The homeless photos, and an opinion, please ...

[dmr]

For those following the homeless photo thing either here or on "another network", I did receive a response via e-mail, and I don't think I'm really violating any confidence by posting it here ...

Thank you for the photo. It is a powerful one. I had initially thought
about attempting to shoot some photos myself, but soon realized that I
would not be taking advantage of other people's talent. Your photo is a
good example of this. It says a lot with one picture. It is an
outstanding photo. Your talent is manifest in that picture.

I will be discussing the advertising campaign and photos with several other
people. I will let you know what the thoughts are. If your photo is
chosen, I will need to know what you would like in exchange for your
permission to use the picture.

Here's my problem/dilemma/issue/whatever ... Although this might be my first opportunity to sell a photo for real money, I don't feel right about accepting money and profiting from somebody else's misfortune. (What I really feel guilty about is not feeling guilty about it some 30+ years ago, but that's my issue to deal with ...) I also have some reservations about anybody using it commercially.

Has anybody else been in such a dilemma like this before?

 

[onnovisser]

What you could do is donate it to charity, e.g. a homeless shelter. This would solve your problems imho.

kind regrds.

Onno

 

[dmr]

What you could do is donate it to charity, e.g. a homeless shelter. This would solve your problems imho.

What I've done (I forgot to say this in the original post) is ask him what kind of a "campaign" this is that he wants to use it for. If it's for a charitable cause or even a well-meaning political one, I think I'll give him permission. If it's blatantly commercial, I still have reservations even if I would donate my proceeds. ...

 

[jan normandale]

Hi dmr436

The dilemma is something like this;

‘the photo meets some ‘commercial’ need and either you or someone else will end up making a transaction for this style of shot.’

I have always believed that anything that ‘helps’ is good. So if the shot is for a purpose that gives you pause ethically and which you believe is personally questionable, consider that someone else may provide the photo if you do not. The balancing act is then a subjective one for the owner of the photo.

Giving the proceeds to a charity is definitely beneficial. Also ensure you continue to own the rights for the shot and that the photographic rights stay with you and are only for the specific ‘campaign’ the purchaser wants the photos for. If they are not agreeable then I would probably not play.

Good luck

Jan

 

[Paul T.]

I must say that for an agency or publisher to ask you what you want for the photo seems faintly unprofessional. How can you suggest a fee without knowing what the campaign is, whether it's for a commercial organisation, what rights they want?

FWIW, and I do a fair amount of fee negotiation for photography in editorial and advertising c0ontexts, if it were me and I thought this was a small-medium sized campaign, I would ask for a $500 fee to be paid to a homeless charity.

 

[TPPhotog]

The part that surprises me is that charities usually pay very good fees usually on par with the market price, after that what you do with the fee is up the the photographers conscience. It seems very strange the way that this requirement was "offered to tender" 😕

I would suggest that you do not provide them with a consent until you have been made aware of all the details and you feel comfortable with the situation.

 

[reagan]

dmr436 ~

I've got to tell you, those homeless shots are just some of the most moving I've seen on the net and I greatly applaud your work. Just looking at your handling of the subject, it certainly comes as no surprise that you are wanting to do the right thing as far as handling the use of your photographs. I applaud you for that as well. I really believe that you'll finally have to decide, "does the end justify the means?"

Not long ago the world was moved to help in an unbelievable way those who were devistated by a Tsunami. How were we moved? By the images we saw.

So please consider -

(1) your images need to be seen by as many people as possible. They NEED TO BE SEEN. The more people see them, the more people will be moved by them, the greater the possibility that those moved will be moved into action to help the homeless everywhere. If those who desire the use of your photos turn out to be more commercial than charitable, you'll have to decide if it's worth allowing the commercial use so you can get those precious faces in front of as many people as possible.

(2) your name attached to those images NEEDS TO BE SEEN by as many people as possible. This will afford you more opportunities in the future as your gifts and talents become desirable to others that can, yes, get those images in front of as many people as possible.

(3) if you are paid for your work, if you profit from it, it allows you to buy the necessary tools, equipment and supplies to continue to do more work and do better work and, again, get those images in front of more people. Using those profits in this way to help those you are photographing could in no way be construed by honest people as just getting rich off the suffering of others.

You were bold enough to take the shots. Consider it a gift, a trust. I encourage you to be bold in finding the right way to use the shots to help those people that trusted you with their images. It will not only help them, but many others like them.