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05/11/2006 01:01:20 AM · #1 |
| The shots I took at the local protests that turned bad last week and made the front page have gained a bit of attention from the Sheriffs Dept. They contacted me and would like copies for themselves. They would like to use them for training and also to help identify some of the criminal element involved. Now I have a VERY good relationship with them as far as access goes and couldn't afford to lose that in any way. I would however like to be compensated for the shots so how would I approach this situation without looking like a money grubber taking advantage of the situation. I need them to understand I want to continue this relationship but if it came down to money it would be nice to be paid but if it costs me my status I would waive fees but not without some pain in my bank account. I am still out 7 hrs of work and the drive there and back. Any suggestions? |
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05/11/2006 01:02:38 AM · #2 |
why not just explain it to them as you did here?
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05/11/2006 01:08:41 AM · #3 |
| Cause I'd prolly wet just like your little doggie did here |
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05/11/2006 01:08:58 AM · #4 |
Ditto to what Puggers and her peeing dog said.
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05/11/2006 01:10:52 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by jtf6agent:
Cause I'd prolly wet just like your little doggie did here |
Listen, every working man knows the value of getting paid for his work... so, I'm sure your concerns about being compensated will be understood.
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05/11/2006 01:11:09 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by jtf6agent:
Cause I'd prolly wet just like your little doggie did here |
a Fed Agent that pees himself!!! that's just wrong .... lol
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05/11/2006 01:15:47 AM · #7 |
| I just get a little weak when it comes to my photos. I know there worth a bit I just have a hard time charging brothers in arms if you know what I mean |
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05/11/2006 01:21:24 AM · #8 |
| I would say something like. "I would be happy to give them to you pro-bono, but if you have a small stipend in your budget, I could always use some funds to help offset the cost of equipment" |
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05/11/2006 03:28:51 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by jtf6agent:
to help identify some of the criminal element involved. |
I would demand entry into the witness protection program. new life, new identity, new camera equipment. :) |
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05/11/2006 03:31:04 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
I would demand entry into the witness protection program. new life, new identity, new camera equipment. :) |
But you already have been given a new identity, Ken... I mean, Art ;) |
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05/11/2006 03:33:54 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by crayon:
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
I would demand entry into the witness protection program. new life, new identity, new camera equipment. :) |
But you already have been given a new identity, Ken... I mean, Art ;) |
Doh! You've blown my cover! The next available name on the list is Gertrude!
They also told me I could get kicked out of the program if I was caught thread hijacking. ***slips quietly out the back door...*** |
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05/11/2006 04:33:22 AM · #12 |
the Sheriffs departement has a fund for "other" expenses, like information, pictures, doughnuts ans such.
to ask for $100 per image is fair to the Sheriff, it's part of their expences and is in no way inappropriate.
they pay every day thousands of $$ for informations, Doughnuts, and other crap they can't put in the books as justifiable expences....
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05/11/2006 05:15:02 AM · #13 |
Man, and here I was all this time thinking that they got those doughnuts free...
Actually, where I come from, if they park their marked car outside a late night or 24 hour doughnut shop, they get a doughnut and a coffee for free. I learned this little tidbit doing the 3:00 am shift cleaning windows. Between all the different shift schedules, there's pretty much always a cop car in the doughnut shop...
prevents holdups pretty well... you never know when the black and white is going to pull into the lot... |
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05/11/2006 06:14:35 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by DanSig:
the Sheriffs departement has a fund for "other" expenses, like information, pictures, doughnuts ans such.
to ask for $100 per image is fair to the Sheriff, it's part of their expences and is in no way inappropriate.
they pay every day thousands of $$ for informations, Doughnuts, and other crap they can't put in the books as justifiable expences.... |
So, this is taxpayers money?? ;)
Donuts
Message edited by author 2006-05-11 06:28:02.
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05/11/2006 10:59:25 AM · #15 |
If you needed someone to direct traffic at a wedding or other event, would the police do it for free? Around here, there's a per-hour charge to hire an off-duty officer, and (I think) a 4 hour minimum.
Will the photos be used as evidence? You may want to consider your time giving depositions and testifying.
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05/11/2006 11:11:46 AM · #16 |
there is usually rewards offered for info leading to the arrest of bad guys through programs like silent witness. That might be a way to get paid?
