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I got a letter "may we use your pictures"

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Catcher05

Catcher05

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Hi all, I love photography although it's not my profession, and just yesterday I got a letter from a non-for profit publishing co. with "Would you be willing to give us permission to use it" - supposedly it'll be run on the website, twitter for a couple of weeks and their flyers on a certain event.

I am new to this and I am ok (I guess) with giving permission (good that they asked and not just grabbed a photo from my site) but is it possible that I am missing something here, or should I ask them for something or about something - really, I'm new to this so I'd appreciate any advice on that. Thank you!
 
Catcher05 said:
Hi all, I love photography although it's not my profession, and just yesterday I got a letter from a non-for profit publishing co. with "Would you be willing to give us permission to use it" - supposedly it'll be run on the website, twitter for a couple of weeks and their flyers on a certain event.

I am new to this and I am ok (I guess) with giving permission (good that they asked and not just grabbed a photo from my site) but is it possible that I am missing something here, or should I ask them for something or about something - really, I'm new to this so I'd appreciate any advice on that. Thank you!
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It they don't have any money, and it sounds like they don't, and you like the organization, I would do it. I've done something similar two-three times, but I don't make a habit of it or word will get around and people will take advantage. Just make sure to tag the photo for one-time use and to give you photo credit.

Honestly, so much of the editorial material I shoot would never see the light of day again that I am pretty relaxed on most stuff. Many strongly disagree. Shrug.
 
Catcher05 said:
Hi all, I love photography although it's not my profession, and just yesterday I got a letter from a non-for profit publishing co. with "Would you be willing to give us permission to use it" - supposedly it'll be run on the website, twitter for a couple of weeks and their flyers on a certain event.

I am new to this and I am ok (I guess) with giving permission (good that they asked and not just grabbed a photo from my site) but is it possible that I am missing something here, or should I ask them for something or about something - really, I'm new to this so I'd appreciate any advice on that. Thank you!
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There's no right or wrong in your situation.

I do make a living solely with photography, but that distinction from your own circumstance may be largely irrelevant in this case. My own first concern would be to verify that the organization is truly not-for-profit. My second concern would be whether or not my photographs would otherwise have some monetary value outside the proposed use for them by the organization. Finally, I would be concerned about any transfer of rights of ownership of my images. With these three concerns dispelled, I wouldn't mind donating the LIMITED USE of the images as a charitable gift.
 
Catcher05 said:
Hi all, I love photography although it's not my profession, and just yesterday I got a letter from a non-for profit publishing co. with "Would you be willing to give us permission to use it" - supposedly it'll be run on the website, twitter for a couple of weeks and their flyers on a certain event.

I am new to this and I am ok (I guess) with giving permission (good that they asked and not just grabbed a photo from my site) but is it possible that I am missing something here, or should I ask them for something or about something - really, I'm new to this so I'd appreciate any advice on that. Thank you!
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If they're a not-for-profit it doesn't automatically mean they're not able to pay and might just be trying to pull a fast one to get a freebie.

What you have to remember is that "not-for-profit" doesn't mean they don't make a profit, they just call it a "surplus".

For example, universities are registered "charities" i.e. not-for-profit but in reality some of them pay their staff exceptionally large salaries, have massive budgets for advertising and make huge amounts of profits, they just call it their surplus...

So don't be fooled by the "oh but we're a not for profit entity" fluttering of the eye lashes.

Now with all that said, if you would get personal satisfaction out of letting them use your image and don't have a problem with them not giving you any money, then go for it! Don't let anyone here tell you it's morally offensive, eroding the photography industry, stopping a "real" pro making a living, etc., etc.. It's your photo and your prerogative!
 
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Catcher05 said:
... I got a letter from a non-for profit ...
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"Non-for profit" means very little unles it is an organization that you knew of beforehand and were supportive of their activity. In an overwhelming majority of contemporary "non-for profit" companies, all that this means is that the profit is not paid as dividend to the shareholders, but divied up by the management in form of above-market salaries and bonuses.

Arne
 
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Thank you all for your feedback, I wrote a letter and gave them permission, I also asked them to keep me posted once the photo is online or something.

Now, if they don't inform me or something (they do have probably hundreds of such photos/photographers to deal with), should I revoke this permission? :) I mean, how strict should I be?

On one hand i kinda want them to use my photo (acknowledgment) on the other hand I don't wanna do something that'd abolish their interest. It's a bit strange and difficult. For ex., should I ask them for some document for using my picture, non-exclusive, limited, not for profit, etc., or they supposed to have one of those and email me a scanned doc? Can they or should they do such things PER photo/artist or is it too much? I don't want to look a newbie to them so they would take advantage, on the other hand (well again), don't wanna be too strict... Thoughts... thoughts... I guess I am totally so unprepared for such things.
 
