ATK not paying photographers?
 

It's time to bring this up on the boards.

I am a photographer still owed 14 000 dollars by ATK. I receive payments every once in a blue moon. At the (snail's pace) rate I am being paid back, I may get my money by mid next year - if I'm lucky!

I know I am not the only photographer out there who is experiencing this and that there are probably other photographers who are owed even more than I am.

I want you photographers to come forward and state your situation so that we can see what the hell is going on with ATK and possibly do something about it.

Considering we have to front the shoots with our own money, why is it so difficult to get back what is owed to us? After all, who helped put ATK where they are today? YOU and ME!

I just popped a fresh batch of popcorn for the show.

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/4...in_popcorn.jpg
_

I wish you would've contacted me beforehand, but please do so now. I'm available via ICQ, email, and phone as always.

GUNNER has landed

atk is a class act company, im sure gunner will take care of you

I'm sorry Gunner but I don't know who you are. I usually deal with the owner himself. However, he does not answer my calls and pretty much side steps the issues when I email him.

I've been patient long enough and figured enough is enough. Having shot for ATKingdom for more than five years, I never had a problem in the past. I don't know what happened this year to make payment schemes change but I haven't received a straight forward answer yet as to what is going on - no matter how many times I've tried.

ATK used to be a class act.

ATK has always paid me on time.

I shoot only for galleria only so maybe it is different. However I have never had a problem getting paid.

Lens Looker, contact Gunner.

Although I am not sure this is the place to post specific info on what has been going on with ATK this year, I will tell you that "the owner" has been VERY busy with projects that keep him out of the office a lot.

With that said, ATK has always paid me in a reasonable time frame if not sooner....Yes, even this year although I have seen an additional day or two delay from time to time. I don't see it as an issue since even the delayed payments are made in a reasonable time frame.

ATK still is a class act.

Yes, I know what is keeping the owner out of the office. And I wish him all the success with it. However, payments in the past of one shoot's worth every 4 or 5 weeks is hardly on a regular or acceptable basis. I am happy for the photographers who are getting paid on a regular basis, as they deserve to be. What about those who are not?

gonna have to go with this one myself. -bmb

Now that I look at my accounts, ATK sent me a wire just yesterday. :)

Fuck if I know.

Looks like Gunner jumped right on top of the issue though as soon as it was brought to light with him.

Put.....

bmbradley

on da case.

I don't have anything to do with atk's business practices, I'm only a shooter that shoots for atk on occasion. AND they have been very direct and positive with me in every instance. -bmb

Hey Gunner,
I hit you up on ICQ but you haven't responded.
If you want to wire out the 14 grand I'd be more than happy to let this thread die a quick and painless death.
:)

good luck to all parties sorting this out. :)

Sorry to hear that. I have also heard this has been happening to shooters but I can't say I have had any problems with them paying me on time. They have always been fair and fast with me. Hope they come through for you.

your post count hurts...

and so do your threats with your peers backing your accused within the same thread...

Get ahold of Gunner by phone :2 cents:

hey belinda contact me about the 5d pls... -bmb

here is how you scare customers away :2 cents:
only go on boards when it gets out of hand like really really long
(I just post my >4months behind clients)

sorry man, but he has a valid point and he's not a post whore, he's a photographer. so post count means shit. and as long as we shot for ATK no one else was responsible for handling the shoots and payments than the owner himself or Chris K. - not Gunner. someone who never goes on GFY probably doesn't even know that Gunner exists. :2 cents:

that said: we never had any problems, but that was 2 years ago. since then the low USD made it not worthwhile anymore

My life doesn't revolve around thread counts on GFY - like yours obviously does. Get a life!
No threats, anywhere btw.

the first line was a joke... the post count... the latter was valid as well...

Being that i myself am working for ATK this puts a notion of what if in mind... but in the end, based on reputation I feel content.

Is there a 2nd side to the story? (valid question)

Looking forward to resolution here.

I'd say it's more like, someone who never goes on GFY, never reads any other adult webmaster msg boards, doesn't attend any webmaster events, doesn't look at the ATKcash site, and doesn't communicate with ATK in any way other than talking directly to Kim (the owner), probably doesn't even know I exist.

Which sorta begs the question, why then wouldn't they just talk directly to Kim as they have done in the past?

...ad infinitum

Sinclair

Posting on GFY was a last resort, as I haven't been able to get a straight answer - or regular payments - from ATK.

As you can see from my post count, I am not a regular on the boards. I just wanted to bring the issue to light because I know people are talking about it, people are affected by it - including myself. I also know that some shooters are probably scared to raise the issue. Well, sadly, I've reached the end of my rope after more than 6 years with ATK. I'm truly sorry it has come to this point.

As for Gunner, I had (and still have) no idea who is is.

I would just like ATK to treat a few of us with a little respect and professionalism. Whether anything comes out of this or not...who knows? I really don't expect anything. However, if things do get cleared up, I will be the first to post on GFY and thank ATK publicly.

That's it!

If you did the work you should expect to get paid.

Why ya let a bill run up to $14,000 USD? Ya shouldnt let that sort of thing happen unless you are selling Boats or Cars on credit.

probably just a glitch. they are top notch guys. :upsidedow

Which begs the question why didn't Kim respond to the phone calls I made or the emails I sent or answer my questions directly? But this is not the place to get catty. Let's try to stay professional.

I have nothing personal against Kim. This is simply business.

lol ATK isnt fucking anyone.. they've been paying big dollars out for exclusive content since before 99% of GFY knew what a porn site was.. and it's still the same ownership with the same principles.

That's what you do when you think you have a good working relationship with a site, never having had any problems in the past and want to get the girls while they are still in the business. we all know how quickly they are in and out of it. It would has (or should I say "should have") benefited everyone; new girls for the site and profit for the photographer. A win-win situation.

Guess I won't do that again.

as you can read in his initial post: he tried

and if i wanted to get in touch with ATK i wouldn't contact you either - cause as far as i know you are not located at their office in Sarasota and at least until now i thought you are doing the affiliate program, not handling the shootings and payment of the photographers. if that changed i apologize of course and will keep that in mind

I had a conversation with you on ICQ and you simply shut it off without any warning. Either turn your ICQ on and leave it on long enough to have a discussion, call me at the office, or call Kim directly. I'm not sure what else to tell you.

it sucks to have to come to the boards to ask about this stuff, i've been ripped off several times (by "friends" in this industry who i've done good faith things for)...

right now is as hard a time as ever to NOT be paid, especially if it is just because someone hasn't gotten around to it

i would imagine that no one here with a client for over 5 years would risk ruining their business relationship doing something like this unless all avenues were exhausted & it was pretty serious to them

Okay,
it looks like discussions may start up between ATK and me. Hopefully things will get resolved in the end.
Thanks to all for your support and thoughts.

resolve it with these people direct, don't post it here that's my :2 cents:

:Oh crap:Oh crap

pay the man

Good luck man...Please hit me up. I would like to speak to you privitly
via skype or ICQ

I want to be fast with you as well. :)


Should might have tried to find out some other shooters contact first, and then after talking with them gone to the board.

shit gets done quicker here and provides entertainment value while I eat my chinese food

good luck to all involved in settling this

another anon poster causing shit by being a total fucking idiot

Calling him annon is stupid because he obviously isn't, as noone denied the fact he's owed the money yet.

The situation is surprising since ATK always was very clean. It'll be interesting to see does anyone else pop in since he says he knows other people owed aswell.

They do, it seems that you're just part of the "few" cool kids. :winkwink:

Because some photographers shoot for several clients and they let the shoots build up before sending them in. When I am shooting a lot for ATK, I do this as well. Other times I ship single orders when I know I won't be shooting more in the next few weeks.

ATK owes me $5,100.00 for a package they received this morning....And there is no doubt in my mind that I will get every cent in the very near future.

i think cash is tight for everyone these days, but i am not worried about getting paid by ATK..

I can verify everything Aaron posted. I've been shooting for ATK for over eight years, and Kim, ATK's owner, is definitely a class act.