Simple business card question...

I'm finally taking the plunge to make business cards, and my wife asked me a question that is nagging me: I am able to put images on the card, on the front and back. On the back is a race car pic I took, and on the front is a high school football picture I took.

So my wife says "Can you put that football picture there without permission from the student?" I took the pic, I wasn't under contract for the school (I take pics for them for free because my wife works there), so I figure I can use it.

All I need is a simple yes or no answer, unless an explanation is needed.

Thanks!

Yes, you can use it without permission unless the pics have been published in a school magazine or newsletter before.

tomcat7886 wrote in post #14030813
Yes, you can use it without permission unless the pics have been published in a school magazine or newsletter before.

I figured so... just one of those questions that, after being asked, makes you really think about it.

Thanks for the reply!

tomcat7886 wrote in post #14030813
Yes, you can use it without permission unless the pics have been published in a school magazine or newsletter before.

Considering that this is commercial use, I can't imagine that to be the case.

NO, you need A model release for commerical use, and if he is in the schools football uniform you would need a release from them as well

This is what I've seen in some internet forum questions. The OP gets one reply/answer and is gone using one person's opinion. It's along lines of people reading information from internet or "news" sources that give them the types of news and answers they believe in vs. what the real or more balances news and opinions offer.

HappySnapper90 wrote in post #14052714
This is what I've seen in some internet forum questions. The OP gets one reply/answer and is gone using one person's opinion. It's along lines of people reading information from internet or "news" sources that give them the types of news and answers they believe in vs. what the real or more balances news and opinions offer.

Here's what I've seen in some Internet forum questions: a long-winded post bashing someone instead of actually giving an answer...

Oh, by the way, I'm not gone...

If you use someone's image to make money they need to be compensated and provide you with a signed release.

Naturalist wrote in post #14053143
If you use someone's image to make money they need to be compensated and provide you with a signed release.

But would that also include a picture on a business card? I'm not selling the business card, but I am trying to make money and get clients by USING the business card. Would that matter? Is there a fine line there somewhere, or no?

A few thoughts:
- I have 3000 business cards in a box. In the past two years I've only given them to trademen doing work on my house, not to potential customers. The only time I really use them is to leave some at a wedding reception so guests know where to see the images later.
- Websites have replaced business cards. How often do you meet someone in person who is considering hiring you who doesn't already know who you are and how to contact you? For me, never.
- Pictures on business cards almost always look tacky. It's your contact details, not your portfolio.

I'm not sure I agree with the notion that websites have replaced business cards. My customers usually ask for a small stack with their print order so they can pass them out to their friends. I don't go around randomly handing them to strangers though.

tim wrote in post #14053183
A few thoughts:
- I have 3000 business cards in a box. In the past two years I've only given them to trademen doing work on my house, not to potential customers. The only time I really use them is to leave some at a wedding reception so guests know where to see the images later.
- Websites have replaced business cards. How often do you meet someone in person who is considering hiring you who doesn't already know who you are and how to contact you? For me, never.
- Pictures on business cards almost always look tacky. It's your contact details, not your portfolio.

All true, I suppose, but I have a lot of people asking me "Hey, what's your web site?" "How can I contact you?", and 9 times out of 10 either of us don't have a pen or paper, and most don't have a phone where they can type it in, or aren't nimble enough to get it in their phone quick. I too have 2 full boxes of cards from my previous employer, that's why I would only order 50 cards. I don't want to get stuck with 3,000 cards, but I thought it'd be nice to have some on-hand just in case.

And there's always the fishbowl at the local restaurant that has the "free lunch" contest when you drop your card in...

I maybe used them more when I was new, now people pretty much find me online or via past customers. My print orders are couriered out, and no-one has ever asked for a business card, they email the link to the proofing website or use the "share this gallery" function.

In NZ digital has mostly replaced paper for this sort of thing. Bills are digital, banking is online, I do have a pile of paper on my desk but it's because sometimes things are needed for meetings or they're just easier to refer to on paper sometimes.

Well right now I'm new to the business side of things. I just want to get my name out there. Here's an example: on Saturday night I am shooting at an indoor auto racing event. Last year I shot there, but was still new to serious photography, but was granted a pit pass. I ended up taking a picture of a crash, which was an interesting shot, so I found the driver later and showed him the pic, he gave me his info to email him, I entered it into my phone, then later that night my phone decided to malfunction, and I lost everything. Now that I am about 1000 times more serious, I want to have something in-hand to pass out in case it happens again. Also, there will be a photography pool there, and it would be nice to get my name out to the others, you never know what might come from it.

I never got any business from a business card, but I don't do that kind of work.