I’m hoping you can let visitors to the NO!SPEC site know that graphic designers are not the only ones being plagued by requests for work on spec. On spec or as it’s come to be known in the photography industry “Custom Stock” is a growing trend.

Companies are trying to legitimize a model which is based on asking multiple photographers to bid on a chance to provide what is in effect a custom assignment but at stock photography rates and royalties. Photographers who are chosen must also finance the shoot out of their own pockets with no guarantee that their images will even be chosen.

These “Custom Stock” shoots are presented to stock photographers as an enhanced “stock” opportunity. At the same time, these are presented to clients that this is an sensible business practice that will allow them to acquire professional quality assignment images, shot to their specifications at no risk to themselves and for stock photography prices.

What “Custom Stock” actually is though is “competitive spec”. Multiple photographers are asked to “bid” on a chance to provide the requested images. Out of those that provide bids, maybe up to five are chosen. From the images provided the client may then choose the image or images they want to license at the previously agreed upon fee. However, the client is under absolutely no obligation to license any of the images. If an images is licensed, the agreed upon fee for the service is then split between the company providing the service and the photographer with the commissions varying by company.

This trend was actually started by OnRequest Images who in fact, coined the term “Custom Stock” but others, including more traditional stock agencies are beginning to follow suit. Index Stock Imagery has also jumped into the pool with its Index Custom Stock service which closely follows the OnRequest model. Other are sure to follow.

The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA), an industry association which represents photographers who produce images for rights-protected license has more information on its web site concerning OnRequest Images and the “Custom Stock” model.

The SAA web site can be found at:
www.stockartistsalliance.org

More information about OnRequest Images can be found at:
www.stockartistsalliance.org/info/news
www.stockartistsalliance.org/info/news/reports

Index Custom Stock service from Index Stock Imagery can be found at:
www.indexstock.com

regards,
Jim Hunter
Assignment - Stock - Fine Art
www.jimhunter.com
jimhunterphotography.blogspot.com

Susan Kirkland: SPECulative at Graphic Design Forum Blogs

If you are invited by a big client to do work on spec, react with enthusiasm for the project, then politely suggest current projects prevent you from participating in that way. Suggest an alternative method of vying for the job; a portfolio showing of similar jobs you have completed for other clients. It shouldn’t be necessary to clarify that you will dedicate your creative energy to their project with the same verve; just not for free.

Adland ad-rag.com NO!SPEC crusade on a roll

Design organisations are now getting involved - RGD (Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario), GDC (Society of Graphic Designers of Canada), AIGA (the professional association for design), and Icograda (International Council of Graphic Design Associations).

Please digg this –>> NO!SPEC Launches

The mission of NO!SPEC is to educate both clients and Visual Communication designers (also known as ‘graphic’ designers) about the nature of speculative, or “spec” work. It also serves as a vehicle to unite designers who support the notion that spec work devalues the potential of design and ultimately does a disservice to the client.

mediabistro.com: UnBeige: And Then They Never Talked About Spec Work Again…

We’re back to eating up every last bit of words with this whole ongoing spec thing. This writer has seen enough to understand that he was wrong in the spec department. He was thinking more along the lines of creating to help your portfolio, and maybe in the film industry that’s different, this spec stuff, or maybe it’s because he’s lonely and sad and this was the pitiful cry for help he’s been hoping you’ll hear. Whimper. Whatever the case, all thoughts of spec are banished after you see No-Spec, a new site we found via Designers Who Blog the last time we were rethinking all of this.

creativebits: This concerns you guys so check it out!

The mission of NO!SPEC is to educate both clients and Visual Communication designers (also known as ‘graphic’ designers) about the nature of speculative, or “spec” work. It also serves as a vehicle to unite designers who support the notion that spec work devalues the potential of design and ultimately does a disservice to the client. We encourage those who are like-minded to support this effort by placing a “NO!SPEC” logo on your site, distributing the “NO!SPEC” poster created by top Illustrator Von Glitschka from Glitschka Studios, as well as contributing your thoughts, comments, articles and insights. The only requirement for participation is putting the appropriate value on your profession.

Stop by Web Design Times and join in on the Say NO! to Spec discussion (yes, cat had a go).

In an effort to educate Visual Communication Designers and those who use their services, on the damaging effects caused by spec work and spec-based design contests, a group of designers from all over the globe banned together, fueled by passion and a lot of caffeine, to bring NO!SPEC to the public.

Jack Yan speaks out on Spec education. It’s something I have been against for years, especially when AGDA campaigned against it with its members.
The idea is that the designer gets zilch in order to “pitch” for a job. Hours are invested, and ideas, more often than you think, are appropriated. It devalues the work of all designers. I’ve added one graphical link in the sidebar, but you can surf as readily to her site from here to see how you can help.

Deluxe Lab quoting Tom Stephan on Deluxe Lab, Webspotting: Go Spec Yourself!

I really wanted a tattoo, but I had no idea what I wanted — I just wanted a tattoo. So went to four or five different tattoo studios and said “hi guys, I want a tattoo, and it has to be cool and it has to be something that says “this is me, this is who i am, and after you decide who I am and what I want to tell the world, I will pay you for it and you can tattoo it on my arm. If I don’t like it, I can always have it removed later.”

TAPP-D with Issues: Just Say NO!

Spec work has become a real problem in our industry, as I previously mentioned on Tapp-d, this work undermines much of what designers do to earn a living. I for one am completely against spec work, seeing as I do like to eat and have a roof over my head.