What do I tell my boss ?

I work as a web developer for an airport parking company. I've only been with them for 6 months, but its going great. My manager recently found out I was a bit of a photographer, and now she wants me to go around the car park with a couple of guys from marketing and take shots to use on our website and promo material. Obviously no mention of reimbursement was offered as it's going to be during company time. My job description doesnt mention anything about taking photo's for corporate use.

So my question is, what do I do ?. I know for a fact, any mention of getting paid for taking the shots will probably be frowned upon. I've been only with the company for 6 months, so dont really want to upset the apple cart. So, should I just take the shots and be used and abused ?.

On a side note, it appears they hired a pro about 3 years ago to wander around taking shots (the only way I know it was a pro, is because, looking at the exif, the shots were taken with a 1DS mkII).

I feel as though I've been backed into a corner a bit...

Normally I would say, don't work for free. But in cases like your have, you really don't have much other chances. Sure you can argue, photography is not in your job description, and they can hire you on afternoon, out of working hours, but unless you have new job arranged already, I really wouldn't want to go that way.
You can still try to arrange some extra favor for yourself, but forget about money. And sometimes, doing favor to boss is not so bad thing either But on the end, it's question if they will know to appreciate it, or they will just consider it, as something they don't even need to thank you for. But as I wrote on beginning... you really don't have much chances... unfortunately.

definitely not the easiest situation... a lot of folks here might cry "photographer's rights" and in a sense that is totally true... but what do you do? its the great battle between ideals and reality...

I was in similar situation not long ago where i was working for a non-profit doing websites, audio/video recording and editing and some photography stuff - all for the low low price of my part time during college hourly wage with no benefits (even after college!)... oh my... but on the bright side, getting paid for what you usually work, during work hours and getting to improve on your hobby isn't the worst thing in the world either, thats how i always looked at it - got me through...

so each person gets to decide - ideal or real

On one hand you don't want to rock the boat. On the other you've spent a massive amount of money on your equipment, and they want free use of it. Really it's a tough situation. Asking to get paid would probably just piss them off and leave a sour taste in everyones mouth. I wonder if you can say you're happy to do it without saying you'll always do it free... but it might not come across well. Maybe jokingly "I usually charge $250/hour, but because I like you..." (chuckle). But maybe that's a bad idea too.

Really, tough call. Let us know what happens!

As Tim says, you have spent a lot of money buying your gear, your time might be already paid for, but your equipment hasn't!

If the company has a camera you can use, then fine, otherwise "some compensation" should be in order.

That compensation could be monetary, or, simply a credit alongside any usage - leaflets, brochures or promo material etc.

Maybe your approach could be "my time is already paid for - but my camera charges £X per hour!"

Good luck

TJ

jbrown1 wrote in post #4539543
I work as a web developer for an airport parking company.

These are the key statements... you are not employed as a photographer. She is asking you as a favour. And it depends what you want out of it.. I would suggest clear agreement to credit you with the shots as a absolute minimum and some sort of separate agreement outside of your contract.

By asking you she is saving lots of money (potentially) so.. I would make the point that you don't work for 'free'. But then again, I do have the advantage of working somehwere I can't get sacked from so you have to assess 'your own risk'

(I have 16 8x12s of my photos mounted on my office wall and was recently asked if I would provide some images for around the office "to brighten the place up". I'm definately an amateur... but I provided the images on condition I got my watermark on them as credit)

Ask yourself... do you love to shoot or do you just wanna shoot for $$$? I mean, you obviously dont make your living shooting sooo... i think shooting for the company you work for's website (sounds right, looks wrong) for free, isnt the end of the world, besides its still like your getting paid to shoot, you WILL be on company time while shooting...right?? if not, dont do it, this has to be done on their dime .. if they wanna pay you, then do it on your time.. even better, if they will pay you, tell them youll do it on a weekday, call in sick that day, then go there and shoot... lol try to get paid twice for one day...lol,lol,lol.. seriously, if they want you to shoot for a day, while on the clock, and you love to shoot... go for it and dont sweat the small stuff!

I would say to him he can have limited usage for 1 year or six months under a contract outline what he can use them for and after that negotiate, you will have been there longer and have more pull. Maybe ask if he can pay your normal hourly rate while you do the shoot.

NSWESP wrote in post #4539678
I would say to him he can have limited usage for 1 year or six months under a contract outline what he can use them for and after that negotiate, you will have been there longer and have more pull.

Most people don't understand usage rights, and I suspect that would piss most bosses off. The figure if they hire you do take photos they own the photos. I think the market is going to change in this direction in coming years anyway.

Question: what happens with the work that you don't get to do while you are out shooting - do you have to make up that time elsewhere? In other words, it might seem you are shooting on company time, but unless your work deadlines are pushed back in recognition of this then you still have to put the same number of hours in to turn the work in on time.

Ok there are a few things at worl here. I don't know about the UK but here in the California, it is almost always a work for hire situation. So if they tell you to sweep the floors that is what you do.

If they want you to create images for your job and they are paying you to shoot them then that is what you do. Now comes the issue of gear. If they want you to shoot then they need to provide the gear or compensate you to use yours. Compensation can be in a paid day off, or a rental agreement. And here is why, lets say you use your gear without an agreement in place and it gets stolen or broken. Who pays for the repair or replacement should that occur?

If you freelance or seel your images or have a recognized business in any way let them know and bid for the job!!

Good luck,

Les

If they want you to take pictures as part of your job, they supply the equipment (as I'm sure they supplied your pc, software etc), if not they hire you as a photographer, and pay accordingly.

Question.. your dad or mom wants you to bring a camera to the next family picnic to get some photos of old aunt marybell before she dies.. do you charge her or just make her pay you for the use of your camera? if so, what do you charge? do you then expect to eat there? do you take the cost of the food off your bill or do you take both the cost of food AND the cost of the use of their oven, stove or bar b que? what about usage? are the photos to be used for display in a photo album only? or will they be hung in the hall way? what about copies? will you use a limited use clause so they cant make and distribute copies to other family members? these things need to be considered when you own some camera gear ya know!
lol,lol,lol...

Try to watermark your images, your at work for the money might as well try to help your portfolio

Paul Slavin wrote in post #4539821
If they want you to take pictures as part of your job, they supply the equipment (as I'm sure they supplied your pc, software etc), if not they hire you as a photographer, and pay accordingly.

i like this idea, approach it with care though, say no drama if its on business time, or do it after hours to get overtime (if you get overtime rates) but try to use their equipment (if they have it), i know when i used my car for work i would get mileage paid for, the other way is if you can work it so that you have to do post processing, mention that you can do it but it may take some time and you will need to process the images from home, this may guilt them in to something or make them realise that they should reimburse you somehow.

zacker wrote in post #4539843
Question.. your dad or mom wants you to bring a camera to the next family picnic to get some photos of old aunt marybell before she dies.. do you charge her or just make her pay you for the use of your camera? if so, what do you charge? do you then expect to eat there? do you take the cost of the food off your bill or do you take both the cost of food AND the cost of the use of their oven, stove or bar b que? what about usage? are the photos to be used for display in a photo album only? or will they be hung in the hall way? what about copies? will you use a limited use clause so they cant make and distribute copies to other family members? these things need to be considered when you own some camera gear ya know!
lol,lol,lol...

i think thats a sill example, family vs work is just a little different.