Need some advice ASAP!!

[Gina9942]

So I get an email through my Flickr, this is what it says:

I would like to use one of your photos


I work for an advertising agency in NYC and I would like to use your family shot photo (as linked below) for a presentation only, then I would like to purchase it from you if the concept gets picked up. If you could provide me with some form of the photo that can be blown up without being extremely pixelated that would be greatly appreciated.

Rob Ondreicka

On his Flickr account he has no pics or anything, I can assume he had to make an account to send me a message, but we shall see.

This is the pic he wants to use:




Does this sound legit? I googled him, as you do, and I found some links, but nothing that I can access at work. Thoughts on what you would do if you were in this situation?

TIA

Gina

[SusanH1970]

Huge red flag: He wants you to send him a huge file "for presentation only" - and then decide you *might* get paid for it if the idea is picked up?

Um, no.

[pjflan7]

money first honey...you don't drive the car off the lot without paying first

[Gina9942]

Thanks guys, I didn't even think of that!! I was just so shocked to even receive an email like that. Do I even reply and tell him that or just ignore it because it might be a spam or something. Should I take the image down so he doesn't just take it? He can't download the large file, but he might still grab the small one.

[pjflan7]

I don't know that I would be too concerned about the small image......they wouldn't be able to use it for much of anything......it would be too pixelated.....I would follow this guy online if possible and see if your image pops up anywhere and then sue the pants off of him if it does

[Gina9942]

I will, thanks! I found out what company he works for, and I am going to check periodically to see if he has used it.

[junglebear]

It looks really dodgy to me, if I were you I'd ask plenty of questions about him. He's not even mentioned who he works for, or given a website or anything like that. Chances are you won't get a reply and that will answer the question.
Nice shot though!

[Gina9942]

I did send him an email asking who he works for and what the image will be used for. I googled him and found the company I think he works for, but I am not sure if it is def him. I am going to stay on top of the website and so what I can to find him, this way if he does use the image, i will know.

So let's say that he comes back, he's willing to pay first, What would I charge? How are these things priced? I have never done anything like this and I think it's a good thing to know, not only for this, but for other times that it might come up.

This happened to me a few months back (actually sold a photo to BFG communications, and now I see that photo everytime I go to a gas station).

I don't think it's odd for a company to want to present an idea to a client before purchasing the photo for mass production.

Find out how the photo is going to be used (magazine, online, etc) and how many copies will be made (i.e. how many magazines it'll show up in). For pricing, check out Getty Images...find a similar image and how much it sells for.

And when considering whether this is a scam or not, remember this:
Your photo is currently worth what someone will pay for it. If no one buys it, it's worth nothing.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

I don't think it's odd for a company to want to present an idea to a client before purchasing the photo for mass production.

Nor do I....but a full-res image that can be printed large? Not till I see cash, first. A watermarked web-sized image is all I'd give until they decide they want it and pay me for it. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I have had images stolen from me in the past.