Five Words Never to Say to Pro Photographers

PDNOnline, the web site of photographer trade publication Photo District News, has a story about how pressure from angry photographers broke up a business relationship. Modern Postcard is a standard stop for pro shooters who have samples of their work printed to send to potential clients. The company was working with iStockphoto, a microstock site where photographers, often amateurs, upload photos and people can pay a pittance to use images for their projects. This is a major pressure on pros who can't ignore the costs of overhead, equipment, and so on, and must charge rates that let them run a profitable business.

Modern sent out a mailing with the following paragraph:

"As a Modern Postcard customer, you're entitled to free images, free credits and a 10% discount on any iStockphoto credit bundle over $20. So, skip the expensive photo shoot and create direct mailers with high quality images from iStockphoto.com!"

And the five words you can't say to pro photogaphers? Skip the expensive photo shoot.:

The response was so fast and negative that Modern Postcard sent out an apology the same day. "We sincerely apologize as this miscommunicates our intentions and our feelings about professional photography," the company wrote in another e-mail within hours of its first message Friday.