Got message from Warner Bros. Music via Flickr. Legit?

EDIT: Sorry, just realized I posted this in 'Photo Sharing'. Mods, Please move to Preforming Arts Talk

Got a message on Flickr from someone identifying themselves as an employee of Warner Bros. Records art department. Said they are in the process of redecorating their offices and want my permission to reprint my photo of one of their artists to hang in their offices (24x36 inches). No payment was mentioned but they said they'd give me a photo credit with my name in the lower right corner of the pic. They made it clear it wouldn't be used for reproduction or for sale.

I know how many photographers here feel about giving their work away....personally I don't care if they use it in their offices, just as long as I get a photo credit and retain full copyright. Just curious if anyone else here has received a similar email and if it's legit since the one I got sounded like a form letter.

Give them your address and ask them to mail you a letter in writing, tell them you will correspond to them in writing. Your decision may be easier once you find out if it is legit.

I wouldn't give it away, regardless of still holding copyright, etc. It's highly likely that they will simply move on to the next person, hoping they might give it away, but that's not your problem. I would call and ask to speak to the person who is identified in the letter.

ya think ya heard it all, and then... um, photo credit on a photo in someone's office??? That's an even more useless photo credit than usual. I'd be real surprised if this was "legit." WBR is a major multi-national company. They can afford to pay for office decor. They've also got access to the top photographers and use them regularly to shoot their artists. This is a very strange story. I'm curious: which artist?

I had a similar situation recently, except this was management who wanted to use my photos for a US tour of their band, the person contacted me via facebook, I had to contact their publicist to confirm the ID of the person claiming to be in their management. Another person I know had a similar pm, gave their photos and didn't hear back from them, which was a bit strange considering that management confirmed that the person was working with them

I don't know how you would go about this to confirm this because they might not confirm this because of certain laws

vfotog wrote in post #15189505
ya think ya heard it all, and then... um, photo credit on a photo in someone's office??? That's an even more useless photo credit than usual.

^^^ This.

vfotog wrote in post #15189505
WBR is a major multi-national company. They can afford to pay for office decor.

^^^ And this.

I'd offer them that they can buy a hig res with a license to print it for their office, or (rather) for you to have a print sent to them.

Oh, and this:
https://www.facebook.c​om …ers/posts/55455​1771228793

Dear Sirs:
Are you shi**ing me?
Please send me a copy of your music catalog and I'll pick out some to have the DJ play at my next event. It'll be good exposure for your artists.
What do you say, deal?
Sincerely
WH

whuband wrote in post #15193949
Dear Sirs:
Are you shi**ing me?
Please send me a copy of your music catalog and I'll pick out some to have the DJ play at my next event. It'll be good exposure for your artists.
What do you say, deal?
Sincerely
WH

+1 And now we know where all these photos releases are coming from.

I had a similar situation happen to me a few years ago. Someone claiming to be with Playboy sent me a message on Flickr about some pictures I had. I didn't believe them so I gave them my phone # and email and had them email me and call. It turned out to be legit. The person that emailed me was the asst. photo editor and ended up using 1 of my pics he saw on Flickr. It ended up running as a double truck in the July 2006 issue and was the first significant pay day I had.

If this person is really from Warner Bros, don't give your work away. They will pay for it. Just be polite but firm.