Did I do something wrong?

Hi everyone,

I have just had an interesting experience with a magazine and would love to hear your thoughts on this.
I contacted this magazine a few months ago asking whether they would consider me for publication. The editor responded back a couple of weeks ago saying that they love my work, and would love to publish me in their next issue. After exchanging a few emails and sending what they requested, I asked a question about compensation, to which I was told that the budgets being so tight, the mag did not compensate its contributors. I then responded by saying that while I understand their position, I preferred to withdraw my submission.
And this was the editor's response that I've received this morning:

"So expected.
We always face this with ONLY arab photographs. I kinda thought for a min you are different. But here comes disappointment again.
When Soura magazine [here is a link to the mag: www.souramagazine.com] was launched it's main aim was to inspire and give exposure to Arab talents being it the only photography magazine from the Middle East to the World. But subhanAllah, even with this aim we are still finding it difficult to deal with Middle Eastern artists.

We have featured about 300 photographers over the last 4 years. Most of them were huge international names such as the Legendary Yousuf Karsh, Rodney Charters, Nadine Labaki, Karen Ballard, Hugo Tillman, Alessandro Bavari and many more. Am pretty sure giving out their work without any compensation did NOT send the wrong message. I really do not want you to think that i am underestimating your talent, but i also believe you have a long way to reach their level.

The funny thing is you are the one who approached us asking for this feature opportunity. And I actually had to really convince the editor to include you in our next issue as he and the Creative Director thought your work isn't up to standards compared to other photographers we are featuring in our next issue. But then again we wanted to give you our support because this is what we aim for.

Anyways i do wish you all the best of luck."

Do you guys think this is a professional answer? Did I do something wrong?
I have yet to reply to that email, and frankly wonder if it is even worth it.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Thx

I would like to know which magazine it is so I don't waste my time with them. I doubt a reply is even worthwhile as you say.

Younes
You were correct in withdrawing your submission and yes, the reply was very unprofessional. If I were in your shoes I would not give him or her the satisfaction of a reply. I really enjoy your work and we all have a limited amount of time on this planet and should try to make the most of what remains.
Gary

If Yousuf Karsh agreed to give them use of his work for free sometime in the last 4 years that was a pretty neat trick. He died 7 years ago. Don't reply. That was beyond unprofessional. It deserves no reply.

Jim Bullard

Younes, I would not be shy about naming the magazine. This is downright shameful. If you're not comfortable doing so, I would still urge you to contact the publisher to let them know.

Guy

Younes,

That certainly is NOT a professional answer. It's geared toward making you feel guilty for even considering that you should be compensated for your work. I really think some of these editors think they are master manipulators and all they have to do is stroke a photographer's ego a little bit and they will roll over and GIVE them their photographs. And I'm sure that that happens a good deal of the time but it's ridiculous really. The more they get away with it the more they will continue to do it. Insulting to say the least, and I'm glad you chose to withdraw your submission.

Also, there's implied racism in their response too which is beyond unprofessional. Shameful.

It's about as unprofessional as can be, as well as manipulative. If you look at it carefully, he doesn't come out and say that all those big name photographers worked for free.

If he or anyone else at the magazine is getting a paycheck, so should you. That's professionalism.

P.S. to my earlier post. I've been to your website and looked at your photos since posting my prior response. His remark that "your work isn't up to standards" is totally off base. Your photos are beautiful.

Jim Bullard

Wow, that makes my blood boil, and I'm about as laid back as they come. While I definitely wouldn't stoop this persons level, this kind of treatment is totally unacceptable, and some sort of action should be taken. In fact, taking no action at all would be a shame, IMO, because this guy needs to be scolded and held accountable for such unprofessionalism. I know people who have lost their jobs for far less offensive behavior. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

I agree with all that has been previously said, Younes. I too have viewed your images,
and your work is outstanding. Unless a photographer such as yourself is donating
your imagery to a worthy cause, never give it away. That's demeaning and hurts
all professional photograhers.

I agree with all the previous comments. Professional level work deserves professional level compensation - if your work is god enough for a magazine to publish then it is should be paid for. We all need to draw this line and insist that photographers get paid; I don't understand this widely held view that editors, publishers, printers, distributors, art directors, and the office gofer all get paid but not the photographer!

Personally, I think the guy is a jerk. I've never been treated like that by any magazine. He wants you to work for free? Does he work for free? I doubt it.


Kent in SD

The reply you received from the editor is simply unacceptable. Additionally, there is, without question, a racist tone to it. (I am usually one to give the benefit of the doubt. There is none here).

I can *vaguely* understand no payment in exchange for promotion of your work, especially if you approached them. I certainly don't agree with no payment and that in itself would set off alarm bells. The reply you received and especially its tone - I'd be hard pressed to be paid enough to accept that tone.

It sounds like someone is trying to fill his own pockets with your hard work. Is there any way you can get his reply sent to someone higher up in the Magazine management? It would be interesting if this is the policy of the magazine company or just of just one employee.

The reply is insulting, manipulative and contains far more than a tinge of racism. Calling it "unprofessional" doesn't begin to cover it. I wonder how this editor would react if he saw the responses in this thread...

I don't have an issue with an offer to publish your work for exposure in lieu of compensation. However, that should have been made clear from the start. The editor's letter is unprofessional beyond comprehension. You certainly made the correct choice.

Yeah, that is a very shameful and unfortunate response.

Wow, I'm not an Arab person, but I would definitely expect compensation. No one deserves that kind of browbeating from an editor. When I was a newspaper and photo editor, if my publisher had seen a letter like that with my name on it I'd have been looking for a new job five minutes later.

Racism disgusts me.

I'm not a fan of spurring people into courses of action that can lead to controversy, Younes, but you might consider putting the text of the letter, along with the name of the editor and the publication, on your blog, and then filing the letter/e-mail somewhere safe. That'll get it some attention, and the people who go to your blog and see your fine work will see this editor's words as the bullcrap they are. I also don't see any liable issues if you do. You have the letter/e-mail, and it's a signed statement from the editor.

I suspect that once this gets publicized, the publisher may back away from the editor like the editor has the plague.

Whether you want to be involved in such a thing I don't know, but we already know the name of the magazine, and a simple trot around the mag's Web site will tell us who the editor is.

Edit: Ahh, I see the same person holds the title of publisher and editor-in-chief. Interesting.

Thanks everyone for the input...you pretty much confirmed my thoughts.
As for replying to the guy, or getting in touch with the publisher, it is a bit of a moot point I think...I have a good idea of what kind of character this is...
As much as my blood has been running a few extra laps all day (I am Arab after all, aren't we all supposed to be hot headed?), I will take the calmer approach and not reply or contact the mag at all. I was/am considering putting an entry on my blog to discuss the issue, though I am not sure I will refer to the mag in question. I was thinking of something along the lines of what we should do as photographers (as in standing up for our rights), not give up our work, unless it is for worthy cause (which I do as a matter of fact, but that guy will never know ). I guess I'll have to sleep on it and then act later...but boy, let me tell you the amount of restraint I've used up today is right up there

Shame on you, Younes. How dare you expect to be paid for your work? While you're at it, please send me some large, framed prints of yours. I'll do you the huge favour of putting them on my wall.

Since you can't go up to anybody higher at the magazine, a tactful blog entry that includes the magazine's name would seem to be the most appropriate course of action to me. If it were just some lowly person at the magazine that sent that email, I probably wouldn't publicly name the magazine, but when it's the publisher, then that magazine's reputation deserves to be tarnished (as long as you remain classy in doing so).

If I were the recipient of this, I would, without a shadow of doubt, take it to my solicitor. I might even take it to the police. This is racism and you mustn't ignore it. The photographic element of this is of secondary importance.

Actually, I forgot to adress the racism issue...in this case it is not racism as much as it is the Arab's disdain for their own brethren (the editor is Arab as well...so I can't put any racism claims on that ).

Part of the blame for this editor's "attitude" about expecting your work for free lies squarely on the shoulders of those photographers who have allowed the mag to use their images without compensation in the past. Once one does it they (the mag people) expect everyone to do it.

I've had the fortune to peruse Soura a few times at the coffee bar in Barnes and Noble. Their quality is all over the place, their message all over the map. At first I was really excited to see a photography magazine showcasing the best of middle eastern photographers working in their own environment. After a few issues I was disappointed to see that it did not live up to my expectations. Ladies and gentlemen, it is no Silver Shots.

Younes, your work is excellent. Some of it is outstanding. It is certainly deserving of reasonable compensation for publication. Soura should be excited for the privilege of publishing your work at a reasonable price. Move on, Younes. You made the right call.

Younes,

I'm a big fan of your work and it's served as an inspiration to me. If your work isn't up to their standard, I doubt how many would be. Don't pay any more attention to that shameful email - onward and upward!

Cheers,
Mike

Younes
This editor should be hung from the nearest lamppost - either completely ignore him or send a complain against him to the publisher. He should be fired and forced to work for free

Wow, that's the most insulting reply to a legitimate request for compensation I've ever seen! That editor is a douchebag.

Ironic, isn't it that at first "they loved your work" and then when they had to pay for it, it wasn't "up to their standards"?