It has been very flattering receiving so many compliments and requests of the photos I have been taking for the HoustonToday newspaper. I never thought I’d enjoy photography this much, and it certainly makes it more fun taking pictures for your community.
I wanted to write this editorial to first thank the community for taking such an interest in the work we do here at HoustonToday, but to also explain why, under publication rules, staff and I here can not release these photos digitally and individually to people.
While I am on the job, all the photos I take belong and are copyright to Houston Today. We do print out hard copies at a cost,and most of the time we do share the pictures with non profit organizations and groups, but not before they have been published in the newspaper.
I understand the controversy this may present.
Being a long-time local of Houston for 24 years, it’s a pleasure to be apart of providing this kind of service to the community.However, the Houston Today newspaper is still a business.
The town is going through a trying economic depression, which presents an issue between businesses and consumers. We all want to get the best out of our buck. And we all genuinely want to support each other, but not at the cost of our financial well-being.
I understand that. I think many of us do.
However, I argue that we can’t make the industrial and business decline of Houston an excuse for why we should be entitledto more at no cost.
Many businesses and organizations in this community do a great deal to provide more, sparring extra where they can. Butbehind each one is a person, just like you and I, who are working to support themselves and their families.
There is a financial cycle. The well being of employees, coverage costs of the business, ensuring a profit for continuance, allneed to come first before sparring extra can be done.
As residents of a struggling community, we need to be more attentive of that.
In case you were not aware, we have a Houston Today Facebook page that is updated frequently with photos and articles that you can share on your timeline. If you are a subscriber to the newspaper, we also have an online website athttp://www.houston-today.com/ where you can see every story that is in the printed version, go back to old issues,contribute your opinion in the web polls, and more.
