Taylor Swift, who made Apple blink this week by criticizing the company for initially denying musicians royalties during the free trial period of its new streaming service, now has her gaze square on the photographer who implied her stance is hypocritical.
Swift, through a spokesperson in England, said music photographer Jason Sheldon misrepresented the contract shooters sign before her concerts, saying it does not force them to sign away the rights to their shots.
Sheldon applauded Swift for her open letter to Apple, but accused her of double standards in his blog, showing a copy of the contract with language that Sheldon and other photographers understand taking away rights to sell performance photos to clients down the road. Sheldon even questioned why the contract would allow Swift to use the signee’s pictures for future promotion without payment to the photographer.
Swift’s spokesperson said the contract is standard throughout the industry and that “clearly states that any photographer shooting The 1989 World Tour has the opportunity for further use of said photographs with management’s approval. This agreement does not transfer copyright away from the photographer. Every artist has the right to and should protect the use of their name and likeness.”
Here are two paragraphs from the contract published on his blog Monday:
Sheldon published the Team Taylor statement on his blog, Junction10Photography, Wednesday along with a response that attempts to clear up any confusion that concert photographers are like paparazzi.
Photographers, especially freelancers like Sheldon, often get paid a flat rate for a concert assignment that often does cover expenses like travel. They depend on being able to sell photos to other clients to earn their living.
“First, of course, Taylor Swift and any other artist has the right to protect the use of their name and likeness,” Sheldon wrote. “That is not in dispute, but protect them from what? I have no interest in publishing an unflattering photo of an artist. For one thing, it would do far more harm to my career than it would theirs.”
Sheldon tells Swift there is a mutual benefit to allowing photographers like him to do their jobs. The performer gets publicity and the photographer can earn their living. Many contracts use language like “for editorial use only” as a way to protect artists.
After Swift criticized Apple on her Tumblr page Sunday, Apple’s Eddy Cue announced via Twitter that the company would reverse course and pay artists during the free trial of Apple Music.
A public relations specialist on the Swift team did not respond to emails sent by Cult of Mac.
