By Naboth Isaac Niwagaba
apearlnews.com
Professional photographers have been cautioned against dumping unpaid photos on the streets and in dustbins.
The caution was made by Kigezi Photographers Association Chairperson James Biryomumeisho while speaking on the sidelines of the Capacity Building Workshop for Photographers in Kabale District.
During the workshop that was attended by the Photographers Association leaders from six districts of the Kigezi Subregion, a number of ethical issues were raised, and notable among them was the handling of the photos whose owners had failed to pay.
Mr. Biryomumeisho noted with concern that some photographers were throwing unpaid photos on the streets, while others dumped them on the streets, which he described as unethical and against the rights of the clients.
“We have seen photos in the hands of street kids who pick them from dustbins, and others are usually scattered on the streets, which is wrong,” he added.
Biryomumesiho asked the photographers to always keep the unpaid photos as long as they can and burn them to ashes in case the clients fail to claim them, at least after five to six years.
Biryomumeisho revealed to our reporter that he was personally in possession of about 4000 unsold photos, which he had kept in boxes for the last seven to eight years.
Mr. Aggrey Masiko, the Executive Director of Bricolps International, an over 35-year-old photo studio based in Kabale District, South Western Uganda, said that photographers should understand that every business involves inevitable losses, and therefore unfaithful clients should never be punished by throwing their photos on the streets.
“I have seen people buy matooke and fail to sell them because they went bad or perished while in transition, but the owners don’t throw them on the way,” he said.
To prevent future losses, Masiko advised the photographers to register their businesses with the local authorities and make formal agreements with clients by issuing receipts and invoices, which can be used in case they opt to seek legal assistance.
Students at senior four and senior six farewell parties and revelers at wedding and give-away parties have been mentioned among the habitual defaulters of the photograph business in Kabale, Kisoro, Rukungiri, Kanungu, Rubanda, and Rukiga District.
According to the photographers, the development of a still photo of standard size costs between Ug. Shs. 350 and 400, and it is sold for 1000–1500 depending on the quality. Large-sized photos that require flames are usually sold at Ug. Shs. 5000, and the photographer spends between Shs. 2000 and 3000 on the development stage.
