They asked for a CD

[TomTomTuning]

I am the Staff Photographer for a local car forum i am on, and there was a show this weekend. One of the gentlemen that run the show asked if i could provide him a CD with the images. I told him sure i don't mind giving him a low res cd since it would be the same images that are on the site.

He then replied with "The higher the resolution the better" and if we wanted to use any of the images for anything, i would get full credit and they would ask for permission first"

I thought a low res cd was nice of me... Wouldnt you agree?

What do you think?

[Mike30D]

How many shots did you shoot? If he wants a hi-res disc, then attach a price to it with a release stating what he can and can't do. Both of you sign it and give him a copy.

[tim]

"Thank you for your inquiry. The high resolution images, with a license to use them for advertising is $500".

[basroil]

I agree with tim. You can provide them with a cd of low res images with your logo for free, but make sure not to get sucked into bigger things without compensation. And with all images, make sure they sign off saying they know it's for personal use only.

[adblink]

what do you guys consider "low res"?

[tim]

500 pixels is fine for viewing. Make sure they're watermarked in a place that's not easy to crop out but isn't too distracting.

[adblink]

500 pixels would enable them to get what size of print before it looking bad?

problem is most people print out 4x6's anyway

[tim]

500 pixels would make a fairly poor 6x4" print. The watermark is what will really spoil it.

[HaroldC3]

Another case of someone trying to get something for nothing. Give him a CD with low-res and create a contract and burn it on there also with whatever price you decide on for hi-res images.

[cdifoto]

Were these images photographed by you under their employ? If so, they already own the images so you may as well turn over the RAWs too. If "staff photographer" is an honorary ie unpaid title, don't give them anything.

[tcphoto1]

Perhaps you could clarify your position in relation to this person. If he is not your boss then you should license him to use you images. If you are his employee, he needs to pay you enough to produce images for his business.

[sspellman]

Tom-

It would be simple to say to him-"low res pictures are available on the website for free. A CD of hi res images suitable for personal prints is $XXX. Use of the hi res images for advertising/commercial use if $XXX." He is a potential customer-let him make the choice.

-Scott

[mattograph]

Tom-

It would be simple to say to him-"low res pictures are available on the website for free. A CD of hi res images suitable for personal prints is $XXX. Use of the hi res images for advertising/commercial use if $XXX." He is a potential customer-let him make the choice.

-Scott

+!

You are always better served by offering choices. Give away nothing, though.

I would even charge him a fee for the disk with the low res images on it -- CDs, electricity, computer wear and tear -- they aren't free.

It may seem nit-picky, but the more you think like that, the happier you will ultimately be.

[TomTomTuning]

I edited about 50 pictures for the show, he seen them on the site and liked them.

I am not employed by him, i was just given a Media Pass for the show. I shoot the show and post it on the forum.

The thing is, i personally know this guy and he's somewhat of a friend. I don't want to be mean, but at the same time i don't really care to give him high res shots.

Ill just tell him like this, for my protection ill provide you with a low res cd. If there are any pictures you would like to use for anything ill be happy to provide you with a higher res picture. As long as i feel it will benefit me, or there will be a purchase involved.

What do you think?

[stathunter]

I personally give clients the address to my smugmug site and let them know the photos are there. I price them on smugmug and let it play out on the web--- I do not hand over discs to anyone but my wedding customers anymore--- and they pay substantially for the privilege of getting a disc.

[TheHoff]

If the exact same images are on your site, you're not doing anything by giving him or not giving him a CD. Anyone could copy down your site in a matter of minutes and burn their own CD -- so make sure they're watermarked on the site as is. A flash gallery makes it harder to rip as well... but you might as well give him the CD since he can get those images anyway. As everyone has suggested, give him options for purchasing and you might make a sale out of it.

[tcphoto1]

I edited about 50 pictures for the show, he seen them on the site and liked them.

I am not employed by him, i was just given a Media Pass for the show. I shoot the show and post it on the forum.

The thing is, i personally know this guy and he's somewhat of a friend. I don't want to be mean, but at the same time i don't really care to give him high res shots.

Ill just tell him like this, for my protection ill provide you with a low res cd. If there are any pictures you would like to use for anything ill be happy to provide you with a higher res picture. As long as i feel it will benefit me, or there will be a purchase involved.

What do you think?
Get it in writing exactly what he can do with the images. Friend or not, it's a disaster waiting to happen. Business is business and he obviously understands that there is value in the shots.

[amfoto1]

Hi,

So, this guy is an organizer for an event, and he gave you special access to the show...

I wouldn't give away a whole CD full of images.

But, I would work with him if/when he wants to choose a few images for use on a website now or in ads in the future. I would think this to be a fair trade for unusual access, both this time and at future events he might be managing. (Note: his wanting to use the images for promotion is also a very good reason for him to help you get signed model/property releases, which in turn open up new potential avenues for you to sell the images.)

Are you selling the images or something? If the participants of the event are your target market, it would be great to have a live link from his website to yours, wouldn't it? That could be another item to trade for limited usage of your images.