Yesterday I had been invited into a Photographers studio in York called Past Images (they work on green screen for the tourists, selling them pictures set in the past). I myself have a photograph on my wall that he took, so know what he does quite well and I like what they do.
Past Images Facebook Fan Page Link
One of the partners of the business met me at a theatrical job I was working on last week. He was very interested in the way we worked, as we were printing on site with 2 Dye Sub machines. (I noticed him taking pictures over my shoulder as I was selling prints).
As the BIPP’s New Members Liaison Officer I have met many photographers, and often visit them in their studio, but this time it was doubly of interest to see him as I have also just branched into green screen photography. He was a very nice man and suggested a pool of ideas (suppliers and equipment and the odd exchange of idea or two). A Friendly and down to earth guy called Jonah.
However when I turned up, things could not have been more different. Jonah, although was supposed to be there, was not. But his business partner was.
He was not so much of a nice man. As soon as he found out I was a photographer he told me he was not tell me anything about HIS business. And he was “NOT going to share ANYTHING with YOU” (said as he looked down his nose at us, as if we were something he had just scraped off the bottom of his shoe). He then tried the guilt trip on us saying
“This is what puts food on my table, this is what FEEDS MY CHILDREN”
Yes business is business, but nothing that I said or did could convince this man I was trying to help him. Then when I produced a Sub Dye printer cattalog from my bag and handed it to him he just chucked it down, and virtually ordered us out the shop, saying “this is getting my hackles up”.
I have NEVER been so humiliated in my life. I had been invited into his shop by his partner. This is my own time I have invested to help his business. But obviously he thinks he doesn’t need help, as he has "been in business for 7 years now, and your not getting anything from me".
Well lets start with why it takes an hour to convert a badly lit green screen picture into a print. If done correctly, with the right software (which I was going to show him) I can do the same, from download to print in 3 minutes.
I had a whole host of information for him, but he just wanted me out of his shop. He really does not know what he has just missed out on.
So to the Other partner of Past images in York (who wouldn’t even give me his name) . . . .
I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK, BECAUSE . . . HELL YOU NEED IT.
