not given credit for a published photo.

[cindy.marnell]

One of my text books placed one of those printer labels inside the cover of the book correcting a mistake they made in printing. Just because it's already been printed doesn't mean they can't still give you credit.

When I took my MBA classes a couple years ago, there was a really cool photo on the front of the accounting book. Do you know who took it? Neither do I, because no one cares.

Be happy that you won a contest, but don't worry about the credit. No one will read it. No one will care. No one is going to call you and say "Hey, like what you did with that cover...wanna shoot a wedding?" The best thing to do is just let it go, and you'll probably be laughing about it in a few months.

[moscowmartin]

I am guessing that the prize for the contest was to have your photo on the cover of the manual (with credits) and that the publishing company did not run the contest. This would make it difficult and very expensive to pursue through lawyers for a small value (if at all quantifiable) item like a photo credit.

You could use this as a door opening opportunity with the publishing company for them to use more of your photos in the future, maybe even paid work.

[abhijith.rao]

I got really worked up the first time it happened. I did a series of shots for a non-profit, but they have been using the photos over and over (in all kinds of media) and sometimes I wish they would give me some credit.
But I do not worry about it anymore, since it was a non-profit organisation and I let them use it*. I feel if there is something that makes you feel like you gave it away for a greater good, think of it that way and be more careful next time.

*It came in a newspaper today too. No surprises, no credit.

[Jim Poor]

I almost agree with this. There are times however when the credit is useful. For example, to join NPS, you have to have tear sheets of your published work. For those who don't shoot for publication, those can be few and far between.

I had an author use my photos in a magazine. She did all the right things, but the magazine left out the photo credit. I had her write me a letter thanking me for the wonderful photos used in such and such magazine blah blah blah so I could use them as a tear sheet.

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

When I took my MBA classes a couple years ago, there was a really cool photo on the front of the accounting book. Do you know who took it? Neither do I, because no one cares.

Be happy that you won a contest, but don't worry about the credit. No one will read it. No one will care. No one is going to call you and say "Hey, like what you did with that cover...wanna shoot a wedding?" The best thing to do is just let it go, and you'll probably be laughing about it in a few months.

[danbaileyphoto]

Be careful with the idea that non-profits don't need to pay for imagery. They don't get their office supplies for free, nor do they get free office space rent or free postage or web hosting. As a general rule, they shouldn't get photos for free either. That doesn't mean that it's not ok to donate or discount imagery to causes that you especially believe in, there just shouldn't be that expectation that just because they're non-profits, they don't have to pay for something that has value.

Also, whenever entering photo contests, make sure you read the fine print. Often times, contests try to grab all rights from the entrants. It should be the other way around- the winner gets to have their photo used and be paid for it instead of having the publisher use it for free.