Apple Will Now Pay The Winners Of Its “Shot On iPhone” Photo Contest
Earlier this week, Apple announced the “Shot on iPhone” contests for photographers who wanted to showcase their talent. The pictures would be judged by a panel of 10 professionals and the winners would get a spot in Apple billboards across the world.
The contest asks the users of the latest iPhones in town, namely the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR to submit their best photos via Twitter, Instagram, email, or Weibo. The 10 best photos — selected by a panel of judges that includes Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller and former White House photographer Pete Souza will be featured “on billboards in select cities, Apple retail stores and online,” according to the contest site.
Well, Apple might’ve thought that exposure would be enough for them to participate but after facing a serious backlash for not paying the winning photographers anything, Apple has updated the contents on its website, in the original press release about the contest.
First spotted by The Verge, the new paragraph reads, “Apple believes strongly that artists should be compensated for their work. Photographers who shoot the final 10 winning photos will receive a licensing fee for use of such photos on billboards and other Apple marketing channels.”
Apple has also updated their rules in a PDF from “Prize has no cash value” has changed to “Winners will receive a licensing fee for use on billboards and other Apple marketing channels.” Considering the past, Apple hasn’t gotten out of their way much to correct their mistakes, not even admitting they made one in the first place in some cases.
Details as to the amount the winners will be paid are unclear. Some photographers suggested earlier this week that Apple pay $10,000 per photo to the winners, though others argued that exposure should be payment enough. However, now that Apple has decided to give a fee to the winners rather than just relying on exposure by them, it may be expected that more people come on board the idea of entering the contest, which is supposed to take place until February 7.
