Yet another approach for no financial reward thread

[mnementh]

I've been asked if some wedding photos I've taken can be used in a ceremonies brochure for West Sussex County Council. (One of the bridesmaids works there and she'd rather use my photos than stock ones)

They can't offer any financial reward but I will be credited under each image.

I'm tempted to go for it if they will put my name and/or web address under each image.

Interested in any thoughts or comments, especially regarding copyright control - do I have to get them to sign anything saying then images will only be used for this publication and I still retain full copyright ?

Cheers

[John C]

I think, if I remember correctly, that the photographer retains copyright unless he/she signs it away *however* I reckon it would be a good idea to get something signed so that everyone knows where they stand.

The alternative is things getting a bit nasty when you find out that they've used the images all over the place because of assumptions being made that they're now theirs to do with as they please.

I'd guess that the printers they're using get a "printed by" text on the brochure, and get paid too though :/

[surfer_chicky]

Have no Idea, but well done though :thumbs:

[Taq]

Try asking for a month's free council tax as payment :)

[mnementh]

:lol: Different county council unfortunately

[Wishy]

Legal side:
The copyright is yours, you can do as you want with it, providing its not libalous, etc.
Theres no requirement in this country for a model release, however its good practice to ask the permission of the people in the photo, if only because they'll badmouth you if you put their wedding photos everywhere and you'll loose business. Its especially worthwhile when the pictures are children, as theres always the "Pedo" cry, etc.

Generally, you'd send something saying they're authorised to use the photo for purpose X in location X, explictly not for use anywhere else. - Basically if they ignore this then they're breaching copyright, be it in good faith or not.

As for finacial reward - thats your call i guess, but its good publicity as long as its not going to put clients noses out of joint.

[Radiohead]

They'd be paying for stock photos and believe me councils have budgets for this sort of thing. It wouldn't be unusual for the promised credit to be left off and they're not going to reprint.

I'd say no unless they were prepared to pay, but I'm past the point where I give stuff away for free or for a credit. A hotel recently asked me for some and they paid £50 per image (and used 6 in the end). YMMV here.

[Sam]

Agree 100% with Radiohead :thumbs: Its a CC FFS of course they can pay - have you checked how much we give CC's through Council Tax each month? ;)

[DamienB]

Make em show you the money...

[downhillbiker]

Just to butt in... I've been asked by my editor at the uni paper to contact someone at the BBC, who's wanting photos of the NUS affliation campaign that's happening at Glasgow uni today - I believe they'll be used on the BBC website.

At any rate... I get the feeling that they're going to be wanting them for nothing but giving me credit, which I can't say I'm overly excited by - my view is that they'd have had to send a photographer if I wasn't there, so they should have to pay for them.

Any thoughts?

[Radiohead]

This is yet another example of the vaunted "citizen journalism" the BBC and other seem keen to trumpet - mainly because it saves them money.

If the BBC want to use your pictures then they should pay market rate for them. They wouldn't expect an article for free, so why should images be. This is even worse than asking for images already taken - they're effectively after a free photographer to cover a specific event.

The phrase "blow me" comes to mind.

[Wishy]

It depends, is having a website address at the bottom likely to land you any wedding photography work? If so its worth it. If not you may as well tell them to screw themselves.

And specify when you send them the pictures they have to pay the going rate for stock photos if they do not include the credit / website.

Of course, the BBC getting you to take their photos for them is a silly state of affairs - they're offensively cheap at times.

[downhillbiker]

What would market rate for a photo on the BBC website be then? Obviously I want to get a fair price without asking for a ridiculous figure.

[Radiohead]

http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/phonlrat.html

:)

[downhillbiker]

Cheers Guy, phoned them and they said they should be able to pay me for the photo. Very excited :D

[Radiohead]

:thumbs:

[tonytol]

I think the BBC policy is never to pay 'cos they'e so poor :D There's a big thread about it in relation to photo competitions they run.

As for the op, I doubt the council will allow your website address to be printed as this might amount to an 'official' endorsement /advertisement of your services, as opposed to just crediting you with taking a photograph. Worth asking though. Find out what they would pay for stock photos or hiring a photographer to do work for brochures. They still pay the brochure designers and printers, so why should the photo be free? As also mentioned get something in writing, especially offer to credit you on the print run. Perhaps get it in writing that you will provide them free if credited on each image, otherwise it will cost £xxx per photo. that way they won't forget to do it.

edit: oooh you're going to get paid! make sure it's money and not chipped wheeley bins :D another edit: my mistake! yep - at least one of you will get paid though :)

[emeyedeejay]

I think it's downhillbiker that's going to get paid :thinking:

[downhillbiker]

I wish it was downhillbiker who was allegedly meant to be getting paid... the BBC ran the article after I'd offered them photos of the campaigning for a fee - but from reading their article, it would appear that they decided to run a stock photo of the Glasgow uni tower, in the article, instead of any of the up-to-date material that I offered them.

You can find the article on the BBC website very easily in the Scotland section, if you care to read...

[thelocalman]

BBC online pay £150 per picture used, no other media must be stated or the thing appears on BBC news in a flash, and a credit for any usage in any media is always requested and the fee doubled if not adheared to.

[mnementh]

With mine I've decided let let them use the photos if they want to as long as I'm credited under each image.

The photos were of my sisters wedding - some photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/robgallop/sets/72157594184820464/

[toadoftoadhall]

Think of it this way,
How much would it cost you to put the photos in the mag as an advert. Couple of hundred? As long as you are credited with contact details, go for it.

toad

[mnementh]

Well the brochure is out - Can be downloaded here http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/births-deaths-and-marriages/ceremonies-brochure.en

I'm on page 5 :)

[Radiohead]

Nice work Rob (and the nicest pic on that page if I may say so).

[mnementh]

Isn't it the only pic on that page :D

Cheers :thumbs: