Alessio Michelini Photography

I found this contract on the internet, and the first question I had was: "Who the hell is Sam Smith?". The I read this contract well, and apart the usual bullshit, the point number 5 really catch my attention. So essentially after the Taylor Swift's case, PR & bands managements, rather than prefer the "do the right thing" way and start to talk to photographers how to find a solution that it's fair for everyone, they went to the opposite way, so now they are asking to the photographers not only to sign that shit contract, but they are not even allowed to talk about it.
These people clearly don't know what the "Streisand effect" is.

I love Foo Fighters since their debut in the 90s, I think they are a great live band, and it's one of those bands that I would really like to photograph.
Unfortunately between my desire to photograph and the band, there is a big wall represented by the photo release you see down here, which is one of the shittiest you can find if you are a music photographers, so unless they change their mind, I'll never photograph a Foo Fighters live show. Sorry Dave, but I can't really accept this contract, nobody should accept this, and I don't really undestand why a person like you ask to photographers this shitty release.

(source: washingtoncitypaper.com)

I didn't need to see this photo release to discourage myself to even think to ask for a pass for this "artist", but this photo release is quite bad, and I never expected to see  something like that from him. Anyway, right grabs, they say that they can do whatever they want with your pictures and you can simply go to hell, damn photographer.
Thank you, but no thanks.

I used to like him, I did really like his first couple of albums and I thought he was cool, but then scientology first, and the photo release down here completely flipped my opinion about this artists.
Don't go to photograph his gigs, stay at home and watch a movie instead, much better.

Don't even think to go to photograph this gig.

(via MusicPhotographers)

I hate when I see a band like them, a band that I love from their first album, one of the first bands I've seen live back in the 90s, comes out with a photo release. It's not extremely bad, as they don't steal any copyrights from you, but essentially they want free photos from photographers, to use for commercial purposes or for whatever they like, and I cannot accept that. So, I'm sorry Brian, I will never see you again on a stage, unless you get rid of this bullshit.

(via MusicPhotographers)

Only the fact that it's written in Comic Sans should be already a good reason to not go to this gig. You will also forced to photograph from the mixer, which in most of the case is in a galaxy far, far away, and then you cannot use your very far, far too small photos of them in any case unless they say "yes, you can", which it's very unlikely that it's gonna happen, in any universe. Stay at home and watch "MythBusters", it's way better.

I think this line says everything: "In consideration of (i) the payment to you of sum of one pound (£1.00)". Yeah, they are cool and all the rest, but unless you get paid good money from the magazine / agency you work for, stay at home.

Here we go with The National's photo release, which it essentially says that apart from the specific article you are shooting for, you cannot use your photos, they don't take your copyrights on them, but they say you cannot use them in any other istances, not even for your portfolio, unless  you contact them and ask for the permission, which is something that will never happen, has they will ignore any email you will send to them.

(via Music Photographers)

After so many shitty photo releases, here something cool for you: in the press instructions for Roger Waters, it states that "Photographers will NOT be asked to sign a Release Form!". This is pretty amazing. And it's not only that, but it also suggests to the photographers the best moments to shoot. I would love to see these papers in every gig.

(via Music Photographers)