Even if a client can't pay for usage rights - and I am NOT assuming that here - they can provide something of value, and that is promotion of my business. I'd ask for photo credit in any publication (online or print), listing on their site as a donor/sponsor, and I might even (discreetly) watermark my images with my biz name and URL.
 
Catcher05 said:
Hi all, I love photography although it's not my profession, and just yesterday I got a letter from a non-for profit publishing co. with "Would you be willing to give us permission to use it" - supposedly it'll be run on the website, twitter for a couple of weeks and their flyers on a certain event.

I am new to this and I am ok (I guess) with giving permission (good that they asked and not just grabbed a photo from my site) but is it possible that I am missing something here, or should I ask them for something or about something - really, I'm new to this so I'd appreciate any advice on that. Thank you!
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Make sure they're a registered charity or the like - not just a company waiting to make money. Make sure they understand they have non-commercial rights and that you own the copyright and can remove permission at any point.

Be flattered.
 
Something I would consider if it was me. I would like some assurance as to how the photo is going to be used. Silly analogy but let's say the photo is of your daughter. Lets say that it's a group that promotes child labour. Yes a silly analogy but it can happen. There are many analogies but you need to know how your photo is going to be used.

A simple written agreement asking for them to submit the proposed use before they publish.

regards
 
or their boss gets paid, then I would expect to get paid. If it is wholly a volunteer org or a charity I knew and respected, then I would consider free. Otherwise I would expect to get paid just like them.
 
I would probably do it. Heck, they could have pirated the image anyway and you would never have found out they did. However I would prominently display my name in the lower corner...Brent
 
Catcher05 said:
Thank you all for your feedback, I wrote a letter and gave them permission, I also asked them to keep me posted once the photo is online or something.

Now, if they don't inform me or something (they do have probably hundreds of such photos/photographers to deal with), should I revoke this permission? :) I mean, how strict should I be?

On one hand i kinda want them to use my photo (acknowledgment) on the other hand I don't wanna do something that'd abolish their interest. It's a bit strange and difficult. For ex., should I ask them for some document for using my picture, non-exclusive, limited, not for profit, etc., or they supposed to have one of those and email me a scanned doc? Can they or should they do such things PER photo/artist or is it too much? I don't want to look a newbie to them so they would take advantage, on the other hand (well again), don't wanna be too strict... Thoughts... thoughts... I guess I am totally so unprepared for such things.
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As I said in my first post... YOU DICTATE TERMS. The property is yours. You decide how it may be consumed. You decide how they may use it and for how long, as well as any credit or print stipulations.

One thing to remember is that your licensing terms to them does not (unless you specify otherwise) grant them any power to license the image to others. Put simply, the images are not theirs to give to other. Your terms may wish to reiterate that they have no power of transfer.

Spelling out these terms may have preferably been done BEFORE giving them permission.
 
Catcher05 said:
Thank you all for your feedback, I wrote a letter and gave them permission, I also asked them to keep me posted once the photo is online or something.

Now, if they don't inform me or something (they do have probably hundreds of such photos/photographers to deal with), should I revoke this permission? :) I mean, how strict should I be?

On one hand i kinda want them to use my photo (acknowledgment) on the other hand I don't wanna do something that'd abolish their interest. It's a bit strange and difficult. For ex., should I ask them for some document for using my picture, non-exclusive, limited, not for profit, etc., or they supposed to have one of those and email me a scanned doc? Can they or should they do such things PER photo/artist or is it too much? I don't want to look a newbie to them so they would take advantage, on the other hand (well again), don't wanna be too strict... Thoughts... thoughts... I guess I am totally so unprepared for such things.
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If it were me? I wouldn't be too concerned (depending on the photo).

I'm not sure what you're asking in the third para. If you're looking for a copy of the final artwork then the piece of paper you're looking for is called a 'tear-sheet.' At least in Australia, that is. You can ask for one and it is a very reasonable expectation. When I do design work for someone there is a 50/50 chance of receiving a request for one.

If you're looking for a piece of paper that clarifies your working relationship as the copyright holder then DerpReview is the last place to ask. Look for legal advice on the web relating to your specific jurisdiction. Any advice from people here is usually poorly worded opinions from pseudo-lawyers.
 
Don't let the not for profit fool you, they will be getting a salary.

Regardless, if they don't want to pay tell'em to stick their request where the Sun don't shine. Its that simple, don't let excuses muddy the water, we shouldn't be having these discussions. This is a pro forum, pro's get paid for doing their job, paid with money not flattering requests or credits.
 
KAllen said:
Don't let the not for profit fool you, they will be getting a salary.
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That's not actually what non-profit means.

