Sports Illustrated Lays Off All Staff Photographers

**interested_observer** · 01-23-2015, 05:21 PM

The title pretty much says it all.... just in time for the Super Bowl!

Quote:

Smith said the six staff photographers "have contributed to the success of the magazine and the Sports Illustrated franchise, and I hope that they may continue to do so under slightly different circumstances." He said that while the six are no longer staff photographers, that does not preclude them for continuing to shoot for the magazine if they so desire.

According to a source at Time-Life the layoffs will be effective in March, possibly on differing dates for specific photographers due to their individual agreements with the company. But because of this, the laid-off photographers will still be shooting the upcoming Super Bowl together for the magazine.

https://nppa.org/node/69374

NicoleC · 01-23-2015, 05:46 PM

"In the future, we will be relying on our readers to submit pictures to be used for the exposure they receive, trolling Flickr begging to images for profit without paying for them, and asking our former staff photographers to work as contractors at a fraction of their previous pay and benefits."

Didn't Time mag already fire all their photographers?

**monochrome** · 01-23-2015, 06:01 PM

In 2002 SI sent a team of writers and photographers and a Senior Editor to my daughter's high school to produce an article on the oldest HS football rivalries in the USA - they 'shot' the 100th game for ours.

My daughter, as Photography Editor and Senior Staff Photographer for the Yearbook, was coached for a week by SI Staff Professionals and shot the game with her individual 'mentor' standing next to her shoulder. Her portfolio was juried by the team and returned about six weeks later. That's actually in her professional Curriculum Vitae as a Senior Network News Producer.

My, how times have changed in just 13 years.

Steve.Ledger · 01-23-2015, 06:01 PM

Professional Photographers becoming a thing of the past?
Will this mean that professional cameras will be replaced with all consumer models?

Times change..

**spartan** · 01-23-2015, 06:26 PM

Originally posted by Steve.Ledger

Professional Photographers becoming a thing of the past?
Will this mean that professional cameras will be replaced with all consumer models?

Times change..

what is the difference between the images produced by professional and consumer and is that difference big enough to justify professional equipment

Docrwm · 01-23-2015, 07:01 PM - **7 Likes**

Originally posted by spartan

what is the difference between the images produced by professional and consumer and is that difference big enough to justify professional equipment

A Lot!

Best from each decade in 60 years of Sports Illustrated - More Sports - SI.com

**tlong423** · 01-23-2015, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

A Lot!

Amen.

**boriscleto** · 01-23-2015, 07:48 PM

SI will still have professional photographers. They will just have to work for starvation wages as freelancers...

Docrwm · 01-23-2015, 07:53 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

SI will still have professional photographers. They will just have to work for starvation wages as freelancers...

With access like this?

normhead · 01-23-2015, 08:00 PM

This is all about paying the photographers less. The Toronto Star went the same way yeas ago, but still have a staff of 6 or 7.

**ramseybuckeye** · 01-23-2015, 08:04 PM - **1 Like**

What a shame, at a rag like SI the photographers were the only pros.

**boriscleto** · 01-23-2015, 08:09 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

With access like this?

Yes. Guys like Walter Looss are already free lancers. Check out "Keepers of the Streak" on ESPN tomorrow...though Walter likes to shoot the Super Bowl from row 40 (He only gets close to the swimsuit models...). John Biever is one of those staff photographers who got laid off today. He is another who has shot every Super Bowl, you think that will end? Mickey Palmer and Tony Tomsic are, like Looss, in their 70s, wonder if they will continue.

**lmd91343** · 01-23-2015, 08:22 PM

Originally posted by Steve.Ledger

Professional Photographers becoming a thing of the past?
Will this mean that professional cameras will be replaced with all consumer models?

Times change..

Maybe the web? Too many cable sports shows?

Kozlok · 01-23-2015, 10:15 PM

I think it's because they were using full frame, and SI really wants photographers who shoot APS-C only? SI is DOOOOOOOMED.

**LaurenOE** · 01-23-2015, 10:36 PM

I hate to say it, but, in other threads I have spoken my opinion on commercial photographers who do not also shoot video.
I would not be surprised if the folks being laid off took the tact of being - "Photographers" - and snubbing their noses at also capturing video.

I also would like to point out to some folks here that say "I have no need for video" and how it might contribute to one's unemployment.

It's 2015 folks, some part of your professional photographic workflow will have to be video.

If a SI photographer has a $10K fast lens, and is not willing to also shoot video with that lens, well, it's economics.

Giving folks video in some form is critical unless you can justify a subject that doesn't need video like static things - of which, sports photography is not one of them.

