Photographing for Non-Profits

[kate283]

I have a couple of questions about charging for photography with non-profit organizations, specifically about one situation in particular.

A friend of mine volunteers weekly with non-profit organization. I went with her for the day, and took several photographs of the kids and volunteers working and playing. I later posted a blog entry about the non-profit and the great work that they were doing on my personal blog (which I do not make money off of). A few days later, a woman contacted me; she works for a studio that is producing a documentary about this particular non-profit, she loved my photographs, was hoping to use them in the documentary, and would I be interested in sharing them. I responded affirmatively and asked what the studio's typical rate was.

She replied that the non-profit was underwriting the project and thus had a limited budget, and typically asked for the photographer's best offer and gave credit in the film. I work for a non-profit myself and realize that it is common to donate photography skills to non-profit causes - because of this I am not sure what she is expecting a "best offer" to be!

On the one hand, I've read a lot of articles about not giving away your photographs for free because it devalues them. I work for a non-profit and provide all photography services free of charge (unrelated to my actual job with the organization), and am active in the non-profit community here. I feel that this could set a precedent that I will work for free - for EVERY non-profit...because most of my associates and "work people" also work for non-profits. Because I don't make a lot of money in my day job, I could use every penny I can make from my photography.

On the other hand, I am relatively new to photography for profit, so I could use the publicity/reference/publishing credit. I did take the photographs without "official" permission - just the verbal permission of the woman running the non-profit. I wasn't ever planning on selling the pictures in the first place, or making money off of them. And, it feels wrong to charge someone for photographs of their own program.

What does everyone recommend? Should I give them for just the credit? Should I charge them $50, $100 per image? (The images are professional quality.) I only do family/baby/portrait shoots typically, which I sell as packages - I'm not sure what to charge for a single photograph, let alone a discounted single photograph!

[zona5101]

Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe if you sell them you will need a model release. If you give them away I do not believe a release is needed.
You may want to see if you can get a tax donation slip from the charity for the value of the work and take it off your taxes as a deduction.

[candleman]

if the documentary ever turns into a commercial on TV saying "donate to us" ...i do believe you will need a model release. I dont think as a documentary or book you need releases. (i could be wrong... best to get local info to your countrys laws)

get a contract saying you are licensing the image to them for limited use in that documentary, and set a price you think is fair to both of you. Its important that you dont hand over the image without an agreement. If you hand over the image without saying what limitatins there are.. you are in for trouble because they probably will assume you're handing over copyright.... or simply out of ignorance will use it forever.

all the best with it.

[Jim Bryant]

Try to get a modeling release signed. It protects you and whom you are photographing.