contacted on flickr... - DPChallenge Forums

04/04/2010 02:45:06 PM · #1

hey, i need a bit of advice, somebody has contacted me on flickr interested in using one of my photos for their "thesis proposal for my graphic design graduate program" and ask if i agreed if i could send the original raw file. I currently sell photos through microstock and alamy so I was thinking to point them in the direction of the sites I sell through, however if they wold like the raw file, none of the sites sell hte raw file. Just wondering if anybody had any experience with business through Flickr, i dont want send the photo for free because i actively sell them elsewhere so i goes against the whole idea, but im unsure of how to proceed etc. any advice is greatly appreciated!

04/04/2010 04:39:33 PM · #2

Take it from an old student.. If they're asking for it for a "Thesis Proposal" you can pretty well bet that it's unlikely that they want to buy it..

Now.. On the other hand, if they do use the image, and give credit, the exposure could be worth far more than the sum you would otherwise charge for it.

As an argument in the student's favor, I do feel you should consider allowing them use of the image for completely charitable reasons, just be sure to nail down the usage, such that it cannot every be used for any business type transactions, that's to say, if they want to put it in their portfolio when they're looking for a job, that would mean a renegotiation of the terms, and that would obviously be where you would want to ask for money...

Just my opinion, and I'm a bit biased anyway..

04/04/2010 04:53:12 PM · #3

hmm, thanks, i was thinking in just saying if they just buy a cheap copy from a stock site then ill send them the raw file, i just feel that if i sell to them, then i'll be much more reasurred that the use is legitimate, call me paranoid, but i really dont want to find ive been ripped off! as for exposure well they said that it would only be sent around their school. Another thing that may be odd (well has made me paranoid) is that the user has literally only been a user of flickr for a matter of days, maybe im reading too deep, well yeah i probably am ;) ) i guess if i knew 100% that it was a legimate use then id be happy to donate a copy, for the exposure like you say, thanks again!

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/04/2010 05:02:41 PM · #4

Originally posted by brightspark567:

Get the name of their school and their graduate adviser, then just call the school, have them transfer you to the adviser and ask really quickly..

Also, if you prefer, you could just get the name of the adviser and their school, then just find the adviser's e-mail address and send an e-mail..

Essentially, the check here is that you have to be sure you're really getting the adviser, so don't just take an e-mail address or phone number, be sure to get that from the .edu site..

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

04/04/2010 05:12:08 PM · #5

Also, I think if you charge at least a dollar as a condition of the license ("for consideration received") you'll have a legal business contract, just in case there's a problem in the future. As stated earlier here, specify the terms of use in your license and you should be covered. You might also want to ask to receive a copy of the finished project for your archives/portfolio, and permission to use it for promotional purposes.

Find out why they need the RAW file (for example, are they going to display several versions processed differently for comparison?). If there's no good reason like that, you should send them an image edited to their specifications so that anything they might mess up won't be attributed to you.

04/04/2010 05:36:01 PM · #6

yeah it threw me a bit when they asked for the raw file and really thats what made me suspicious because theres all sorts that you can do with a raw file, it is the original! however if i sent it them i'd be embarrassed, the original is shocking, its meant to be an isolated shot but the background is this horrible gray with dust spots everywhere, i think ill just refer them to iStock, it doesnt cost that much for a download and it will keep it all official, thanks for all your help

04/04/2010 05:42:17 PM · #7

Originally posted by brightspark567:

the original is shocking, its meant to be an isolated shot but the background is this horrible gray with dust spots everywhere

Well, now that would certainly further their education.. :D

Actually, this might be why they want the RAW file, as a baseline reference, in other words, they may be examining how you did your post processing, and they are going to attempt to replicate the same work..

There's a hundred other explanations, but do understand that they might have a very, very good reason they need your RAW file.. Open that communication channel with them, ask questions, ask for references (their adviser is the VERY BEST option), find out what they're doing..

Then tell us :)

-Cory

Message edited by author 2010-04-04 17:42:51.

04/04/2010 06:06:12 PM · #8

haha well i decided to take some advice from GeneralE and say i'll edit the raw myself and send them copies ofthe jpg, i also decided to let them use it for free so long as they agree that they can only use the photo once in this document, so that i will have something in writing. Also asked for a copy of the page that the photo is used in for my own collection, didnt want to ask for the whole document for the same reasons I dont want to send the RAW file. hmm i hope that doesnt sound too strict and formal, i just wanted to cover my back :P, thanks again

04/04/2010 06:40:46 PM · #9

Originally posted by brightspark567:

Not too strict or formal, it's just that you might be missing something critical, as they may have a very academic reason that they need the original to study.

04/04/2010 06:49:32 PM · #10

well i tried not to make it sound like my 'only offer' if they come back to me saying they need raw for a specific reason then i'll think about it more, but tbh i dont think they want it for anything like that because they said it would be for the front cover so unless they are going to do a series of images on the front cover i doubt the raw file will be vital to their final document.

04/04/2010 07:39:53 PM · #11

"thesis proposal for my graphic design graduate program"

And he's using your photograph on the Cover???? What's wrong with this guy? I don't know if he'll get accepted into ANY graduate program with that kind of creativity...

Tez

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

04/05/2010 10:47:40 AM · #12

if all you're getting is a photo credit, it ain't worth it.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

04/05/2010 03:12:00 PM · #13

haha last two comments are making me think i should be charging the person... too late ive already sent a message offering it for free :/

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

04/05/2010 03:33:03 PM · #14

Did they say they wanted to use it for the cover?? They may be trying to show different examples?

And I would think that just being a graphic design grad student doesn't guarantee they are a photographer. . .

It's one picture for a graduate thesis proposal (which sounds like he is already in the program) -- it's not a cover for the next NYTimes bestseller; I don't think you'll make a lot on this one (if any) so a photo credit may be as good as it gets.