KAllen said:
Regardless, if they don't want to pay tell'em to stick their request where the Sun don't shine. Its that simple, don't let excuses muddy the water, we shouldn't be having these discussions. This is a pro forum, pro's get paid for doing their job, paid with money not flattering requests or credits.
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I have no problems with someone coming here asking professionals for advice and conversation. After all, I come here to ask other professionals for advice and conversation, and others do too.
 
terence_boylen said:
KAllen said:
Don't let the not for profit fool you, they will be getting a salary.
Click to expand...
That's not actually what non-profit means.
terence_boylen said:
Regardless, if they don't want to pay tell'em to stick their request where the Sun don't shine. Its that simple, don't let excuses muddy the water, we shouldn't be having these discussions. This is a pro forum, pro's get paid for doing their job, paid with money not flattering requests or credits.
Click to expand...
I have no problems with someone coming here asking professionals for advice and conversation. After all, I come here to ask other professionals for advice and conversation, and others do too.
Click to expand...
 
KAllen said:
terence_boylen said:
KAllen said:
Don't let the not for profit fool you, they will be getting a salary.
Click to expand...
That's not actually what non-profit means.
KAllen said:
Regardless, if they don't want to pay tell'em to stick their request where the Sun don't shine. Its that simple, don't let excuses muddy the water, we shouldn't be having these discussions. This is a pro forum, pro's get paid for doing their job, paid with money not flattering requests or credits.
Click to expand...
I have no problems with someone coming here asking professionals for advice and conversation. After all, I come here to ask other professionals for advice and conversation, and others do too.

--
www.photowest.com.au
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Its not an amatuer asking for help that bothers me, it's so called "pro's" happy to come up with reasons why its fair to get ripped off. Every other supplier will charge for their service even if they give a discount.

Pro's need to knock on the head that free is reasonable or an option, try telling your bank if you fall on hard times that "Yeah but I give a lot to charity".

It's your business you should not need to have to deal with begging letters from all corners, I had one from a major UK photographic publication the other week.

Decent charities will actual expect to pay the going rate. If professional photography is going to maintain any value the idea of free has got to be banished.
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He's not a pro. Besides, he never asked about price or being paid. His original submission said he was alright with it.

He specifically was asking about things BESIDE THE PRICING ISSUE that he should know.

--
www.photowest.com.au
 
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Catcher05 said:
Hi all, I love photography although it's not my profession, and just yesterday I got a letter from a non-for profit publishing co. with "Would you be willing to give us permission to use it" - supposedly it'll be run on the website, twitter for a couple of weeks and their flyers on a certain event.
Click to expand...
What is a "non-for profit publishing co."? That is what makes me suspicious. A "publishing co." is rather different from a "charity newsletter". I'm just wondering if what is going on here is a trawler net to catch works by amateur photographers for free by appealing to their vanity or their desperation to be published. I would only agree to a time-limited use of my work with a prominent credit. And even then I wouldn't be surprised to find it turning up outside of the terms I allowed.
 
If they are a group that you have supported in the past or are a member of, I would say "yes" as long as you get credit and the terms of the usage are clearly written and signed by the group. Otherwise, I would say "no".

There are too many sleazy crooked "not for profits".
 
RhysM said:
Catcher05 said:
Hi all, I love photography although it's not my profession, and just yesterday I got a letter from a non-for profit publishing co. with "Would you be willing to give us permission to use it" - supposedly it'll be run on the website, twitter for a couple of weeks and their flyers on a certain event.

I am new to this and I am ok (I guess) with giving permission (good that they asked and not just grabbed a photo from my site) but is it possible that I am missing something here, or should I ask them for something or about something - really, I'm new to this so I'd appreciate any advice on that. Thank you!
Click to expand...
If they're a not-for-profit it doesn't automatically mean they're not able to pay and might just be trying to pull a fast one to get a freebie.

What you have to remember is that "not-for-profit" doesn't mean they don't make a profit, they just call it a "surplus".

For example, universities are registered "charities" i.e. not-for-profit but in reality some of them pay their staff exceptionally large salaries, have massive budgets for advertising and make huge amounts of profits, they just call it their surplus...

So don't be fooled by the "oh but we're a not for profit entity" fluttering of the eye lashes.

Now with all that said, if you would get personal satisfaction out of letting them use your image and don't have a problem with them not giving you any money, then go for it! Don't let anyone here tell you it's morally offensive, eroding the photography industry, stopping a "real" pro making a living, etc., etc.. It's your photo and your prerogative!
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The NFL (yes National Football League) is a "not-for-profit"

Loading…

www.change.org

That said, its kinda flattering that they want to use your image
 
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