15:49

i will believe everything is au natural and smelly is in ... the day i look at all those boxes and ads of makeup, hair coloring, etc when they start exchanging the super made-over gorgeous stars for some grubbie with brown teeth and clothes like they robbed a ruggamuffin.

Au naturel doesn't sell unnecessary products.
We have to be made to 'need wants'.

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #22 on:** January 11, 2016, 20:45 »

Quote from: ShadySue on January 11, 2016, 16:04

Quote from: etudiante_rapide on January 11, 2016, 15:49
i will believe everything is au natural and smelly is in ... the day i look at all those boxes and ads of makeup, hair coloring, etc when they start exchanging the super made-over gorgeous stars for some grubbie with brown teeth and clothes like they robbed a ruggamuffin.
Au naturel doesn't sell unnecessary products.
We have to be made to 'need wants'.

that's true too...
like creating a false demand ... so everyone thinks this product will make you a transformation
of your dream.
but i was too quick to say what i did too.
this "made to need wants" like you put it so well, has been done ages ago...
from the time when they get a bunch of not so good musicians , dress them up, get the public
fed to think they're the hottest thing since wawa...
fill the pop charts worldwide they are shooting up with a bullet...
even if they can't hold a note in a paper bag.

seawhisper · « **Reply #23 on:** January 12, 2016, 04:03 »

Well basically journalists whine about evil photographers that create unrealistic image, but the photographers create images that are in demand. Noone would ever create photos that need a lot of time to take if people wanted something different.

It's just so timeless - people were whining about corsets and how women "cheat" with them into making everyone believe they have slimmer waist.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #24 on:** January 12, 2016, 06:48 »

Well its just an ad for refinery 29 and SS of course. This kind of news story doesn't just happen.

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Author Topic: My Photo on CBS News - but not very nice (Read 19828 times)

angelawaye

ShadySue

klsbear

marthamarks

Shelma1

ShadySue

memakephoto

ShadySue

Shelma1

memakephoto

Jo Ann Snover

Jo Ann Snover

ShadySue

Shelma1

ArenaCreative

cathyslife

YadaYadaYada

charged

Sean Locke Photography

etudiante_rapide

etudiante_rapide

ShadySue

etudiante_rapide

seawhisper

Justanotherphotographer

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