Selling images - advice needed!

bjolester · 2014-01-21T15:17:39+0000

I need some advice about selling images. Recently I contacted a regional branch of the main national outdoor/hiking association (I cannot find a better translation of the Norwegian name), introducing myself as an amateur landscape photographer and linking my image galleries. My intension was that they possibly could be interested in buying some of my images, or maybe they could make use of me somehow as a photographer in the future. They responded quickly and said they liked my work and were interested in using many of my photos, for instance in an annual calendar, a yearbook, their website, etc., but they could not pay me any money. They also pointed out that by giving them images they might use, I would get good PR, and this could also lead to other things, other people becoming interested, and so on. The regional branch of this organization, of which I am a member, has maybe 5000-10 000 members. The national organization does important work within many areas, also within environmental politics and nature preservation, What do you think, is this a good idea? What kind of things do I need to keep in mind if I do give them some images (contracts, copyright, etc.) I am grateful for any advice on this matter. Bjørn

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brishane brishane

17 posts
12 years

Posted 31/01/2014 - 15:50 Link

Agree that you can just allow them to use them your photos but not the sole copyright. Putting watermarks or your signature on the photos they might be using is a great idea. So that you can still sell or distribute those photos.

aliengrove aliengrove

2523 posts
16 years
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everywhere

Posted 04/02/2014 - 09:00 Link

Giving people photographs for free is extremely unlikely to bring you any direct benefit, for the reasons mentioned earlier, and just encourages more people to expect that they can get something for nothing. I naively let someone use a couple of my images for free once a few years ago, but it brought absolutely no benefit, and I regret ever doing so. I have let the odd charitable organisation use some of my images, but only if I really believe in what they are doing.

It sounds like they want to use your images to raise funds, as I doubt they are giving away calendars and yearbooks. Are the people asking to use your images doing their work for free? I doubt it very much. Why should they expect you to?

Flurble

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