Publication propositions...

[chhayanat]

This is probably my first post here. Recently I got two interesting emails. The first was from Crowdmedia asking to feature my photos off Flickr for potential editorial publications. The second email was from Leica Fotografie International Magazine (print version) asking to use one of my photos as a part of a two-page spread gallery of user photos. I didn't accept Crowdmedia's offer because I was not entirely convinced. Has anyone here any experience dealing with them? I have indicated to Leica that my photos are not available without a fee. I am not a professional photographer and have no experience with magazine publication but offering my photos for free felt like undercutting other photographers as well as devaluing my own work. Tbh saying no to a Leica publication felt great 🙂 If anyone has a story to share or some words of advice, please share.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

Your photos, your rules.

I hate the thought of anyone claiming rights over my photos by stealth but, I suppose, if we post onto the interweb, there is absolutely no way possible to protect them from nefarious use. However, if I was an aspiring photographer with an objective to get my work seen / start a career, my take would be that allowing respectable publishers to have free use of a couple of photos (subject to appropriate credits being shown) is about as low risk as it gets. They get some freebie content, you get seen widely by readers, peers, other potential publishers.

However, I can understand people who have a more commercial view and, ultimately, it's their photos to do with as they wish.

 

[chhayanat]

That's a good point. The downside of it is that it then becomes a vicious circle - some users provide free content in exchange of 'fame' and set the precedence, companies use that in their negotiation that some people would provide free content if you don't, payment for content slowly becomes a topic only raised by the photographers/artists who absolutely need to get paid to sustain themselves. This is a classic case of under-cutting the market.

Also, I am not sure how many times even I have googled a photographer after seeing their name/credit under a photo and generated some business for them.

Finally, I have no problem with giving away a couple of photos to local magazines on a small budget. However, it is problematic when big corporate companies ask for freebies. An excellent photo in a user gallery is nothing short of an advertisement of their product. As such, I don't see why people would provide that service without a honorarium.

 

[jsrockit]

I would have given the image to Leica Fotografie International Magazine... I see no harm in this unless I really over-think it.

 

[chhayanat]

I have quite a few of my photos featured on their online Master Shots gallery so I am not really concerned about that. It was more like a principles thing which is why I raised the topic here.

 

[jsrockit]

I understand your viewpoint. I'd look at it as promotion of my work. It's not a job assignment that you are taking away from someone else.

 

[NY_Dan]

The Leica mag -- that I think one should do. The Crowdmedia -- that doesn't appeal. Giving away to mags or text book publishers -- Nooooooooooo Ask for size image will be used, number of printed copies, duration, and where it will be used -- then go to Corbis and use their calculator to figure value by plugging in this info -- then tell buyer Corbis would charge X, but I only want X less 20 percent.

 

[Vince Lupo]

If you don't want to give your work to LFI, just pass my name onto them. I'll gladly oblige!

 

[chhayanat]

The Leica mag -- that I think one should do. The Crowdmedia -- that doesn't appeal. Giving away to mags or text book publishers -- Nooooooooooo Ask for size image will be used, number of printed copies, duration, and where it will be used -- then go to Corbis and use their calculator to figure value by plugging in this info -- then tell buyer Corbis would charge X, but I only want X less 20 percent.

Thanks! That's really helpful. I was not aware of Corbis.

 

[chhayanat]

Thank you all for commenting. I didn't realize LFI pulled that kind of punch 🙂 I might re-consider!