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08/05/2005 11:56:27 AM · #1 |
As you may have heard me mention, and I do appoligize for my over-excitment, I took pictures at the Gravity Games. I got an e-mail from a Publicist @ OLN asking to use a couble of my pictures from the contest for BMXpress magazine. She said that I would get credit for the shots and I agreed to let her use them. "This will go into the Sept. issue of BMXpress magazine, available across the US."
I'm pretty excited about being published, but should I have charged them for the pictures?
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08/05/2005 12:00:53 PM · #2 |
If this is the first time your pictures have been requested and you've never had any previous dealings with the magazine then I would say no (just appying some logic - no personal experience). This will get you the exposure so the next time you can charge.
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08/05/2005 12:07:34 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
If this is the first time your pictures have been requested and you've never had any previous dealings with the magazine then I would say no (just appying some logic - no personal experience). This will get you the exposure so the next time you can charge. |
That was my feeling too. I'm just a little paranoid about being taken advantage of.
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08/05/2005 12:09:25 PM · #4 |
| Magazine RARELY (if ever) pay for editorial content. |
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08/05/2005 12:11:38 PM · #5 |
I wouldn't worry about it to much, the first time I went to an event for a magazine I didn't get paid, but it lead to a few other jobs since that I have been paid for.
Just be happy to see you photos published, I know I was!
Message edited by author 2005-08-05 12:16:09. |
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08/05/2005 12:16:13 PM · #6 |
most excellent news, eric!
i typically ask, "what do ya'll usually pay for stuff like that?", and like gil p pointed out, the answer is usually, "nothing--but we make sure you get credit!" but, sometimes, you might get lucky...
;-) |
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08/05/2005 12:21:23 PM · #7 |
I have to dissagree with you all on this one. I have had many pictures used for editorial and I have always been paid for them. By letting them have them for nothing you are setting a precedent and therefore they will always expect to get them for nothing. Photo credit doesnt pay the bills. Just think about how much your equipment costs and the bills you have to pay at the end of the month.
This is a very hot topic and I am just expressing my view here, dont want to start anything hot and heavy LOL.
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08/05/2005 08:29:58 PM · #8 |
not to get 'hot and heavy', but...
it all depends on the situation. if you are shooting on assignment, sure, you'll get paid. if you have an image that they wouldn't get otherwise, you'll get paid. if you have a nice shot, but it's something where they can get another similar shot from any number of sources, chances are...you won't get paid. in situations like this, you have to decide whether or not you want the credit, or if standing on principle is worth it. if you're not a pro, then you wouldn't be looking at an opportunity like this to 'pay the bills'--you'd probably be looking to getting a stack of mags to be able to show your name around. |
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08/05/2005 09:12:33 PM · #9 |
Okay, think about it, even if you arent doing it to make a living (which I do) how many magazines would you buy if there were no pictures in them? They pay their staff, charge for advertising in the mag (take a look at some of the exhorbitant rates some magazines charge to place an ad in them), they pay the people who write the text, their printers, editors etc. etc. but they want the pictures (which in my opinion are one of the most important parts of any magazine or publication) for free! I feel even if you arent doing it to make a living, you deserve some compensation, after all this is something that you captured, it is your creation. Without you pushing the shutter that moment in time which they want isnt in existance. And it gets them sales. How many magazines have you bought because the cover picture has caught your eye?
Well that's my 2 cents worth LOL, just trying to say you can get paid, even if it is a minimal amount or a trade off.
Edit : Hey just a thought, it could go towards your next lens or camera or computer or printer after all. Photographic equipment is expensive. Get paid and have your name in print, best of both worlds.
Message edited by author 2005-08-05 21:14:16.
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08/05/2005 09:48:59 PM · #10 |
heyah, lori, there's no arguing with what you're saying, all your points are valid. along those lines, there are plenty of situations where you'd be saying, 'thanks, but no thanks' because there is no compensation, and someone else will be just as happy to get a credit.
i was contacted by a county agency that wanted to license some of my images for their annual report (the images were shot for a newspaper article). i'm negotiating with them now, because the county's policy is to try to shoot everything themselves. my options are to 1) walk away because they won't pay the going rate, 2) take less than the going rate and get credit and add another piece to my portfolio. since i've already been paid for the assignment, and i've already sold some reprints, anything else is gravy. i'm looking at this long term, knowing that the county does periodically hire photographers at the going rate, and that it won't hurt to have another portfolio piece. i imagine though, that at some point, you have enough of a portfolio that option 1 would make more sense. |
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08/05/2005 10:07:09 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
heyah, lori, there's no arguing with what you're saying, all your points are valid. along those lines, there are plenty of situations where you'd be saying, 'thanks, but no thanks' because there is no compensation, and someone else will be just as happy to get a credit.
i was contacted by a county agency that wanted to license some of my images for their annual report (the images were shot for a newspaper article). i'm negotiating with them now, because the county's policy is to try to shoot everything themselves. my options are to 1) walk away because they won't pay the going rate, 2) take less than the going rate and get credit and add another piece to my portfolio. since i've already been paid for the assignment, and i've already sold some reprints, anything else is gravy. i'm looking at this long term, knowing that the county does periodically hire photographers at the going rate, and that it won't hurt to have another portfolio piece. i imagine though, that at some point, you have enough of a portfolio that option 1 would make more sense. |
Actually skip if you are in it for the long term you should take option 1.
This way you are proving yourself as a Professional with standards all you are doing by taking option 2 is to undercut other pro's by doing work below the going rate.
Really it's your choice but I don't think option 2 will help you in the long-term, please think about how you would feel if as a pro you kept getting priced out by an amateur. |
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08/07/2005 09:46:45 PM · #12 |
Yes I have to agree with keegbow here. If you are intending to do more business take option 1. At the end of the day if you give them away for free it will be very hard to get them to pay you later. I have turned away from many opportunities which have been low (very low) paying and believe me I could have done with even those small payments at the time, but when one door closes another always opens. It isnt easy to say no but sometimes you just have to stick to your guns, especially if you want to be taken seriously.
Another instance is all these magazines that run photo competitions. Look at the small print, nearly all of them say that they retain the rights to use your photos in any way they wish, and I am not just talking about the winning shots which receive prizes, I am talking about every single entry they receive becomes theirs to use however they wish. But that is a whole other story LOL.
Good luck, it isnt easy but it does hurt those who rely on the income to earn a living.
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08/08/2005 12:15:52 AM · #13 |
i absolutely disagree.
no one starts out at the top of the food chain, commanding the highest rates. everybody has to start somewhere. unless you have someone bankrolling you, or unless you are doing something else to support yourself while you are getting started, you are not going to be able to charge the highest rates. starting out, the most important thing is to establish a reputation of reliability, competence, and commitment. do that, and the rates will follow. your first customers might not want to pay your rates as you increase them, but nothing says you have to work for those customers forever. as your abilities progress and your rates scale, some customers will stick with you and others will be replaced. no big deal.
if you are an established professional, you are going to know your market, and you are going to avoid situations where you know the money isn't there for you. you are going to leave those jobs for the people who need/want to do them. you are NOT going to be hurt by somebody else doing the work you don't want to do.
and, if you lose a job to someone who is under-bidding you, you aren't going to lose sleep. you will probably go to sleep knowing that the client is going to get what they are paying for. the pros i've been associated with don't really worry about keeping up with the competition--we've been too busy setting the standard for everyone else to keep up with.
i really don't mean to come off as a horse's ass here, but i've been self-employed nearly 20 years, and have built a number of businesses from scratch. i haven't seen anything about the photography business that is different than anything else i've ever done. your mileage may vary...
;-) |
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