Is Taylor Swift a hypocrite?  The answer is an emphatic yes according to one photographer that has accused the popular singer of exploiting photographers in the same way Swift accused Apple of exploiting musicians.  Over the weekend, the country-to-pop superstar published an open letter after Apple revealed it would not be compensating artists during the three-month free trial period of its Apple Music service.  "Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing," Swift explained on her Tumblr page.  "We don't ask you for free iPhones. Please don't ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation."  Less than a day after the post, Apple announced it had heard Swift's concerns, and was revamping its policy so that artists would be paid during the free trial.

Photographer Jason Sheldon published a similar open letter on his blog on Tuesday, essentially using Swift's own words against her.  "You say in your letter that three months is a long time to go unpaid.  But you seem happy to restrict us to being paid once, and never being able to earn from our work ever again, while granting you the rights to exploit our work for your benefit for all eternity. How are you any different to Apple?," read Sheldon's statement.  The photographer points to what is called a contract authorization form, which photographers are required to sign when taking pictures of an artist for a given publication.  Typically, these forms are written so that the permission for photographs extends to only one publication, and the photographer gives up the rights to the picture to the artist and/or their management.  If the indicated publication decides not to run the story, Sheldon explained, then the photographer is left with nothing to show for the time and expenses incurred to take the pictures.

"As a freelance photographer, I am asked to photograph concerts by publications. I get paid IF and when the photos are used, not for turning up to a show and shooting it.  Therefore, if the newspaper has a bigger story to run and doesnt have enough room to use my photo, I dont get paid," Sheldon claimed.  By forcing photographers to agree to these conditions, Sheldon said, she is, in essence, exploiting the photographers in the same way she accused Apple of exploiting artists.  "Photographers need to earn a living as well. Like Apple, you can afford to pay for photographs so please stop forcing us to hand them over to you while you prevent us from publishing them more than once, ever," Sheldon continued.

In her letter to Apple, Swift noted: "nobody asks Apple for free iPhones, so the company shouldn't be asking for free music from those who create it."  Sheldon turned that statement against the singer.  "Photographers don't ask for your music for free. Please don't ask us to provide you with your marketing material for free," the photographer exclaimed.  Sheldon finished his letter by telling Swift: "Time to stop being 'Mean'."

Click here to read Swift's letter to Apple,

Click Here to read Sheldon's letter to Swift.