Personally, I wouldn't charge the police dept for the evidence to put bad guys in jail, but I'd charge them a lot for training material!
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05/11/2006 11:18:23 AM · #17 |
Once I was photgraphing my daughter leaving on a plane for London. As the plane pulled out it back right into another plane also backing out. The "feds" or whoever asked for my photos as evidence and didn't seem the least intersted in paying me for them. I didnt insist.
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05/11/2006 11:19:34 AM · #18 |
Just out of curiousity how did the protests turn bad? Who and what are the criminal element that the police are interested in?
Cheers |
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05/11/2006 11:20:53 AM · #19 |
| Tell them, "No, thank you. How about next time send your own photographer." |
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05/11/2006 11:38:39 AM · #20 |
I wouldn't want to jeopardize that good relationship at this point and would provide them with the photos that they want/need. Ask them to please give you photo credits and to keep you in mind for future paying assignments. Works for me. The expenses are sometimes hard to ignore, but the referrals are worth it in the long run. jmho
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05/11/2006 11:48:04 AM · #21 |
In the UK, the handing over of photographs to the police, for use in criminal investigations is normally by court order, rather than payment to the photographer!
The journalistic right to protect one's sources is an important principle, which is why images are obtained with difficulty for use by the police.
For example, if it became common knowledge that a reporter or photographer was selling images to the police for use in criminal investigations it may well put that person at risk at future events. Not to mention the frosty reception that they would likely recieve from their peers and colleagues.
Just my 2c.
Message edited by author 2006-05-11 12:05:58. |
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05/11/2006 11:48:21 AM · #22 |
Originally posted by jtf6agent:
I am still out 7 hrs of work and the drive there and back. Any suggestions? |
So did they ask you to go there and take the photographs? If they did you should have arranged to get paid upfront. If you went there on your own then you cant blame or charge anyone for you missing 7 hours of work and driving there and back. That was your decision.
As for getting paid for the photos they want, you could always half jokingly ask about getting paid and see what the reaction is. Clearly you think you deserve to be paid so ask. If they say no then you have to decide whether giving the police evidence to catch criminals means more to you than the money. They are your photos you can always say yes to evidence and no to training material.
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05/11/2006 12:19:25 PM · #23 |
Emorgan, I'm not sure yours is the same sort of issue. Generally in accidents, evidence is not used for catching wanted criminals... It's just an accident.
I hope you kept some of the pictures...
You might have been under special rules at the time as well, being in an airport which isn't exactly public property... |
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05/11/2006 12:55:27 PM · #24 |
i have to deal with this a LOT...
for example, i shot a huge fire. i got contacted by 3 different fire houses for 3 different reasons. one guy wanted a reprint to hang in his den. one guy wanted some artwork for his station house. another guy wanted some stuff he could include in training materials.
this was and is my thinking. personal use? pay my going rate for reprints.
station house artwork? well, unless the frame shop is GIVING AWAY FRAMES, i'm not giving anything away either! (i have a fundamental problem with people paying more for frames than the object being framed.) so, station house artwork? they get my non-profit/school discount off the going rate.
training materials? this is a completely different animal with a number of different variables. is it only going to be used locally? will the training materials be sold or licensed to other stations/organizations? does the station have a training budget for buying/licensing materials (heck, my church has to pay to license it's vacation bible school program!). is the station the same one that would respond to a fire at your house? the key to pricing this is having a conversation with the person in charge of purchasing to find out what type of budget they have for things like this. you do have to establish that you are a working professional, and that capturing images such as these is what you do for a living--that you weren't there by dumb luck and this isn't simply a fun hobby. the main thing is not to walk in like a beggar. ask them what they normally pay, then decide if it's fair and acceptable to you.
hope this helps. good luck!
Message edited by author 2006-05-11 12:56:52. |
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05/11/2006 03:11:09 PM · #25 |
I would give them to the sherriff's office people at no charge. This would strengthen your status with those people and that's always a good thing.
to skiprow:
(i have a fundamental problem with people paying more for frames than the object being framed.)
You should get over that :) It's normal. When you get to where you can sell your photographs for more than it costs to custom frame them, you will know you have arrived :) I don't know many who can (or can regularly). I know I can't...
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