Customers reselling prints?

[undcover]

I recently had someone contact me about buying photos in bulk, saying they collect female pro sports 8x10s, but my immediate thought was that they planned on reselling the photos.

I did a little research and it turns out the person resells various things on ebay.

Has anyone else come across people reselling their prints?

Should I call the person out on trying to resell my prints or just politely decline the offer and not mention their intentions?

[35mmNewbie]

Decline, and keep an eye on their sales for any over your images they may have stolen.

[photoguy6405]

I would imagine that they can legally resell prints just as people can legally resell music CDs and movie DVDs. If they're willing to pay your full retail asking price I'm not really clear what the issue is. I'd sell them as many as they want to buy.

If they can make a profit after paying your full retail asking price, you might want to consider raising your prices.

[undcover]

I forgot to mention they're asking for a bulk discount. I guess I'm afraid they'll end up making a larger profit than me, which would be my own fault.

Maybe I'll just turn down the bulk discount and see if they still bite.

[MJPhotos24]

It's secondary market, they can sell the prints once you've sold them just as if they were buying from photofile. They obviously can't make more copies from what you sold them and start putting them up there, which I've had done to my prints before, but secondary market prints of originals you sold them is fine. Just have to price them fairly knowing what the usage is. In many instances people will want them to get autographed and sell them at a 10x more rate when it comes to professional athletes.

Before you sell anything from professional sports though make sure you can. Major sports do not let you sell prints, sure it's legal enough but they can ban you and black list you from ever getting a credential again or even allowing you in as a fan with a camera. Seen it happen to a few photographers over the past few years who didn't follow the rules.

[undcover]

So far, the only sport I've shot is beach volleyball, which is extremely lax when it comes to photographers. I've shot a few concerts and I know record labels/venues can also very strict about photographers not selling photos. The last thing I want is to get blacklisted.

[woos]

It sounds like it could be a win/win for you and them both. If they have some good e-bay marketing and a store or something on there, maybe there's the potential for you to make additional income that you wouldn't get otherwise. Just a thought. But of course if they aren't being honest with you about their intentions, then that's not a good sign from the start...

[Hogloff]

What is the problem? They want to buy a bucket load of prints from you. You get the sale...who cares what they do with their prints. Am I missing something here?

[turbo212003]

What is the problem? They want to buy a bucket load of prints from you. You get the sale...who cares what they do with their prints. Am I missing something here?


They're making money from YOUR work. That's the problem.

[shkspr]

They're making money from YOUR work. That's the problem.

there is no problem here. they want prints and are willing to buy them. either you sell them or not. end of story. bulk discount? NOPE.

the only worry i'd have is them making copies of the prints they buy. (you sell them 100 and they make 200 more) no way to verify their integrity....

[Bosscat]

the only worry i'd have is them making copies of the prints they buy. (you sell them 100 and they make 200 more) no way to verify their integrity....

BINGO!!!

It'll probably happen too

[undcover]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Now that I've had time to think about it, I guess there's not a lot you can do to prevent someone from buying a photo and then scanning several copies.

I'm definitely going to say no to the bulk discount though.

[photoguy6405]

Yeah. I'd sell them as many as they want to buy, but I'd decline the bulk discount also.

[cdifoto]

I'd bulk discount as long as they buy a ton. It takes NO effort for me to place an order from my lab and have it drop shipped. Of course my catalog price isn't low to begin with so I have lots of wiggle room. ;)

[RL.]

What is the problem? They want to buy a bucket load of prints from you. You get the sale...who cares what they do with their prints. Am I missing something here?

exactly...as long as one is charging enough there shouldnt be a problem

[RDKirk]

I'd bulk discount as long as they buy a ton. It takes NO effort for me to place an order from my lab and have it drop shipped. Of course my catalog price isn't low to begin with so I have lots of wiggle room. ;)

Think of it as a really big art gallery, selling on commission. Or a stock house. The concept of photographs being resold certainly isn't new.

[cdifoto]

Think of it as a really big art gallery, selling on commission. Or a stock house. The concept of photographs being resold certainly isn't new.
Exactly. It'd actually be awesome to sell a couple hundred (thousand?) prints right off the bat and let someone else deal with actually unloading them. I could pay cash for a brand new car. Hah.

[egordon99]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Now that I've had time to think about it, I guess there's not a lot you can do to prevent someone from buying a photo and then scanning several copies.

I'm definitely going to say no to the bulk discount though.

But if they were just going to scan them, why would they buy them bulk to begin with? They would only need ONE copy...

(just my two sheckels..)

[sctbiggs]

sell them for yourself on ebay... :)

[sctbiggs]

just a quick glance through your site... ... ... and it's pretty obvious to me that women's beach volleyball is a sport that was obviously dreamed up by some man. lol

the photos are great but i only found one that I thought would be something that has potential to be be widely resold to people not into the beach volleyball sport

this one... http://www.sos-photography.net/Pro-Am-Beach-Volleyball/Favorite-Shots-of-2010/12110034_gkh5t#956795068_r9HTQ and for obvious reasons. you apparently already know that as this is one of the only ones with a giant proof mark on it. :)

[photoguy6405]

just a quick glance through your site... ... ... and it's pretty obvious to me that women's beach volleyball is a sport that was obviously dreamed up by some man. lol
No doubt.


this one... http://www.sos-photography.net/Pro-Am-Beach-Volleyball/Favorite-Shots-of-2010/12110034_gkh5t#956795068_r9HTQ and for obvious reasons. you apparently already know that as this is one of the only ones with a giant proof mark on it. :)What watermark? :p

[S.Horton]

All money is green.

A dollar in hand is worth more than almost anything else in your hand except more dollars.

;}

[Jimconnerphoto]

Nothing new. Just make sure you have an agreement.

[undcover]

just a quick glance through your site... ... ... and it's pretty obvious to me that women's beach volleyball is a sport that was obviously dreamed up by some man. lol

the photos are great but i only found one that I thought would be something that has potential to be be widely resold to people not into the beach volleyball sport

this one... http://www.sos-photography.net/Pro-Am-Beach-Volleyball/Favorite-Shots-of-2010/12110034_gkh5t#956795068_r9HTQ and for obvious reasons. you apparently already know that as this is one of the only ones with a giant proof mark on it. :)

That proof mark is there by mistake...usually it's my own watermark but something messed up when creating the gallery. Dumb luck I guess :-)

You make a very good point. Players/family members probably make up 95% of my sales. I could be making much ado about nothing b/c I don't see a huge market for beach volleyball photos on ebay.