Is this for real?? - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

01/07/2008 10:47:12 PM · #1

Hi all,

I know I'm going to look like a fool for posting this question, but I want some help. I just got this email in my flickr account, and I'm not sure what to make of it! I'm new to photography and never thought anyone would be interested in my photos. I googled the name of the sender and she is indeed a photographer, and the cell phone number in the email matches that on her web site. Could this be for real? If it is for real, is there a possibility to charge money for my photos?

Thanks in advance for any insight. Here's the email (I edited out the personal information):

------------------------------------------------------------
:: Popular Photography Magazine Photo Request

Hello! I'm a freelance photo editor for Popular
Photography magazine. I was scouring Flickr for amazing
photos and came across your photographs. The editors at
Popular Photography are interested in running some of your
photos for an upcoming issue, and seeing more of your work
along these lines. Please email me at [snip] with the
best place to reach you so that I may put them in contact
with you!

Please email me as soon as possible, and feel free to call
or email with questions.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

01/07/2008 10:55:27 PM · #2

I have some doubts. Popular photography ought to have plenty of people submitting their work already, I can't see the editors scouring Flickr when outstanding shots are likely to be flooding in their doors. You never know, though.

Another question that comes to mind(though it is very subjective): Is your photo something that would elicit this sort of reaction from photography professionals?

I did get a request from a magazine recently (a restaurant guide) asking permission to use one of my Flickr photos as a stock shot in their next edition.

Message edited by author 2008-01-07 22:57:51.

Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4.0 Aspherical for Canon

01/07/2008 10:59:39 PM · #3

I don't know, I don't think my photos are that special. I'd show them to you put they are currently being voted on in DPC challenges. :)

Rooster

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

01/07/2008 11:03:32 PM · #4

hmmm... does sound suspect. Why not call or email the mag and find out if they do this and check the veracity of the email you got.

Good Luck!

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/07/2008 11:03:55 PM · #5

The real question here is whether the e-mail address given is a valid address at the magazine in question. If it is, then it seems like it might be worth cautious investigation.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/07/2008 11:04:12 PM · #6

Originally posted by Rooster:

hmmm... does sound suspect. Why not call or email the mag and find out if they do this and check the veracity of the email you got.

Good Luck!

Bingo.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

01/07/2008 11:07:21 PM · #7

What's your username on flickr? I'll have a look at those. PM me if you don't want to post it here.

I did have a look at the DPC portfolio you currently have and you have a good eye. Not sure that what I saw would get a photo magazine chasing after you, however. (they are not beating my door down, either.)

The Flickr message I had gotten had a ring of truth to it. They only wanted permission to use one photo, and it was nothing outstanding. Just a fairly decent shot that was appropriate for the publication.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

01/07/2008 11:11:17 PM · #8

Thanks Steve. PM sent.

banmorn

Nikon D750

01/07/2008 11:19:21 PM · #9

They contacted me a while back but I got the communication from the publisher of the site they were looking at. So it does happen. The Sr. Editor was Pete K....ring a bell?

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/07/2008 11:25:02 PM · #10

Well, I emailed back asking to talk to her, and she said I can talk to her tomorrow morning. We'll see. I'm very skeptical, but we'll see. I will update this thread on what happens.

Nullix

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

01/07/2008 11:29:20 PM · #11

Well if they offer to send you money through a money order, but then give you too much and ask you to wire them the balance, send the extra money to me.

I'll take care of it.

Message edited by author 2008-01-07 23:29:38.

Dantzr

Pentax K-x

01/08/2008 12:35:48 AM · #12

As this is something that probably most of us, if this is a true offer, would give an eyetooth or so for, you almost HAVE TO pursue it further. But, as

kirbic so aptly said above...

"The real question here is whether the e-mail address given is a valid address at the magazine in question. If it is, then it seems like it might be worth cautious investigation."

The word to attach to this whole situation until you are positive, one way or the other, is "C A U T I O U S". And, if it is real, let them know I have a few hundred digital shots and a few thousand negatives they can peruse if they would like!! :)>

Message edited by author 2008-01-08 00:36:54.

skylercall

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/08/2008 12:58:12 AM · #13

Originally posted by tivo:

Could this be for real? If it is for real, is there a possibility to charge money for my photos?

