Reply To: Fauxtogs who should end up on the main page…

[seth]

I HATE PAGEANTS especially for little girls.  They give them a great self image.

Anyway.  So this hit the news yesterday, where I’m originally from:  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151563754354312&set=a.115044704311.96381.110988779311&type=1&ref=nf

Apparently, they want professional photographers to get a permit to be able to take pictures in the park.  I’m gathering this is (supposedly) due to one photographer carving a wedding date into a historic barn.  I’m also gathering that the signs have come down and are “pending further review.”  Anyway, this just led me from one fauxtographer to another.  Here’s my favorite:

https://www.facebook.com/ibatsphoto

Now, she’s not horrible but she has some really bad editing from time to time, but what makes her a fauxtographer is her comment:

I am a local photographer and I have known about this for a while now. I think its absolute crap! Our tax dollars pay for these parks. Im glad a news station finally did an investigation. I contacted you paid for it and never got a call back. This will really hurt business for me because I am in the process of getting a business license and I called STL County Parks Department and I was told you can’t even buy a permit without a license or insurance so I couldn’t even use the parks period for any shoots. I take professional grade photos of my daughter all the time so if I was at a park with her taking photos of her they could fine me or make me leave the park. Also anyone with money can buy the equipment I have and use it in a non professional way. I wish that STL County parks could define ‘professional’ People now days dont have money for expensive photographers so they have a friend with a ‘nice camera’ take their photos. Of course they are going to be better quality than a point and shoot. Will those people who do it as a hobby be fined or made to leave the parks. It really does need to be assessed. When I contacted the parks department they were very defensive and rude when I told them how I felt and asked why this is being done. I hope it doesn’t last. Its def the stupidest thing to date I have seen.Inspired By A True Story Photography

So not only does she have to pimp herself by linking herself there, but she’s a “professional” who’s business will be hurt by these signs despite the fact that she doesn’t have a business license or insurance.  Not to mention the phrase: “absolute crap” by someone who is stating they are professional.  How does someone without a business license or insurance remain not only “in the process” but have nearly 3,400 likes??  So I guess she’s been doing business illegally a long time.

Another comment, if you follow a link posted by the county or something, said, “how much money do you think photographers make? Not as much as you think! For a portrait shoot maybe 50 to 100 bucks. And the parks want to charge us 50?”

And there you have it, folks, more fauxtographers charging $50 to ruin your business.