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DPChallenge Forums >> Business of Photography >> Experience with DispatchPhoto.com ??
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 04/07/2009 07:24:42 PM · #51
Originally posted by vxpra:
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Out of how many millions of photographers in the US there are what, 130 members? Why so few? The idea/concept seems great to be honest with you, so that makes me wonder even more why it's not bursting at the seams with photographers.


This is one of the better questions in this thread- and no one addressed it. Call me disappointed.


it won't ever "burst at the seams" because only one photog from each major city is "allowed" (with an exception or two).

For example, I'm in Western NC, and the photographer listed in Asheville precludes me from signing up if I were so inclined.
 04/07/2009 07:34:07 PM · #52
Originally posted by karmat:
Originally posted by vxpra:
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Out of how many millions of photographers in the US there are what, 130 members? Why so few? The idea/concept seems great to be honest with you, so that makes me wonder even more why it's not bursting at the seams with photographers.


This is one of the better questions in this thread- and no one addressed it. Call me disappointed.


it won't ever "burst at the seams" because only one photog from each major city is "allowed" (with an exception or two).

For example, I'm in Western NC, and the photographer listed in Asheville precludes me from signing up if I were so inclined.


So, there's only enough assignments for one photographer per region? Pretty much limits the possibillity of growth in several ways 1) A limited number of assignments can be handled- what if somone needs a photographer in Naturita the same weekend as someone wants one in Cortez (to use western Colorado) as an example. With the way the regions are set up there's no way one photographer can handle both- not to mention that people who work in Grand Junction (where this regions photographer is located) don't like to make the 4 hour+ drive (longer if the weather is bad) down to the SW corner of the state. 2) No choices. As a business owner looking for a photographer on the site if you look at the photographer in your region and don't like his work, I guess you're just out of luck.
 04/07/2009 08:22:19 PM · #53
Originally posted by chiphotoguy:
WOW...I think this horse has been sufficiently beaten. Didn't mean to start a sh@tstorm but really everything you could possibly want to know is here:

//www.dispatchphoto.com/Membership.htm and as I said from the beginning, any questions please call me, my contact info is under the Chicago metro listing for photographers here: //www.dispatchphoto.com/Members.htm as is Tim Purpura's direct # Tim is the founder and administrator and a great person to know and deal with. Taken directly from the membership page:

Network Description: The North American Dispatch Photographers Network, hereinafter referred to as "Network", is a cooperative referral network of independent photographers. We are photographers in cities and towns across North America who have joined together to collectively market our services to companies and individuals domestically and internationally. Each member photographer is a separate business entity. The Website and the Network is essentially an advertising vehicle for its members. Tim acts as the Network Administrator.

It's a SIMPLE concept


I think I started it with my OP, but anyway, I appreciate your responses especially the offer to talk on the phone. It's something I'm considering and I'll be calling you soon. Thanks again.
 04/08/2009 01:24:57 AM · #54
Originally posted by Skip:
like i said, if you don't want anything but dpc input, then post it in a member's only forum section. if you post it in an open forum, that means you're willing to take all comers. it just seems rather disingenuous to immediately start airing the skepticism when responses come from outside the circle, especially from someone who might be in a position to actually respond.

sure, there's plenty of baddies out there, but there's a lot better ways to check things out than to start holding first-timer's feet to the fire just because they don't have a dpc portfolio...


Methinks someone needs a cooler drink. You are taking it out of proportions. There are some arguments that make and hold their point in 1/2 posts. Then there are others that just want to drag themselves on the obvious.

Ok so we get what you meant. Now lets just get along, will ya? ;-)

04/08/2009 10:00:40 AM · #55
So they determine your hourly rate? Or do you decide that for yourself?
 04/08/2009 10:31:30 AM · #56
Originally posted by ajdelaware:
So they determine your hourly rate? Or do you decide that for yourself?


You set it yourself but their site lists 30-50 and 50 in the part where a prospective client would look. that's low IMO. I understand wanting to give a client a range, but a 'real' buyer would be suspicous IMO of such low rates when corps are often quoted hundreds per hour plus expenses. Makes me think they're hiring soccer moms with P&S cameras.

