Laurin Rinder - Photographer/Producer and advocate for the GDRI mission

What kind of changes over the years have you noticed that affect photographers like yourself?

Of course one of the biggest changes was the digital Camera, I still shoot both film and digital as per clients needs but honestly, to me digital has opened the way and the eyes of many amateurs to explore a new medium and the instant gratification that comes with it. I also believe it has made folks lazy in thinking the camera will do everything for you. People don't realize that you still need talent to succeed utilizing the techniques of composition, exposure, proper white balance and the understanding of depth of field. The basics and the foundation of photography.

Do you think there is a way to make decent money via the Internet?

Yes I do, but as I said with the influx of a gazillion digital photographers out there, there is smaller pieces of the pie to go around. Back at the beginning those of us who had websites did pretty well selling prints and such. Now there are a billion websites and a billion opportunities but..... the part that we most forget about or haven't discovered yet is the business side and the self promotion side. That's the work nowadays. Taking the photograph or painting the picture is the relatively easy part, getting the client, keeping the client or just finding a place to showcase yourself is the job part and that it seems, is where most fail.

What should have been done different on the Internet relative to a photographer’s livelihood?

That's a tough question and I could go on for days about this and have. It all kinda exploded but, if we had something in place like Mr. Davis is doing at the beginning with GDRI we wouldn't be in this mess now. There isn't one day in the last 5/6 years that I'm not chasing someone down for lifting my work off the Internet and selling it, as if they created it. On E-bay, Google images, Facebook and their own websites without even as much as a simple credit. I've seen my work on T-shirts, coffee mugs, mousepads, sheets and prints in finer stores and the list goes on and on and on. I catch them and they all say the same thing, "It was on the internet, I thought it was free." I can't begin to tell you how much revenue I lose from this action as do thousands of other artists every damn day! And It must stop. Somehow we need to get the genie back in the bottle, It's gonna be a huge tough long job but, I believe from the art side we must try our best.

What if a photographer could make money whenever his stuff was shared?

Easy answer. That would be the right thing to do. Period! Otherwise it is nothing more than theft plain and simple. One of the comments from people and friends that sends me over the top is "Why do you pay for music? You can get anything for free."

Where are you shooting next?

I shoot or teach everyday, I must constantly feed the stock agencies with commercial Images and video footage, I shoot for clients I've had for years. My business partner who is the premier food photographer in the country and I just completed our 3rd book and beginning a fourth and final book before we start a large coffee table book. We do group workshops around the country 2 to 3 times a year. There is never enough time. My sincere hope is that anyone that reads this gets involved with GDRI if you care about the arts in any form it takes. It is a vital movement and I support it 1000%.

Laurin M.Rinder
Born 1943 Los Angeles California
Education
Burbank High school /Hollywood High School
Glendale Collage Major In Arts
Orange Coast Jr Collage Major in Music
Berkley School Of Jazz
UCLA The Arts

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