Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

I’m feeling a little deflated at the moment and would like some input. I’ve been lucky enough to be asked to produce 17 images, printed, matted, glazed and framed for my hospital. Among the first batch is a black and white image 24” x 36” of the local decommissioned courthouse. In front of the building is a statue of a Confederate Soldier. I was told a few hours after delivering them that they had to “put it away” due to the soldier. First of all, I didn’t pick the images. They were all chosen by the administration from among my portfolio. They are suggesting I replace the print with something else. I don’t want to. I like the image. It took a lot of work and it’s damn near perfect. I’m sorry that they won’t be displaying it, but, to remove it would harm the print, the backboard, and the matting. Sure, the frame would be fine, but it is a finished piece. A fine finished piece of art. What would you (anyone) do?

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

I'd replace the image -- customer is right -- even if you did the work as a donation.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Ask them to pick a replacement image and hang the one they feel is politically incorrect in your house.

(I won't say what I feel........ )

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Assume I got paid, at least for my cost if not time? And I would assume even if that particular image was selected, someone in this cancel culture society brought it to their attention and they caved & took it down. I would replace it, at additional cost if being paid, and move on. Changes happen daily in lives of citizens, employees, architects, builders, etc. Why not to an "artist"? If I liked it so much guess I would find somewhere in my home to hang it.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I've shot a lot of cemeteries, including respectful images of monuments and gravestones on both sides of the war. That said, they have the ultimate right to decide what they display. Pursue the idea of alternative images to present as replacement to the one rejected.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I have some shots of a cemetery in Georgia, south of Atlanta.
Guess what's in a lot of the shots.

Heritage.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Your customer requests a different image and are you resisting? You put your own feelings about the image before the customer? What’s really going on here? Something more than an image it woukd seem.

Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

No, they requested that image. They chose all of the images. I had no say so. And while editing it I kept thinking, is this really okay. Have those I was concerned about really matured that much. Do the administrators know something I don’t. So I looked up the soldier from whose likeness it was made. He served one year in the Confederate Army, got injured, became the sheriff, eventually postmaster, and served in the state legislature. Quite the man. Accomplished more than anyone who might ever complain. That now bothers me. We are all multifaceted. One year in the CSA Army and someone feels like they know better. Yes, that bothers me. No hidden agenda here, Bud.

Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

Preview:
No, they requested that image. They chose all of the images. I had no say so. And while editing it I kept thinking, is this really okay. Have those I was concerned about really matured that much. Do the administrators know something I don’t. So I looked up the soldier from whose likeness it was made. He served one year in the Confederate Army, got injured, became the sheriff, eventually postmaster, and served in the state legislature. Quite the man. Accomplished more than anyone who might ever complain. That now bothers me. We are all multifaceted. One year in the CSA Army and someone feels like they know better. Yes, that bothers me. No hidden agenda here, Bud

Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

[quote=JD750]Your customer requests a different image and are you resisting? You put your own feelings about the image before the customer? What’s really going on here? Something more than an image it woukd seem.[/

No, they requested that image. They chose all of the images. I had no say so. And while editing it I kept thinking, is this really okay. Have those I was concerned about really matured that much. Do the administrators know something I don’t. So I looked up the soldier from whose likeness it was made. He served one year in the Confederate Army, got injured, became the sheriff, eventually postmaster, and served in the state legislature. Quite the man. Accomplished more than anyone who might ever complain. That now bothers me. We are all multifaceted. One year in the CSA Army and someone feels like they know better. Yes, that bothers me. No hidden agenda here, Bud

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...I didn’t pick the images. They were all chosen by the administration from among my portfolio..."
Were you hired for this job? If so did you negotiate a contract for the aforementioned?

Jklovell you are not the art director for the hospital...
The client and/or their art director's visual statement is the only one that matters.

Leave your ego at the door or find another vocation.
btw, typically there is a "signed contract" delineating deliverables for commissioned work.
The time to share your concerns is at that juncture not after it.
If they don't meet your expectations it's time to walk away.

Experience is a brutal albeit effective teacher.
Next time don't accept an assignment without a signed contract which clearly delineate deliverables.
That is SOP on the commercial side of the equation.
If you don't believe this, ask any experienced Wedding Photographer...

And if you where hoping to do this on "Spec" then it's your bad.

btw: “Spec” is short for “speculative,” and “spec work” is defined by the AIGA (which counts many photographers as members) as, “work done prior to engagement with a client in anticipation of being paid.”

Maybe don't go there Jklovell k?

Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

I will. I have many more to choose from. Just don’t know how to pursue getting paid for it. Ultimately the job is a dream chance for me and the last thing I want to do is anger anyone, regardless of how wrong they are. I’d be very disappointed if they pulled the whole thing. I want to voice my thoughts about the man in the picture. I’ve researched him. Quite a guy.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

👍👍

Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

I understand completely. My problem is: they picked the image, not me. If you printed and framed an image someone asked for, would you like it? The ones who picked it actually live there. I don’t. I travel there to work. They pass the statue everyday. They knew what it was. It’s their fault. Not mine. I don’t have an ego to protect. This is all new to me. That’s why I posted my concern. It’s an issue, not the end of the world. As far as not having a contract: these are my co-workers. These are people I’d trust with my life, my child’s life. I want them to be happy with the images, of course. But I can’t help but hope they’ll develop a little more character and not fall for every whimper.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

For some people, knowing the history or background of someone or something is just as important as what they see. Other people either don’t care or don’t want to know the full story. They are satisfied to be happy or angry with what’s on the outside. Or they are afraid to stand up to those that fit the last category.

I guess you give them what they want regardless of your personal opinion. If someone wants you to photograph something that’s immoral or illegal, I figure you have every right to tell them you won’t stoop that low or call the cops if it’s of criminal nature.

Past, present and future military personnel generally don’t have a choice in what they do (outside of committing war crimes). With our all volunteer military, too many people today don’t realize that.

About all you can do is do the right thing yourself and forget about others. It may sound arrogant, but I’ve told my kids that they have to see themselves as better than other people. Not better because of their name, skin color, job, money, education or whatever, but better in that they will do what other people won’t do and not do things other people will do. As an example, this winter one son volunteered at a homeless shelter and one daughter crocheted stocking caps for underprivileged kids. Any one can throw change into a bucket but it takes a lot more to actually volunteer your time and effort, something most people won’t do.