Contracts

I recently answered a Craigslist ad showing my interest in possibly shooting an 'event'. It turned out to be a triathlon nearby. Not a huge one, but it would probably take a good 6 hours of my time and probably 3,000 clicks on the shutter or more. Pay - $150. Other than the pay being way too low, they sent along a 9 page (yes, NINE page) contract to sign and return. Well, right there ... pass! I've shot 5k races where the photos use the company's memory cards and you just simply give them the cards when you're done, but this was the first time I've been asked to sign something so extensive.

Is this a typical clause from a sporting contract? Would you sign it?

I substituted "xxx" for the company's name.

"Photographer hereby irrevocably grants and assigns to xxx all of its right, title, and interest in and to the Photos, including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secret rights and the rights to secure any renewals, reissues, and extensions thereof, the right to sue for past infringement, the right to use, and/or have any person or entity working with or for xxx use the Photos or any portion thereof, including, but not limited to, in or as part of any version of a xxx website and through any other content display and/or delivery system now known or developed in the future, all Photos based upon, derived from, or incorporating the "Photos "; and all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing, throughout the world. Contractor understands that xxx may register the copyright and other rights in the Photos in xxx's name. Contractor agrees to execute all documents necessary to transfer to xxx the ownership of any and all rights Contractor may have in the Photos, including but not limited to copyrights. Contractor further understands that xxx has full, complete and exclusive ownership of the Photos. Contractor agrees not to use the Photos for the benefit of anyone other than xxx, without xxx's prior written permission."

So they want you for 6 hours for 150 dollars, or to put it bluntly 25 bucks an hour.

Then, they want you to sign over all rights for all of the images you take, they aren't providing the gear or the storage and there is another 8.5 pages of things like this.

My normal response is to simply ignore someone at this point, but I think for this one I would be inclined to print the contract out, roll it up and physically tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine.

flyingwolf wrote in post #17075951
So they want you for 6 hours for 150 dollars, or to put it bluntly 25 bucks an hour.

Then, they want you to sign over all rights for all of the images you take, they aren't providing the gear or the storage and there is another 8.5 pages of things like this.

My normal response is to simply ignore someone at this point, but I think for this one I would be inclined to print the contract out, roll it up and physically tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine.

+1. Not worth your while.

I've done 'work for hire' but the going rate is around $50/hr and I'm keeping my images for my portfolio at least (I'll sit on 'em for 6mo to a year) and I'm not signing my life away in a 9 page contract. What about those of you shooting for Sports Illustrated, or large events like Superbowl, Olympics. Is THAT a 9 pager?

Biffbradford wrote in post #17077489
I've done 'work for hire' but the going rate is around $50/hr and I'm keeping my images for my portfolio at least (I'll sit on 'em for 6mo to a year) and I'm not signing my life away in a 9 page contract. What about those of you shooting for Sports Illustrated, or large events like Superbowl, Olympics. Is THAT a 9 pager?

This is for a 5k right? I can't imagine what portfolio worthy images you would get plus any benefit retaining copyright would be.

With that said... $150 is WAAAAAY to low.

Last thing I did like this was one of those mud runs. Contract wasn't that long, but basically gave them everything. Who cares I took my $1000 and they can do what ever the hell they want with them. People get so hung up on copyright like you are going to get some image that you can retire from. Would't touch it for $150 though.

Yeah, for the most part, they can do what they want with 'em and knowing that I'll shoot accordingly, however I always come up with at least one keeper in a day's shooting. If only used for my portfolio, then it's worth keeping. (sorry these are so big) So, as of yet, nobody else has come across a 9 page contract?

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I was recently asked to photograph an event that was roughly 80 miles from my home. I was told the most they could pay me was $80-100. I told them with the vehicle I drive that it would cost half of that just to travel there. Then to take images for 6+ hours? I politely declined. I was then told my images would be seen by thousands in a running magazine. I again politely declined and said I had never received a job from someone who saw my image in a publication and just had to hire me. Well that's kinda a lie, but you get the point...