So, everyone is patting themselves on the back for getting Taylor Swift to back down on her treatment of Photographers. YIKES!!
My thoughts:
It is doubtful (and isn’t spelled out in her contract) whether she will allow you to work off of an assignment from a wire service or agency. So there goes any chance you might have of syndication of the photographs. (Any photographs taken by you will only be used by the organization you represent and its website for news and information/editorial purposes)
She will not allow you to use the photographs for commercial purposes. (You will not use the photographs for any commercial purpose unless you receive prior written permission from us. This use will be for news or information/editorial purposes by the organization listed below and on its associated websites.) That is no big deal as no one is allowed to capitalize on another person’s likeness anyway. Any professional photographer should know that!!
She (one of the richest people in the world) still wants to use the photographer’s work with no compensation (If Taylor Swift wishes to post a review or photo of The 1989 World Tour used by your publication on any of her social media accounts or pages, you hereby grant Taylor Swift and Firefly Entertainment, Inc. (FEI), worldwide rights to use such links on her social media accounts.) (If Taylor Swift wishes to post a review or photo of The 1989 World Tour used by your publication on any of her social media accounts or pages, you hereby grant Taylor Swift and Firefly Entertainment, Inc. (FEI), worldwide rights to use such links on her social media accounts.) This means nothing, as everyone links to good reviews in their social media already. Nobody ever asks permission!!
And now the part that was not mentioned:
You are still only allowed to photograph two songs (the beginning, and the most boring part of the show). More than likely, you will be shooting from about 50 yards away, meaning you will have to bring at least a 400mm lens and you will be shooting through a sea of hands and heads of her fans. You will also be shooting at a straight on angle (very unflattering). If you are allowed to shoot from the “photo” pit, you will be directly in front of (most likely) a high stage, and will be shooting right up her nose. You will also not be able to see all the stage sets, and they will not appear in your photographs.
So if you agree to these terms, you will most likely spend about $150.00 (lens rental and transportation) to make about $50.00 or less back. (Or nothing back, as most blogs don’t pay for photographs!
So to recap:
You still only get to take crappy pictures.
Taylor Swift still gets to use them for free (on social media).
You can still only license them to one entity, and not to an agency.
You lose money on the deal, and do a lot of work for nothing.
Just my 2 cents!!