Event Organizor likes to publish my pictures on their Mag... Now what?

[Galaxy99]

Hi, my follow photographers. I am in a situation where I have never been before. I shot at an event for some individuals involved at the event. ( I got paid from those individuals by selling print to them) However, I did courteously show the event organizer my work online. Now they like to publish about 20 images of mine on their magazine. If you were in my shoes, Can you recommend what I should do next? Asking for payment, not asking for payment but asking for credits...? I used to let mags. to publish my image for free but credit me as photographer. However, we are talking about lots of images here...

Any advice is appreciated.

[Nightstalker]

$$$ talks at the end of the day but without knowing the magazine and context it's hard to advise on figures.

[Galaxy99]

It is a very small magazine only circulates (hundreds at most) among their members.

[Nightstalker]

In that circumstance I'd probably just accept photographer credit.

[Galaxy99]

Okay, thanks. Advice taken. :) But, should I remind them that I own the copyrights and they should not use my image to do any other promotional purpose without my permission? If so, how should I say that?

[Adaptive]

If it's not that big of a magazine (only 100 or so prints) I woudlnt push the issue too much or they just might find themselves somebody else.

[Nightstalker]

Okay, thanks. Advice taken. :) But, should I remind them that I own the copyrights and they should not use my image to do any other promotional purpose without my permission? If so, how should I say that?


Personally I'd say yes to this.

Just because you are not being paid for them does not mean that you should not provide them with limited usage rights.

Who knows, one of the people in your the photos may become the next local mass murderer and pics like yours may start being worth serious money.

[ssim]

When you showed them your site was there no discussion about the use of them? I am assuming that your images were not watermarked and this is a good reason to do so. Anything that I do commercially is watermarked twice, once in the lower corner and a larger "proof" in the middle of it with it opacity lowered. Sure you can see it but you can still see the image. It is a matter of safety for myself. Even a simple watermark will tell them you are the owner.

If they took an image that was watermarked that puts a different spin on it. They then probably knew they were doing something underhanded.

One thing that alot of fail to realize is that not everyone knows about the copyright laws and it is our duty to inform them about this. Let's look at this event, you shot it for them and they saw their members, facility or anything that associates the photo with them. Unless this person happens to have a job that would require them to know this stuff they probably just thought it was ok. I'm not justifying their actions but you really do have to put yourself into their shoes for a moment and try to figure out why this happened.

Given the size of the distribution I would not pursue it and chalk it up to giving to a good cause. I personally don't put alot of weight in credits. I think they are far less productive than alot of people feel they are. Of course this changes by the publication.

I would just mark this one up to a learning experience.

[Galaxy99]

Thanks guys for your general input. I did give them the images in high resolution after they have signed terms and condition of usage. I marked all my images as an Editorial license material since they only can publish them on your own magazine. I also ask for a copy of the publication once it is out. I never thought of making $$ from the event organizer anyways. As they were cool to me to shoot wherever I wanted, I just tried to give my publicity of my work through they magazine. BTW, I make them put 'photography by XXX" under each of my image they will use. :)

As ssim said, it is a good learning experience. Hope next time, i can deal with it more smoothly.