Online mag publisher wants to "feature" my image... considerations?

Hi,

So I got this message in response to a deviantArt piece I posted:

from http://medivalzombie.d​eviantart.com/:

"Hi there. I am the owner of an online magazine featuring the work of professional and amateur photographers from around the globe who have an eye for the artistic.

With your permission, I would like to feature "Castaway" in the next issue. If you are interested, could you tell me a bit about yourself and the photo? (where was it taken, what were you going for, etc). Your full name, along with any link you desire shall be placed beneath the work, both online and in print.

The website for the magazine is at www.capricemag.com

Thanks for reading, your gallery is amazing."

This is regarding my picture Castaway:
http://xyclopx.deviant​art.com/art/Castaway-440950127

I checked out his page and also the link to his mag website and it all looks very legit to me. (What do you guys think?) But I've never had someone ask to use my work before so just being careful here.

1. Is there any scam I should be aware of?
2. Do I, or rather Should I, ask for any type of agreement to be signed?
3. When giving him the file, should I limit the resolution or add some kind of watermark?

Thanks for your help!

Make sure you get paid...don't give it away for photo credit. Also make sure you register your copyright before sending the image.

kb9tdj wrote in post #16821265
Make sure you get paid...don't give it away for photo credit. Also make sure you register your copyright before sending the image.

Hi Scott, thanks for the advice. But would not some "pro bono" work help my photography "career?"

And thanks for the advice on the copyright--I'll definitely do that now!

If you wish to promote your career as an unpaid photographer, then by all means, give them the photo. On the other hand, if you wish to promote your career as a paid photographer, then charge them a fair price.

Don't give it away for free, it will come back to bite you.

First question on the FAQs:

Do you pay for photos used?
No, we do not.

I would assume that the business model is based on finding photographers who want their work featured and getting them to buy a subscription and/or several copies to show it off. Doesn't look like a "real" magazine to me...

adam8080 wrote in post #16821541
First question on the FAQs:

Do you pay for photos used?
No, we do not.

I would assume that the business model is based on finding photographers who want their work featured and getting them to buy a subscription and/or several copies to show it off. Doesn't look like a "real" magazine to me...

Yeah looks like you are correct. So what do you guys think assuming all this is true? Should I consent just for some possible exposure?

Xyclopx wrote in post #16821245
Hi,

So I got this message in response to a deviantArt piece I posted:

from http://medivalzombie.d​eviantart.com/:

"Hi there. I am the owner of an online magazine featuring the work of professional and amateur photographers from around the globe who have an eye for the artistic.

With your permission, I would like to feature "Castaway" in the next issue. If you are interested, could you tell me a bit about yourself and the photo? (where was it taken, what were you going for, etc). Your full name, along with any link you desire shall be placed beneath the work, both online and in print.

The website for the magazine is at www.capricemag.com

Thanks for reading, your gallery is amazing."

This is regarding my picture Castaway:
http://xyclopx.deviant​art.com/art/Castaway-440950127

I checked out his page and also the link to his mag website and it all looks very legit to me. (What do you guys think?) But I've never had someone ask to use my work before so just being careful here.

1. Is there any scam I should be aware of?
2. Do I, or rather Should I, ask for any type of agreement to be signed?
3. When giving him the file, should I limit the resolution or add some kind of watermark?

Thanks for your help!

Check out this Youtube video from Matt Granger about "giving away your work". I think it will help you decide not to give it away free of charge.

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=H8WfwCT0i7Y&​hd=1

Xyclopx wrote in post #16821585
Yeah looks like you are correct. So what do you guys think assuming all this is true? Should I consent just for some possible exposure?

It is whatever you want to do. Do you want to pay $25 to have proof that you were "published"? If so, do it and hang it on your wall. If not, don't even bother responding.

Xyclopx wrote in post #16821245
Hi,

So I got this message in response to a deviantArt piece I posted:

from http://medivalzombie.d​eviantart.com/:

"Hi there. I am the owner of an online magazine featuring the work of professional and amateur photographers from around the globe who have an eye for the artistic.

With your permission, I would like to feature "Castaway" in the next issue. If you are interested, could you tell me a bit about yourself and the photo? (where was it taken, what were you going for, etc). Your full name, along with any link you desire shall be placed beneath the work, both online and in print.

The website for the magazine is at www.capricemag.com

Thanks for reading, your gallery is amazing."

This is regarding my picture Castaway:
http://xyclopx.deviant​art.com/art/Castaway-440950127

I checked out his page and also the link to his mag website and it all looks very legit to me. (What do you guys think?) But I've never had someone ask to use my work before so just being careful here.

1. Is there any scam I should be aware of?
2. Do I, or rather Should I, ask for any type of agreement to be signed?
3. When giving him the file, should I limit the resolution or add some kind of watermark?

Thanks for your help!

I get offers like this on flickr fairly often. Usually for blogs or travel agencies/ bureaus who want my Disney shots. I always tell them to let me know exactly what images they want so I can send them a link to a site where the image can be licensed. I usually don't hear back from them.

Xyclopx wrote in post #16821585
Yeah looks like you are correct. So what do you guys think assuming all this is true? Should I consent just for some possible exposure?

Personally, I would do it, but I'm probably not at the same point in my photography career as you are, so what works for me may not work for you...

Xyclopx wrote in post #16821585
Yeah looks like you are correct. So what do you guys think assuming all this is true? Should I consent just for some possible exposure?

Exposure in this "magazine" is worth exactly nothing. If that is the value you want placed on your work, go for it.

tandemhearts wrote in post #16821655
Exposure in this "magazine" is worth exactly nothing. .......

Well, it's actually worth -25$, assuming he wanted to buy a copy to show people.

adam8080 wrote in post #16821635
It is whatever you want to do. Do you want to pay $25 to have proof that you were "published"? If so, do it and hang it on your wall. If not, don't even bother responding.

Well assuming this is their business model could they actually make enough money just from contributors buying trophies? I mean the website and mag seem like a decent amount of work and I can't see $25 multiplied by maybe 10-30 people be worth the net income over a month... Or could it be? I mean some others must be buying this right? Or maybe traffic revenue?

I'd like to know their circulation and subscription numbers. I can't imagine too many people spend $25 on a photo mag or $9 on a download. The exposure you'd get is probably close to zero. And if they have a large reader base, they make all the money and you get not much (if any) value. I'd not do it.