The ground hog that cost me $500 .

 The ground hog that cost me $500 . There at two  ground hogs here but the top one , yes the shady one ! Cost me $500 .Well not exactly . Here is the story . A few years back when I  was getting into photography  I was looking to sell my photos.  I called several news papers and asked them many questions . Long story short  I was told by one news paper  that if you made the cover you could get anywhere from $150-1500 average . It was all fee lance .  If you had half of a page photo it could  be around $500 . The smaller the photo got the less you got . Now you had to have a story with your photo of course .


 One day while walking back to my  sailboat . I saw a  ground hog . He was really friendly  and was  giving me a shake down for food . I was in a near by park . I didn't  have any food  but I did get some shots of him and another smaller  more shy ground hog.

 As I went on my way I could see the ground hog giving the next few people the shake down . Looking at the  photos after  I didn't think anything of it . I mean who cares about a stupid city ground hog right ?

 The next morning on my way to work I picked up said paper and then I see it .WHAT? NO!  You guessed it, there he was  half page sized photo .($500)  A ground hog ! Yes my stupid ground hog !

The little story  with the photo tells all , the friendliest  little ground  bugger face .  Not a bad feel good story that I felt bad about . Why? Simple  I missed the opportunity  to sell my  own photos . I assumed it was not news worthy . I guess if you don't ask you will never know. And never underestimate your  ability's , and get to know your  photo and  news  market .


 I  hold no hard feelings towards this little fur face . And I laugh at this photo from  2005 every time I see it . Which makes me think  if a photo is worth a thousand words , what is a photo with a funny story that makes you laugh every time you see it really worth ?

Isn't photography  great ? Take care everyone .