Taylor Swift has been branded a hypocrite by a photographer.
Jason Sheldon has penned an open letter calling the ‘Shake It Off’ hitmaker’s photography policy “unfair”, just a day after she announced she would be withdrawing her music from Apple’s new streaming service because they wouldn’t be paying writers, producers and artists during a three-month free trial period.
Speaking about the singer’s decision to stand up against Apple, he wrote on his blog: “I applaud it. It’s great to have someone with a huge following standing up for the rights of creative people and making a stand against the corporate behemoths who have so much power they can make or break someone’s career.”
However, he then posted a copy of the contract each freelance photographer is made to sign when taking pictures at her shows, which stipulates images can only be used once, with worldwide rights then belonging to her.
He continued: “How are you any different to Apple? If you don’t like being exploited, that’s great … make a huge statement about it, and you’ll have my support. But how about making sure you’re not guilty of the very same tactic before you have a pop at someone else?”
Continuing to criticise the 25-year-old star, he accused her of using him and other photographers in order to get “marketing material for free”.
He added: “Photographers need to earn a living as well. Like Apple, you can afford to pay for photographs so please stop forcing us to hand them over to you while you prevent us from publishing them more than once, ever.
“With all due respect to you too Taylor, you can do the right thing and change your photo policy. Photographers don’t ask for your music for free. Please don’t ask us to provide you with your marketing material for free.”
Meanwhile, Taylor’s boyfriend Calvin Harris has congratulated her for her letter, which prompted Apple to announce they have reversed their decision, and will now pay acts while customers use their free trial.
He tweeted: “I just played a gig inside a giant owl and my girl just changed the entire music industry what a day (sic).”
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