Outsourcing photography
Outsourcing photography refers to a situation where one engages a photography service provider to take photographs for them and manage all aspects of image production. The decision to outsource depends on the need.
Pros
It brings in the expertise and guarantees quality of the final images.
Gives consistent quality of the final product.
More economical for small volumes of work.
Cons
Can be expensive depending on the service provider, desired quality and volume of work.
Does not offer flexibility since the photographer controls the shoot, and sometimes, distribution (Minalto, 2013).
In-house photography
In house photography can be done through a photographer employed by the company, or the company may choose to invest in the equipment and do their own photography.
Pros
Gives the owner the room to manage the image production as they wish.
Is more economical if large volumes are required.
Is not limited by contractual agreements.
Cons
May lack exposure to market trends.
Can be costly if the volume of work is huge (Minalto, 2013).
Can be expensive at the start due to cost of equipment (Minalto, 2013).
Legal Issues in in-house and outsourced photography
There are many laws regarding photography and one should familiarize with them to ensure compliance. These laws are region specific. Wright, a photography lawyer gives the following common laws governing photography (Wright, 2008):
Generally, public places are open to photography.
Private property photography is restricted and requires permission of the owner
Photos for commercial use require a permit
When photographing works of art such as sculptures, the original producer reserves the right of ownership.
References
Minalto, A. (2013). Product Photography, Part 5: Outsourcing. Andrewminalto.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from http://andrewminalto.com/product-photography-5/
Wright, P. (2008). Photo Attorney: 10 Important Legal Issues for Photographers. Photoattorney.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from http://www.photoattorney.com/2008/03/10-important-legal-issues-for.html
