first paid gig: question about image rights

i've been asked to shoot a small music festival for CBC radio 3. they contacted me after viewing my flickr set from last years festival.

http://www.flickr.com …y/sets/72157624​515564363/

i don't yet know whether they will want exclusive rights to the photos or not. i know the organizers of the festival and i normally just shoot to share the photos publicly to help promote the fesitval, and let the organizers use the photos for free in promotion of the following festivals.

obviously i can agree to not sell the photos or give them away to any other website/publication. i just want to retain whatever rights necessary to post the photos to my flickr to help promote the festival (thousands of people viewed the photos simply by googling the festival).

should i expect to give up even the rights to display my own photos when accepting any cash fee? any terms or advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

You have lots of options and it comes down to your agreement with them. I personally wouldnt sell my copyrights completely, but rather would come to some agreement with them about licensing their right to use them etc.

gonzogolf wrote in post #12718736
You have lots of options and it comes down to your agreement with them. I personally wouldnt sell my copyrights completely, but rather would come to some agreement with them about licensing their right to use them etc.

yeah, i really don't think CBC will have a problem with this sort of arrangement. they will just presumably be putting the photos up on their website as a slideshow to recap the festival, and after a week or so they will never be viewed again. also, CBC are essentially a promoter of the festival themselves, so as long as nobody is profiting from their commissioned photos aside from increased exposure of the festival they should be fine with it.

judging from the informality of current correspondence, i don't expect any sort of legally binding agreement to take place. would it be in my best interest to go about using the photos how i have in the past, or make sure its okay with them first?

I think I would just include in some of your correspondence that you grant them unlimited use of the images for promotional purposes, but that you retain ownership and all copyrights that way you have a record that its not a work for hire situation. Like you said, its probably not a problem, but better safe than sorry. Who knows, you might get an image that could have some long term value to you and you want clear ownership of that image. You just never know when you are going to take the best image of your career.

gonzogolf wrote in post #12718834
I think I would just include in some of your correspondence that you grant them unlimited use of the images for promotional purposes, but that you retain ownership and all copyrights that way you have a record that its not a work for hire situation. Like you said, its probably not a problem, but better safe than sorry. Who knows, you might get an image that could have some long term value to you and you want clear ownership of that image. You just never know when you are going to take the best image of your career.

this is great advice, thanks. i will definitely go this route. should i feel obliged to stay completely sober since i am getting paid? i'm not even sure i know how to function my camera sober. this following shot from last year i had no recollection of even seeing the band perform - simply discovered it on the memory card the next morning. obviously not very professional, but i never did aspire to get paid for my photography.

If you are getting paid, expect to act as a professional to some degree. First rule of taking payment is that you are obligated to deliver the goods. Where you draw that line in that environment is a matter of your own judgment.

gonzogolf wrote in post #12718968
If you are getting paid, expect to act as a professional to some degree. First rule of taking payment is that you are obligated to deliver the goods. Where you draw that line in that environment is a matter of your own judgment.

very true. i was mostly kidding. i'm not sure if the festival has official press passes, but if i'm wearing one i won't be drinking at all. its also a fine line for me because last year i had one of the best weekends of my life being able to combine the festival experience while taking photos purely for the love of it. the money they are offering me isn't a factor at all, its just the opportunity to be able to shoot for a national website/radio station that i can't pass up and don't want to screw up.