Pic agencies and magazines say images that once sold for $1,500 (which equated to a half- or quarter-page in a magazine) now sell for as little as $150. So without the incentive, photo agencies aren’t investing big to obtain shots, magazines are reusing old pics, and earnings are generally way down.
The photographer driving the Range Rover was born in the U.K. and has lived in L.A. for 10 years. Keen to escape the stigma of being known as a pap, he asks not to be identified in this story. A year ago he had his own pic agency and commanded a six-figure salary. Now he’s working as a freelance photographer again.
