Comments on: I got schmapped: Should I be giving up content for free?

By: Paddyo

Paddyo — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:22:04 +0000

At this point you’ve probably already made a decision on this. However, I would say no to them if I were in your position. It’s your photo and it just wouldn’t be logical adding grease to an already slippery slope if you want a decision that stands true the little guy/woman getting taken day-to-day in the profession. And knowing you, I know you’re all for the little guy

I’m poor but planning for a visit.
Patrick

By: zaboumom

zaboumom — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:08:30 +0000

Désolée pour cette réponse en français, qu’Isabelle traduira si elle le juge nécessaire.
En fait, la question de la gratuité dépend aussi un peu de la nature de ce que l’on te demande. Une seule photo, oui, peut-être… un reportage, non, clairement. Comme le jour où un festival m’a demandé sans honte de rédiger TOUS leurs programmes de l’année à l’oeil, parce que “cela ferait connaître ma plume…”. J’ai répondu que ma plume était déjà connue puisqu’ils me le demandaient.
Moi, je dirais oui, mais à une condition irrévocable : le copyright Isabelle Roughol, et un lien pour te joindre. dans ces conditions, cela devient effectivement une -petite- vitrine pour toi.

Mom

By: Isabelle Roughol

Isabelle Roughol — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:24:19 +0000

They already have plenty other shots of this place in their current edition of the Montreal guide, I checked. But I don’t believe in the “if not me, somebody else will do it” reasoning, from an ethical standpoint. What matters to my karma (my ‘principles’ if you will) is what I do.

As for exposure from this company, it’s significant, purely in numbers, but I doubt it’s people actually looking for a professional photographer. And if it were, they wouldn’t stop on this particular shot.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:13:22 +0000

I see this all the time in my line of work: a large entity wants creative content for free in exchange for “exposure” or “the chance to build your portfolio.” However, the accepted corollary to this is that a doctor will not perform a rhinoplasty free of charge in hopes that someone passing you on the sidewalk will exclaim, “What a fantastic nose job! Where did you go for it?”

Typically I just tell these types of people to sod off. If someone or some entity recognizes the value in whatever they’re trying to acquire (a great new website or, in your case, a photo), they should be willing to pay for it. If not, your assessment of these companies as “hogs” is dead on.

The sad truth, however, is that they’re not going to pay anyone *else* for a photo either. As there are probably millions more photos of this particular location in existence, in this situation your bargaining chip is null and void.

No offense to your photo (which is lovely), but if you turn them down they’ll just keep hunting until they do find someone who will grant them rights to use a similar shot in exchange for the “exposure” they proffer so readily. In this situation, they have nothing to lose by not using your photo (except time), but you do, admittedly, have something to gain (this aforementioned “exposure”). If this were me, the only two ways I would turn down their offer are
a.) Someone else is offering you money for your photography.
b.) You don’t value the exposure you’d get from this company.