Nat'l Geo, Pro Digital Photographers & Copyright protection

Frostfrog said:

No, James Riley - you are absolutely wrong on this point. National
Geographic uses freelancers all the time.

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James Riley said:

Frostfrog said:

No, James Riley - you are absolutely wrong on this point. National
Geographic uses freelancers all the time.

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Thanks for the correction. My info came from their website months
ago.

I was shooting wildlife then and was hoping I could send them
something. However on their website they were really clear,
everywhere I looked, "No, thank you, we don't need you" was the
message. The site specifically said they use only staff
photographers.

Well just now I tried to see if I can link to their site where they
said it, but it seems they have completely overhaul their design,
and giving it a quick look, I could not find the same message.
Maybe somebody could locate their published policy on using
freelancer or photo contribution and update here.

I wonder if they realized that "we don't need you" message was not
good PR. Their site seems to be very receptive now, very feely
touchy. But, complete silence on photo contribution, least per my
visit.

--
JR

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James Riley said:

Michael F. said:

Wow!! That's the last time I sell any photos to Nat'l Geographic
(not that I have so far anyway).

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You will probably never sell any to NG. They only use inhouse
staff photographers, that's their rule. I am sure there are
exceptions we are not aware of.

--
JR

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Frostfrog said:

My information comes from being a freelancer who has shot for
National Georgraphic. Perhaps you misinterpreted what you read.

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Jim Cheal said:

James Riley said:

Michael F. said:

Wow!! That's the last time I sell any photos to Nat'l Geographic
(not that I have so far anyway).

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You will probably never sell any to NG. They only use inhouse
staff photographers, that's their rule. I am sure there are
exceptions we are not aware of.

--
JR

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As a past Time-Life photog, I can say that back in the 70's and
80's it was common knowledge that NG was, as a family owned Mag.,
you signed all your copyright protection over when you accepted a
position with them as a "Staff Photographer" wether that was for a
month or a year's contract; is was a simply matter of a
"work-for-hire" clause that you never had to worry about with
Time-Life. I use to love the checks from them as I gave them
release to re-sell my photos to other pubs, usually overseas, after
their usual 6 to 8 wk. first time rights. I don't think things
have changed all that much over at NG and with that "work-for-hire"
in that contract, photogs don't have a leg to stand on,
unfortunatly! That's the cost of being a NG photog!

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