Come to think of it there was something like this advertised a few years back ... I remember the ads in magazines "Make money with your digital camera" type deal, shooting ads for RE agents, car sales , etc.
04/08/2009 11:49:53 AM · #57
Yeah Prof - thats what I was thinking. Its just an hourly rate given, but there is more than just an hourly rate involved.
 04/08/2009 12:19:05 PM · #58
I'm guessing they have the option of a cookie cutter style webpage for the member websites? I just clicked through some of them starting from the top. The photos that I thought were a representation of the photographers work are more supposed to be an example of the type of work the client can expect from anyone in the service, i guess. Unless, these photographers all were on a shoot together ;) it is a little misleading, though. While that certainly makes it easy for someone to get started, i wonder if it is mandated that they have to have a certain style and content to their webpage. But like i said, i came across a few that were unique in my short journey through the list, so i'm not sure.

examples:

//www.dispatchphoto.com/Beaumont/
//www.austindispatchphoto.com/dispatch.html
//www.bostondispatchphoto.com/
 04/08/2009 01:08:13 PM · #59
i shouldn't have said a ton of money - i suppose. but the payout versus the cost of maintaining a website - that's a fair bit of profit IMO.

here you pay $25/year roughly $2/month - not $5/month. and i know exactly what i am going to get in return from my investment. i'd also consider the fees charged here - to be entertainment - not proft generating. so it's a different catagory of spending

with the $48/year proposal - all i really get is some 'potential' leads through dispatchphoto.com - a potential client has to USE dispatchphoto to find me amongst the many other means there are to find a photog that can provide the services required.

hypothetically:

it also seems the fees the leads are looking to pay are pretty low. so i contact one of the leads - and explain that my fees are higher. i don't get the job - nor does anyone else through dispatchphoto.com - because i'm the only one listed for my area. so the potential client looks elsewhere. and likely doesn't use or refer anyone else to dispatchphoto.com.

>>


i'm not knocking the idea, or system so much - as skeptical i would end up making any money through the service. i also didn't intend to state that a new posters opinion is null. i expressed my skepticism - and left it at that.

Originally posted by chiphotoguy:
Originally posted by soup:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
however - if you were to re-word the offer to something like this. i might take it....

how about we put a website together - we'll get photographers to pay $4/month and merely list their company names and contact information based on a searchablbe database. we'll advertise it as a means to brand themselves - while we merely create a brand out of nothing. to entice those potential customers we'll use spam mail directed toward companies that might be interested in a cheap source for rights managed stock photography.

we'll brand ourselves as an outlet and inlet at the same time. AND we'll pretend we are helping to brand the photographers. little do they know - they still have to brand themselves...

we'll make a ton of money and let the photographers and the stock photo searchers fend for themselves.

First of all. you have to join this forum to be able to comment so what's the problem there? Second, on the DPC site right here you have to pay 5.00 a month to get all the "benefits" of the site as outlined below. So what's the problem?

5.00 a month benefits @ dpchallenge.com
# Submit to members-only challenges.
# Update your challenge scores on demand.
# Browse the site ad-free.
# Members-only section of the forums.

This logic is very flawed. There are not an unlimited number of spots available for photographers in the network. only a handful. Lets say for arguments sake it's 200 spots nationwide.. 200 spots X 48.00 year. Running the network I take in $9,600.00 a year. BUT my costs, time, and services I provide to the 200 photographers are still fixed and still outlined as I stated. It's a no brainer...why wouldn't you sign up if my city was available? I have nothing to lose and everything to gain from being a part of the network. Where are you going to generate this so called ton of money revenue from running the network? There are no commissions paid , no licensing fees, no payments to the network, nothing. The photographer out there working pockets 100% of his fees. Hello? I don't give any of my revenue to anyone nor do I give away copyrights. I retain the copyrights to my photos but I allow unrestricted use but ONLY for the gigs that I decide fit that criteria. What should be said is: Wow what a great idea, too bad there are not more opportunities around that can help a working photographer expand his revenue stream and provide a needed service at a reasonable price.

Message edited by author 2009-04-06 22:28:32.

 04/08/2009 03:47:57 PM · #60
I posted my experience with //www.DispatchPhoto.com several days back to answer the original questioner. I almost cannot believe the many unwelcoming and inbred kind of comments that have shown up afterward, by "Professional Photographers"! I wonder how many newcomers have come upon the DPChallenge site, looked it over, read some of the comments and decided: "Thanks, but no Thanks"! From what I've seen here, I think several of you have done a great job of running off fellow photographers from participating! ...I think the competitor sites are winning!
 04/08/2009 04:07:02 PM · #61
Originally posted by Mitch512:
I posted my experience with //www.DispatchPhoto.com several days back to answer the original questioner. I almost cannot believe the many unwelcoming and inbred kind of comments that have shown up afterward, by "Professional Photographers"! I wonder how many newcomers have come upon the DPChallenge site, looked it over, read some of the comments and decided: "Thanks, but no Thanks"! From what I've seen here, I think several of you have done a great job of running off fellow photographers from participating! ...I think the competitor sites are winning!

