Job offer

[leonaashlee]

I have been offered the position of photographer for Mrs. Southern Arizona....this would mean traveling to whatever events (local) that she would be involved with, whatever appearances she would make that would involve that title. I would like a contract, in fact, insist on one, but this is a first for me and I'm not really sure what should be in one. I do know I want to retain copyright to the photos....but they will be used in publications etc.
Any thoughts? Should I have one drawn up by a lawyer? Thanks for your advice.

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by leonaashlee

Should I have one drawn up by a lawyer? .

Absolutely.

Good luck on retaining copyright. Chances are "they" will be looking for a work for hire arrangement instead. If you manage to get to keep all the rights, that's great, but what you really need is the right to use the images in a portfolio and other promotional materials.

I don't think there is much of a market for pictures of Miss AZ, other than the pageant organization itself and perhaps some product endorsement type things.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Absolutely.

Good luck on retaining copyright. Chances are "they" will be looking for a work for hire arrangement instead. If you manage to get to keep all the rights, that's great, but what you really need is the right to use the images in a portfolio and other promotional materials.

I don't think there is much of a market for pictures of Miss AZ, other than the pageant organization itself and perhaps some product endorsement type things.

This.

They'll pretty much get unlimited use rights, and possibly ownership, which will mean you'll get portfolio use/self-promotion use.

Make sure you get a list of what THEY want and what they'll allow before going to the lawyer, and see if you cant get them to cover the lawyer fees too.

[BCampbell]

People who are not photographes generally don't understand the difference between unlimited use, ownership of copyright, third party licensing, etc etc. You'll have to educate them if they have questions -- and they will. Which means you'll have to educate yourself.

This book is a great place to start:
Amazon.com: Business and Legal Forms for Photographers, 4th Edition (Business & Legal Forms for Photographers) (9781581156690): Tad Crawford: Books

A couple of blogs that have excellent advice as well:
Photo Attorney
A Photo Editor - Former Photography Director Rob Haggart

On the second one specifically look at the Ask Anything posts. There was a good one recently that applies somewhat to you.

[Statto]

Check local laws to the country you are shooting in

Im from the UK
And unless Im mistaken the copyright of my pix are as follows

1) I have copyright
2) My employer has copyright
3) Whoever pressed the shutter has copyright

So basically

If you are being employed to take photos of 'x', then both you and whoever/whatever pays you have equal copyright
If the above situation happens, but you get a friend to help out taking shots with either your camera or their own camera, then they also have a claim to equal copyright as they pressed the shutter therefore that particular pic or pix are their 'intellectual rights'

Hope this helps