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(Un)usual?
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Hi All,
Just wanted to ask you a quick question – it’s a bit unusual situation for me, although it may not be unusual in general at all.
I have been asked on another web forum (which, although has gallery as one of the features, is not a photography forum) by one of the users I don’t know (virtually nor personally) if I could send him the original size of one of my pictures that I have displayed there. The story he gave me is that he’s collecting pictures you can’t buy in any shops and wants to put them on his wall in his house and he says he likes mine. He never offered money or anything else in exchange except for his appreciation (please read on).
Now – I’m not quite sure what to do with this. On one hand, I have never actually sold any of my pictures, but then on the other hand I would like to think that I might in a near yet undefined future. To me, personally, it’s OK if I know someone and like them, and they happen to mention that they like my work, to give them one (or more) of my pictures as a gift. It’s a completely different story being approached by a stranger saying “ooh, I like your picture, can you give it to me so that I can hang it on my wall”. But maybe I’m wrong here.
Again – it’s not greed or anything that kind of makes me think about it. I haven’t put this (or any other) picture up for sale, but at the same time… should amateur photographers be giving their pictures away for free just because they have been asked?
Now, it would have been so much easier if I was actually taking pictures for living or even part-time to get some additional income. I’m not and to me photography is more of a passion than profession. It does sound different though if someone approached you and asked “I really like this picture, I didn’t see any sale offers, but I’m willing to pay you $$$ to hang it on my wall”. I might have even said then “naah, here you go, you can have it; pay me when you want to use it commercially”.
OK, It’s been a long story – sorry about that. I’m still not sure whether I managed to explain my view on the whole situation well… Anyways I guess what I’d like to know is what would you do and maybe a word or two why :)
Thanks!
Best Regards,
mikeSend him a print if you want, but never give an original full sized image away for free. Ask him to pay for the ink, paper, p&p …
I’ve had several requests through flickr for photos of mine to be sent to people.
I’ve said yes to every request, once they stick €20 into my paypal account and give me their address!!! Not one of them has ever replied again :)
I have sold the odd image from flickr but only low value ones and not anything that would be life changing but bedfordshire council did pay a decent amount for an image to be used in a walks leaflet that got me a new tyre so I dont mind.
The images I value only get sent off as prints and there has only been a few who knows I will be doing vogue next week(that would be funny)
That said I would never give away full res images without payment and 20 euro for personal use is perfectly reasonable and they are getting something unique that no one else has so if they wont pay your better off without.
As above – I’d also suggest to sell him a print. Maybe also ask for a snapshot of his growing wall collection before you print, as you’re intrigued by the concept (I have a wall collection too- sorry I can’t show it to you though) ;)
It’s odd how people like your photography but not enough to put money on it.
Thanks Lads for your feedback. This all kind of confirms what I have been thinking. I guess that’s what I’ll do – I’ll offer the guy a print for like EUR20 or so for personal use only. I didn’t like the idea of sending the full res image from the start :)
Thanks!
Best Regards,
mikeHi mkrzysztofowicz,
First of all, i am angry that there are some people out there who think that people are silly and stupid to do those things. But that is my own issue ( ;
1. why do you let somebody else decide that you never ever will sell that image
2. why should you send original files to somebody…..Files, JPGS, TIFFS means MONEY/BUSINESS when the quality is good. Why should you give it to somebody else without charge??? You have to pay your equipment, you put your time and efford in it to create this image and you are the copyright holder who can make money with it AND NOT SOMEBODY ELSE.
3. When somebody loves your images….IT IS NORMAL to purchase a PRINT or to buy a license, limited for time, use, terrirtory.I don’t undestand why you have to think about it? Sorry i’m maybe a bit loud right now but try to UNDERSTAND the VALUE OF YOUR CREATION (it doesn’t matter if you are prof or amateur)
IMAGERY means BUSINESS AND ARTIST SATISFACTION. By the way: there is a name for those kind of request. It is called LIMITED EDITION 1/1 – means, just one print will ever be printed. And usually those prints cost a fortune!So ask him for the size, make up a price (20 euro is crazy), print it as open edition and don’t promise or sign anything regarding “just one print”.
By the way: there are many cases that big companies contact amateur flickr photographers, they tell them a nice story, amateur feel soooo proud and send files away. What they don’t know is, that this company will make a fortune with this image for advertising material. all the best
Cheers
MadeleineAs he probably doesn’t have a business and can’t pay tax after that income, he might feel that it’s better not to charge for his images. Still, giving it away to someone he never met is crazy, I agree with that. But it’s everyone’s own right to decide if they want to get paid for their photography or not.
Hi again :)
First of all – Madeleine, thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts on that. Don’t worry, you’re not “a bit loud” at all, it’s great to get an honest advice, even more so if it comes with a personal touch ;)
See, even though I have been taking pictures for a while and have always been interested in photography, I have absolutely no experience with the commercial side of things (other than what I read). This is really why I asked, and I didn’t choose the forum accidentally. I know there is a lot of people here with lots of experience and great results, and so I thought it’s a good idea to verify if what I’m thinking is right.
In this particular case I don’t really think this guy is working for a big company, trying to get my picture for free and hoping that I’ll do everything they ask just so that I can be proud :) It is a valid point though, so for any commercial use of any of my pictures, I would have no problem selling the pictures and charging for them accordingly (but I would probably come here first asking for an advice as to how much to charge for my work!!) :)))
As Randomway says, I don’t have a business and I can’t pay the tax. It’s something that I have been mulling over, so it might change in future – nothing is cast in stone :)
Anyways – lots of good advice here, which I’m really grateful for. I’ll think it over again. Thank you!
Best regards,
mike
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