assume the worst & you are rarely disappointed
badmouthing your company (people you are in the presents of) is also a reflection of values ..
 04/08/2009 04:27:52 PM · #62
yeah us dpcr's - we're all a bunch of inbreds...

you wouldn't guess so though - because we all have perfect teeth... :)


04/08/2009 04:31:46 PM · #63
Originally posted by soup:
yeah us dpcr's - we're all a bunch of inbreds...

you wouldn't guess so though - because we all have perfect teeth... :)


and skin, but that is usually due to photoshop
 04/08/2009 04:33:58 PM · #64
Originally posted by Mitch512:
I posted my experience with //www.DispatchPhoto.com several days back to answer the original questioner. I almost cannot believe the many unwelcoming and inbred kind of comments that have shown up afterward, by "Professional Photographers"! I wonder how many newcomers have come upon the DPChallenge site, looked it over, read some of the comments and decided: "Thanks, but no Thanks"! From what I've seen here, I think several of you have done a great job of running off fellow photographers from participating! ...I think the competitor sites are winning!


this post makes me even more skeptical of your intentions. if i was a newcomer to a forum singing the praises of a company people knew little about, i would expect to met with criticism and skeptical replies. especially given the circumstances of how things unfolded in the beginning of this thread. i personally wasn't trying to dissuade any new users, i am one myself, but it definitely appeared to me that this thread was being spammed. that's just my opinion, please don't take it personally. in addition, i've never claimed to be a professional photographer, and one look at my portfolio would prove that is certainly not the case ;)

an ad hominem attack of calling people who disagree with you "inbred" is not a great way to build credibility, btw. but i understand you're upset so maybe you didn't think your post through all the way.

i'm sorry your initial impression of the site is poor. i think you'll find if you stick around for a bit that it really is a great community. at least with my limited amount of experience here, i've found that to be the case.
 04/08/2009 04:34:32 PM · #65
Originally posted by karmat:
Originally posted by soup:
yeah us dpcr's - we're all a bunch of inbreds...

you wouldn't guess so though - because we all have perfect teeth... :)


and skin, but that is usually due to photoshop


and overuse of NoiseNinja.
 04/08/2009 04:35:10 PM · #66
come on now - don't fuel the fire.... :0

Originally posted by karmat:
and skin, but that is usually due to photoshop


Message edited by author 2009-04-08 16:35:18.
 04/08/2009 04:41:04 PM · #67
as an example. here are the registered users in my area - being vermont.

we have - burlington area - my neck of the woods - monkeys with wings - //www.monkeyswithwings.com/dps.html

and the southern part of the state - we have - a bit more professional looking template driven website from - //www.vermontdispatchphoto.com/

the latter charges $35/hour with 10 lightly processed photos for her fee. to each their own - but.

these are the links dispatchphoto spit out to me for the state of vermont.

good luck...


04/09/2009 11:32:14 AM · #68
$35 an hour? Oh my.
 04/09/2009 01:24:49 PM · #69
This thread is still alive?

Talk about vanity!!

:-)
03/31/2014 09:12:42 PM · #70
Originally posted by karmat:
Originally posted by chiphotoguy:
Originally posted by soup:
hehe

pay me $48 and i'll put you on my list as available to find your own job...

once i come with a logo and have it cast in iron - it'll be 'branded' into your right ass cheek :)


Stick to the facts people! According to URLM.co dispatch.com gets just under 800 views per year, 794 to be exact. That's far from 20 to 30K not mentioning that most are probably curious to find out what their offer is about.

Soup,
Quick question.
So if I pay you 4 dollars a month would you be willing to design and host a website (at your expense)that gets 20-30 thousand unique visitors a year, promotes my business and contact details, links to my own website, provides national direct email marketing, solicits 100's of other photographers who can provide referrals to me in my city for local gigs and maybe 10 other various services? What? Not interested in providing that kind of service? I wouldn't think so. Like I said it's a SIMPLE concept.


Don't be surprised at the skepticism exhibited. Someone started a thread wondering if anyone *they "knew"* on a website they are familiar with knew about a third party. Fairly common procedure.

Then, we get several, almost instantaneous, "testimonials" from people who have never posted here before.

(Just trying to give you a perspective on *why* some may react the way they do.)

That said, welcome to dpc and we invite you, and look forward to, future participation from your ranks.
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