Author looking to put my photo in a book - For attribution

I somewhat agree with the marginal costs argument.

However, that assumes that the work was done on commission or that the costs to produce the initial version was somehow covered. It also assumes no time is spent developing contracts, maintaining the tools needed to deliver the product, talking with the potential buyer, or starting threads to see what one should pay.

Further, the number of hours spent working learning photography is usually better described in months and years. And often uncompensated. Other professions generally get paid for much of their training.

My pictures are published and I never got paid for them. I have two POTN coffee table books with my pics in them.

I miss those books, those were fun. Alot of work for the folks that put that all together though.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18902709
Further, the number of hours spent working learning photography is usually better described in months and years. And often uncompensated. Other professions generally get paid for much of their training.

Over here on the other side of the Atlantic a photographer is a trade like carpenter or mechanic. Four years in a business with a licensed photoG, with a small increasing salary and 1.5 days of school per day. There you also learn the business side of your profession (e.g. how much to charge...).
Nevertheless, I do agree fundamentally with what you're saying. Unfortunately, your complaint is not only valid for photography, but also for taxi services, hotels, etc. Many traditional business models are changing...

drmaxx wrote in post #18902715
Over here on the other side of the Atlantic a photographer is a trade like carpenter or mechanic. Four years in a business with a licensed photoG, with a small increasing salary and 1.5 days of school per day. There you also learn the business side of your profession (e.g. how much to charge...).

Wow, how did I not know that.

Is this to receive a license, but some can/will operate without a license?

EU, UK, or other?

You will finalize your apprenticeship with a national test (theory and practice) and become an accredited and licensed photographer. Very similar to most other trades here. You are not forbidden to work as a photographer without a successful apprenticeship - but the official training certainly sets the standard of what to expect from a professional.
This is valid for Germany, Austria and Switzerland and probably also for several other European countries.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #18902488
.If someone has put hundreds of hours of hard work into creating a book, and pays, say, $12.50 per copy to have it printed, and is only charging $12.50 for the book, then I would have no problem with them looking to crowdsource some content for free usage.

How would you feel about that scenario?

Just because he's willing to break even doesn't mean I have to be willing to break even. For something like that, maybe a one-time payment and let him roll that into his cost.

The photo in question is, from what we're being told, a popular photo in that geographic area. Having it in a book, or maybe the cover or dust jacket, is a win for the author.

And do we know that the author is looking to break even? That seems mildly nuts to me...

There are alot of regional publications/books that are created simply to herald the achievements or points of interest in an area. These books likely don't sell like hotcakes, but rather the books are ordered and printed on an as-needed basis for tourist centers, festivals, etc to advertise the city. It could possibly be something like this.

You can create a book, send it to a publishing house, and then order bulk sets as needed at some cost, not all books are published works on sites like Amazon, etc. If there is a book about a certain river in an area, I doubt this will be a profitable endeavor.

Larry Johnson wrote in post #18902532
A contest that doesn't claim ownership of all photos submitted. Wow. Who'd a thunk it.
Congratulations on a great photo and win.

<chuckle> Thanks. I like to think I put that contest on the map. That was the year it went big time with heavy newspaper coverage.

They claim a limited license for their use and were always careful to send requests for prints and licensure to me. That's why they contacted me.

An interesting discussion, folks, thanks for that.

I feel like I should get SOMETHING for the photo. And am willing to adjust to the author's situation. I can see just "donating" it to the cause too. Depending.


But as of today I have not heard back from either the organization or the author.

Owell.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18902759
There are alot of regional publications/books that are created simply to herald the achievements or points of interest in an area. These books likely don't sell like hotcakes, but rather the books are ordered and printed on an as-needed basis for tourist centers, festivals, etc to advertise the city. It could possibly be something like this.

You can create a book, send it to a publishing house, and then order bulk sets as needed at some cost, not all books are published works on sites like Amazon, etc. If there is a book about a certain river in an area, I doubt this will be a profitable endeavor.

I suspect that you are describing the author's situation.

But I don't know as he has not contacted me.

If any "proceeds" are going to River care organizations that could affect my need of compensation as well.

If I get any word from anyone I'll let the forum know.

bpiper7 wrote in post #18902826
I suspect that you are describing the author's situation.

But I don't know as he has not contacted me.

If any "proceeds" are going to River care organizations that could affect my need of compensation as well.

If I get any word from anyone I'll let the forum know.

If this is indeed for a charitable organization, you may be better off putting a full market price on the image, and then making it a charitable donation to the organization if they have a non-profit TIN, providing you some amount of tax credit if you itemize.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18902854
If this is indeed for a charitable organization, you may be better off putting a full market price on the image, and then making it a charitable donation to the organization if they have a non-profit TIN, providing you some amount of tax credit if you itemize.

Good point! Thanks!

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18902854
If this is indeed for a charitable organization, you may be better off putting a full market price on the image, and then making it a charitable donation to the organization if they have a non-profit TIN, providing you some amount of tax credit if you itemize.

Sorry but this is an urban myth. You can not claim any business tax benefit on the "full market price" of an image you made when donated to charity. You can only claim for the actual direct costs of the donation.

• You can't claim based on the retail price of a print or what you charge to license it
  
• you can't charge for the time spent taking it
  
• you can't charge for (even a fraction of) the equipment bought to create the image
  
• you can't charge for (even a fraction of) the time spent learning to make images.
  

It's not that clear cut when it comes to artwork. There are ways to get credit for the value of art. Depends on various things....

https://doeren.com …ating-artwork-to-charity/

As I have an LLC, my situation may be a bit different. My time and costs are subtracted from my income, and I could charge a fee, then also make a corresponding charitable monetary deduction for the same amount.

However I don't go through all that, I just donate services and images to the charities that ask for my presence with nothing filed or expectations placed on the charity.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18903179
It's not that clear cut when it comes to artwork. There are ways to get credit for the value of art. Depends on various things....

https://doeren.com …ating-artwork-to-charity/

Pretty sure that giving someone a digital file for use in a book (while retaining ownership of copyright and the original/other copies of the work) wouldn't constitute donation of an artwork for the purposes outlined in that article.