This evening, the chairwoman of my hometown's Chamber of Commerce 'friended' me on facebook -- she is a personal friend, so nothing unusual there. I've got the 365 app loaded to my profile, so every picture I upload here gets displayed on facebook as well, and she must have browsed through my entire gallery thus far. (A lot of the images are taken in/very near to town). I got a message from her an hour or so ago, saying "Cool photos Eric! I would love to use some on our {town} website"
Now, I have no problems with allowing some of my photos to be used to help promote my town, but my question is - do I offer to sell them some photos, or consider it 'publicity' and let them use the images free of charge? The town is right around population 2,200, and I know Chamber doesn't have bottomless coffers. Right now, photography is just a side hobby, but as I improve my skills and equipment, I would like to make it a side job; and I've often heard the mantra "Give something away once, and they'll expect it every time"
And lastly, regardless of which way I end up going with the images, do I need to write up some form of agreement? Do I retain copyright, with them having permission to use the images?
your mantra is correct... so ask for a small fee (whatever the local paper might pay for an image say) and/or ad space on their website so you get something out of it...
Or as a hobby and in a small town... post the photos.... everyone will know they are yours and may ask you for other work/task... it really is all up to you...
but in all cases you would retain copyright and the photos use would be limited to whatever you put in writing...
I am no expert on the subject, just an opinion here, but....
as Jordan said above their is no right answer. I agree with him 100%, you get some nice exposure, maybe a small fee, or free advertising for a specified time. At any rate it is wonderful recognition of your work and a great way to support your town, so free with photography credits given would even be good! Your call!
I am a professional journalist (HA)...sorry just thought that sounded silly...anyway, we use alot of professional photography in our magazines, etc., with photo credit. We pay a photographer for really hard-to-get shots, but then there are local photographers who might be at an event or something and they'll let us use the one photo with a credit in the one article--that type of thing. No one has asked for ad space (yet) but we might make allowances for that if the photos were really killer! Additionally, we pay stringers $30/article and $5/photo...it's not a lot I know (small weekly newspaper)...and $5/photo for the point-and-shoot photos in the magazines. I wouldn't do advertising unless you're prepared to take on the work...hobby photography can pay, too. Don't knock that. Otherwise a credit and/or a thank you in the section could be enough. Good luck! :) I've taken a ton of photos at sporting events, etc., I've sent in to the local newspaper (different one) for nonprofits. Gets my photos published anyway :)
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your mantra is correct... so ask for a small fee (whatever the local paper might pay for an image say) and/or ad space on their website so you get something out of it...
Or as a hobby and in a small town... post the photos.... everyone will know they are yours and may ask you for other work/task... it really is all up to you...
but in all cases you would retain copyright and the photos use would be limited to whatever you put in writing...
as Jordan said above their is no right answer. I agree with him 100%, you get some nice exposure, maybe a small fee, or free advertising for a specified time. At any rate it is wonderful recognition of your work and a great way to support your town, so free with photography credits given would even be good! Your call!