VII to simplify structure

The BJP reports that legendary agency VII Photo is to simplify its structure by eliminating the VII Network of non-member contributors. Currently VII has eleven members with an ownership stake in the company (including founding members Ron Haviv, Gary Knight and Christopher Morris) and an additional eighteen non-exclusive photographers who contribute to the agency's output through the Network. If this sounds confusing to you, then you're not alone: clients not understanding the two-tiered is one of the reasons cited by VII for the dissolution of the Network.

After Network agreements expire in September, all existing non-member photographers will be invited to re-apply for full membership (though not with an ownership stake), although not all will be accepted (nor will all existing Network members necessarily choose to re-apply). The key difference between Network membership and the new system being that VII will now take a commission on all work done by the photographers, rather than on jobs commissioned through the agency. VII claims that the commission will be modest, and is basically a way of ensuring that member photographers are committed to the agency.

VII has a, to the untrained eye at least,complicated business structure and so any move to simplify the public face of its operations will surely be welcomed by clients. The Network was a good idea in principle which the agency has decided (hopefully for reasons more motivated by logistical than financial concerns) is no longer viable, which is a shame for freelancers who wished to retain an element of independence. As we know, running an agency is increasingly hard work and sometimes the decisions we make are not always popular with everyone and this can include (sadly) our photographers. The real challenge lies in keeping the business creative and dynamic in a changing market. We don't doubt that VII can do this.

Not to blow our own trumped, but UNP administers a non-profit directory of UK freelance photographers. You can sign up here!