Charge Fee Or Credit For Photo

[stefeb]

Shot a carnival that was a cancer fundraiser. Shot the awards presentation two weeks later, where checks were presented to a local hospital and the Shriners.

The hospital wants to use one of the pictures for their monthly employee magazine.

I don't think I need a release since the picture will not be used commercially.

Here's an email my contact received from the hospital, "Please ask the photographer to send a 4x6 image (JPG) at 300 dpi."

Nothing is mentioned about payment/credit, etc. It's as if the hospital is expecting the photo for free, and they may be.

1. Do I call writer of the email and ask for payment, photo credit, or their payment policy when using non-hospital photographers or give the photo away?

Thanks.

[primoz]

I guess lot of people will disagree with me, but I say there's nothing free in this world anymore. Hospital or no hospital, they pay to print that magazine, they pay for paper, and they probably pay for articles. So why photo would be any different.
So if it would be me, I would send them reply with my quote in it. If they agree I would discuss payment policy, if they wouldn't agree, I would just forget about everything all together.
But that's me, and someone accused me here already, that I look all these things too much through money point of view. Which I probably do, but on the end of the day, I need money to buy bread and milk. So for you, you will have to decide about it on your own ;)

[Nightstalker]

Charge em.

I'd be looking at about $200

[Mike R]

I received an email from a newspaper which said that they cannot have someone at a high school event because of scheduling and since I will be there they gave me an email where I can send the file to. My reply was to ask what their compensation and credit policy was. I'm still waiting for a response (they need me, I don't really need them).
but if it was a charity that I believed in, I would give the image just for credit.

[NickSimcheck]

Good way to put it.

Let us know what they say.

[Mike R]

I'm taking the shot Tuesday morning and they need it by 12pm that day. So they need to let me know before then. I'mconcerned becasue I have seen photos in the paper that instead of a credit, it says Submitted Photo, that just won't work for me. It's surprising because they are part of a large publishing group in CT and maybe elsewhere (Hometown Publications)

[sonshine_rae]

Definitely call before hand to find out what is expected.. and let them know your decision (whether it's you insist on a credit.. or you have a set price .. )

[lauderdalems]

Mike R, most of the time the paper does not know who the actual photographer was so they only say Submitted Photo. When I have submitted a pix to the local papers, they add my name to the 'Submitted Photo by ......."

[Mike R]

Mike R, most of the time the paper does not know who the actual photographer was so they only say Submitted Photo. When I have submitted a pix to the local papers, they add my name to the 'Submitted Photo by ......."

They quoted me $35 per photo and credt.

[John Mireles]

1. Do I call writer of the email and ask for payment, photo credit, or their payment policy when using non-hospital photographers or give the photo away?Let's look at this another way, when you go to a store, does the store ask you what your payment policy is? Imagine if the checkout person said "Would you like to pay for our products or would you like them for free?" That will be the day when that happens.

You're the one selling (or giving away) your images, you set the terms. When anyone asks you for an image, always say "Yes! Here's how much it will cost you." Smart clients will always try to play dumb and get it for free because they know that there are a lot of people out there with no business sense. Besides, if you're willing to give it away for free, why should they pay? If you walked into a store and you had the option of paying or not paying, what would you do?

Just quote them a rate that makes it worth your while and move on. If they don't bite, no big deal. Move onto the next job or renegotiate until you get to a point that works for the both of you.

John

[NickSimcheck]

Very true.

[stefeb]

Let's look at this another way, when you go to a store, does the store ask you what your payment policy is? Imagine if the checkout person said "Would you like to pay for our products or would you like them for free?" That will be the day when that happens.

You're the one selling (or giving away) your images, you set the terms. When anyone asks you for an image, always say "Yes! Here's how much it will cost you." Smart clients will always try to play dumb and get it for free because they know that there are a lot of people out there with no business sense. Besides, if you're willing to give it away for free, why should they pay? If you walked into a store and you had the option of paying or not paying, what would you do?

Just quote them a rate that makes it worth your while and move on. If they don't bite, no big deal. Move onto the next job or renegotiate until you get to a point that works for the both of you.

John

Thanks John. That's exactly what I did. I told them I appreciated them wanting to use one of my photos in their employee magazine, then stated my fee, and method of payment.

We'll see what happens.

[John Mireles]

Steve: That's it! Spoken like a pro. :)

John

[johnnybfan]

Good advice again, John! I just posted in another thread right after one of your posts. Sounds like you know where-for you speak. :):)

[John Mireles]

Good advice again, John! I just posted in another thread right after one of your posts. Sounds like you know where-for you speak. :):)Yeah, I've been around. I've shot everything from big budget ad shoots for national ad agencies to high end weddings to mom and pop commercial shoots. I've pretty much heard it all. I have no problem going the extra mile for my clients, but there's one thing that I insist upon: I get paid.

John

[stefeb]

Steve: That's it! Spoken like a pro. :)

John

Now, if I could shoot as good as I can talk, I'd be getting somewhere. ;)

[canonpink]

Yeah, in these situations, before I even agree to do a shoot, I determine to myself where the line is (if there has to be one) between initial services and additional services. For initial services, these are usually easy because you are in the door and have agreed to do a service. Then comes the additional calls for additional services that are really tacked onto the initial services and not really under a separate agreement (at least in the mind of the customer). For those, I usually state that anything in addition to what I have laid out in the initial services payment will be at an additional cost. Whenever anything comes up outside the initial services agreement/discussion, I simply go back to the pricing scheme for those additional services and let them know their price (all due before delivery/cash up front). No issues so far, thankfully.