This very thing happened to someone in my local photography club just last month. The photo was found on his Flikr account by one of the editors and they paid him $100 for publishing it!

MikeJ

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/08/2008 01:56:11 AM · #14

I had this happen with Town and Country Magazine a few years ago. They contacted my wife about one of my dog pictures and told her it fit in with an upcoming spread and they wanted to use it. I've had a lot of my dog shots published, but at that time, not by anyone like Town and Country. So I said something about, "yea, right" and told my wife to answer her and ask a couple of questions... and promptly forgot about it. She got a reply back to my questions and said they really wanted to use one of my shots and needed it pretty soon. We were getting ready to go to a big dog show in Arizona and wouldn't be back for about 9 days. And since I'm still trying to figure out who would pull this on me (I couldn't think of anyone that wouldn't :D) I blew it off and told her sorry but I was leaving for a couple of weeks and didn't have time to pull it out and get it ready. I figured that would be that, but she came back and said to contact her as soon as I got back. Of course I forgot about it while we were gone but we hadn't so much as walked back in the door (hadn't had time to unload our trailer) when she sends an e-mail asking if I'm back yet. LOL! That's when I decided maybe this was for real. So I get the paticulares about what they are looking for and how much they paid. She sent it all to me, I pulled the image she wanted and sent it to them along with my studio name and other info they needed to pay me. A couple of weeks later I got a check and 2 months later it was published. They wanted it for a filler and my photo credit got pushed down in the center of the magazine so you had to pull it a part a bit to see it, but it was in there. Later on, the image used in Dog World magazine was more impressive, but I was more thrilled with Town and Country and how they they actually chased me down to get it. So yes, it does happen. :D

Mike

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/08/2008 03:47:35 AM · #15

Originally posted by MikeJ:

...A couple of weeks later I got a check and 2 months later it was published. They wanted it for a filler and my photo credit got pushed down in the center of the magazine so you had to pull it a part a bit to see it, but it was in there.

Get out! You're THAT "Mike Jordan"???

heehee. Just ribbin. That is a cool story. Sometimes skepticism can prevent people from the very opportunities they are seeking. Caution is good, but most things are at least worth some simple fact checking.

Hope this works out for tivo.

MikeJ

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/08/2008 06:33:59 PM · #16

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by MikeJ:
...A couple of weeks later I got a check and 2 months later it was published. They wanted it for a filler and my photo credit got pushed down in the center of the magazine so you had to pull it a part a bit to see it, but it was in there.

Get out! You're THAT "Mike Jordan"???

heehee. Just ribbin. That is a cool story. Sometimes skepticism can prevent people from the very opportunities they are seeking. Caution is good, but most things are at least worth some simple fact checking.

Hope this works out for tivo.

Hey! I was THE Michael Jordan long before there was such as thing as a Michael Jordan. Unfortunatelly, I got the brains, but he got the money and talent. LOL! I do have my share of stores about him though. ;)

Yea, sometimes when oppurtunity knocks, we have to open the door.

Mike

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

01/13/2008 12:14:39 AM · #17

Hey everyone, thanks for all the interesting comments. An update:

I did talk to the freelance editor who sent me the email. It seems legit. She said she printed a bunch of photos from flickr to show them to the editors of Popular Photography for an upcoming article that talks about amateur photographers and the photos they make, and how they differ from pros who just want to make photos that sell. Anyway, she said the editors were interested in a couple of my photos, and that they would contact me to discuss the details. I told her about DPC and how it's FULL of amazing photographers who do amazing work. That's it for now. I will update this thread again when/if the magazine contacts me.

This is one of the pictures she said they were interested in.

EducatedSavage

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

01/13/2008 12:20:54 AM · #18

That's amazing, tivo! You must be feeling pretty darn good right now! :D

Rgarcia

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II M.Zuiko ED

01/13/2008 12:25:04 AM · #19

Congratulations!!! You must be very proud!!!

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

01/13/2008 12:50:58 AM · #20

Go Tivo! , and thanks for mentioning DPC to her. Congrats.

MikeJ

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/13/2008 01:34:11 AM · #21

Congrats! Myself, I would have waited till they commited to one of mine before telling them about DPC. Just in case, you understand, that they might possibly find something better than mine. ;D

Nice shot.

Mike