01-23-2015, 05:21 PM	#1
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	Sports Illustrated Lays Off All Staff Photographers The title pretty much says it all.... just in time for the Super Bowl! Quote: Smith said the six staff photographers "have contributed to the success of the magazine and the Sports Illustrated franchise, and I hope that they may continue to do so under slightly different circumstances." He said that while the six are no longer staff photographers, that does not preclude them for continuing to shoot for the magazine if they so desire. According to a source at Time-Life the layoffs will be effective in March, possibly on differing dates for specific photographers due to their individual agreements with the company. But because of this, the laid-off photographers will still be shooting the upcoming Super Bowl together for the magazine. https://nppa.org/node/69374

01-23-2015, 06:01 PM	#3
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	In 2002 SI sent a team of writers and photographers and a Senior Editor to my daughter's high school to produce an article on the oldest HS football rivalries in the USA - they 'shot' the 100th game for ours. My daughter, as Photography Editor and Senior Staff Photographer for the Yearbook, was coached for a week by SI Staff Professionals and shot the game with her individual 'mentor' standing next to her shoulder. Her portfolio was juried by the team and returned about six weeks later. That's actually in her professional Curriculum Vitae as a Senior Network News Producer. My, how times have changed in just 13 years. Last edited by monochrome; 01-23-2015 at 09:44 PM.

01-23-2015, 07:01 PM - 7 Likes	#6
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by spartan what is the difference between the images produced by professional and consumer and is that difference big enough to justify professional equipment A Lot! Best from each decade in 60 years of Sports Illustrated - More Sports - SI.com Last edited by Docrwm; 01-23-2015 at 07:08 PM.

01-23-2015, 08:09 PM	#12
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,476	Originally posted by Docrwm With access like this? Yes. Guys like Walter Looss are already free lancers. Check out "Keepers of the Streak" on ESPN tomorrow...though Walter likes to shoot the Super Bowl from row 40 (He only gets close to the swimsuit models...). John Biever is one of those staff photographers who got laid off today. He is another who has shot every Super Bowl, you think that will end? Mickey Palmer and Tony Tomsic are, like Looss, in their 70s, wonder if they will continue. Last edited by boriscleto; 01-23-2015 at 08:15 PM.

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01-23-2015, 05:46 PM	#2
NicoleC Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Madison, AL Posts: 448	"In the future, we will be relying on our readers to submit pictures to be used for the exposure they receive, trolling Flickr begging to images for profit without paying for them, and asking our former staff photographers to work as contractors at a fraction of their previous pay and benefits." Didn't Time mag already fire all their photographers?

01-23-2015, 06:01 PM	#4
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	Professional Photographers becoming a thing of the past? Will this mean that professional cameras will be replaced with all consumer models? Times change..

01-23-2015, 06:26 PM	#5
spartan Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NJ, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 428	Originally posted by Steve.Ledger Professional Photographers becoming a thing of the past? Will this mean that professional cameras will be replaced with all consumer models? Times change.. what is the difference between the images produced by professional and consumer and is that difference big enough to justify professional equipment

01-23-2015, 07:19 PM	#7
tlong423 Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Kansas City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 194	Originally posted by Docrwm A Lot! Amen.

01-23-2015, 07:48 PM	#8
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,476	SI will still have professional photographers. They will just have to work for starvation wages as freelancers...

01-23-2015, 07:53 PM	#9
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by boriscleto SI will still have professional photographers. They will just have to work for starvation wages as freelancers... With access like this?

01-23-2015, 08:00 PM	#10
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	This is all about paying the photographers less. The Toronto Star went the same way yeas ago, but still have a staff of 6 or 7.

01-23-2015, 08:04 PM - 1 Like	#11
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	What a shame, at a rag like SI the photographers were the only pros.

01-23-2015, 08:22 PM	#13
lmd91343 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,027	Originally posted by Steve.Ledger Professional Photographers becoming a thing of the past? Will this mean that professional cameras will be replaced with all consumer models? Times change.. Maybe the web? Too many cable sports shows?

01-23-2015, 10:15 PM	#14
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	I think it's because they were using full frame, and SI really wants photographers who shoot APS-C only? SI is DOOOOOOOMED.

01-23-2015, 10:36 PM	#15
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	I hate to say it, but, in other threads I have spoken my opinion on commercial photographers who do not also shoot video. I would not be surprised if the folks being laid off took the tact of being - "Photographers" - and snubbing their noses at also capturing video. I also would like to point out to some folks here that say "I have no need for video" and how it might contribute to one's unemployment. It's 2015 folks, some part of your professional photographic workflow will have to be video. If a SI photographer has a $10K fast lens, and is not willing to also shoot video with that lens, well, it's economics. Giving folks video in some form is critical unless you can justify a subject that doesn't need video like static things - of which, sports photography is not one of them.