What’s Your Preference?

mshockley · #1 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 08:35 PM

I have a bit of a concern about something and thought maybe you all could give me a shout out as to how stupid I may about to become!

Our local roller derby team, just getting started mind you, yeah you can guess where this is going already can't ya? Yep, they need a good team photo and an individual shot of each player. I did in fact say that I might be interested in becoming a sponsor to one of the girls a few weeks ago, and the coach just called. They want the pictures to use for promo's, etc. and also want to be able to make "baseball" cards to sell to the kids. I figure by even agreeing to sponsor something like this, you have to let them use the pic's to promote their team. These teams/players do not get paid to do this, for the life of me I haven't figured out the draw, but hey, whatever. I want this to be kind of a one time deal and pretty much be out of it, so I would give them whatever final images of my choice on a disc with rights to print.

So here's my thing, and just help me think this through so I cover my bases, as I meet with them tomorrow evening about this.
I was thinking I would agree to taking the photo's for the team, in exchange for the following:
1. I retain copyright obviously, and am free to use any of the images in the direct promotion of my own business. I will be asking them not to make any changes or do any editing to the file. I know, can't control, but I figure it's worth putting it in writing.

2. My watermark will be on each image somewhere.

3. A table allocated to me at entrance to sell prints from the above shoot if I should choose to ever do that. (this was one of the things they already said they do)

What else am I missing? I want to print out a simple contract of some sort being very clear on what I am willing to "sponsor", but at the same time, I did mean for this to be fun, and my 2 daughters just love this roller derby thing, and they know some of these girls, blah, blah, blah. They are a new team and they need some help.

Naois · #2 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 08:50 PM

I think the watermarks on all the images is pushing it. Perhaps a requirement on any print they make that you are credited for the photography would be more appropriate?

candleman · #3 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 08:56 PM

as for your points

RE: #1. chances are they will want to place Copy over the image if it's a baseball style card? No "no edits" is a bit uch.. "copy only" maybe.

RE: #2. they won't want to sell your logo on an image on their team card.
could you maybe negotiate that your compensation is to have a credit at the back of the card printed with your name and web URL?

RE: #3. selling prints to the players, or selling prints of players to the spectators?
You could negotiate that you are allowed to print off mini posters of the players and the team, and the players will each autograph a few posters of themselves. ?? then you get that to sell and you retain all profits from that?

Maybe you could do one big poster of the group shot and eachplayer can autogrpah it, you laminate it and you can raffle it off on the night? The MC on the night could do the draw, do an announcement about the awesome photo by XYZ Photogaphy
"....and the lucky winner is.
for those who didn't win, you can purchase prints at the stand near the door".

"if you don't ask, the answer is always no"

Just a few random thoughts before I go get a coffee.

Jim Bryant · #4 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 09:52 PM

Get a contract signed that saying you'll give them 10% of the money earned to go back into their organization. PERIOD!

mshockley · #5 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 10:31 PM

Okay everyone thank-you so much.

Candleman/Naois I see the point about watermarked images! And also about it being visible on a player card. I'm going to shoot for the name/url credit on the back somewhere. Good Idea Candleman.

As for #3, yes, the idea was that I would have the option to make some posters/prints, etc. from the images I take for them to sell to spectators. The kids love that stuff, then they wait for the girls at the end to get it autographed! I will want to retain any profits from this. But, I love the idea about using a large autographed poster for a raffle type of item!

And thanks Jim, I will certainly plan to discuss this tomorrow with the team coaches.

Thanks for all your input!

#6 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 11:27 PM

As your local Iowa neighbor, I can tell you that the promotional posters that the Cedar Rapids roller girls put out are pretty damn good. Too good. They have to be paying a pro for that stuff. And not only a professional photographer, a make-up artist, and a good graphic designer as well. I seriously doubt people with this much skill are doing it for free.

Just something to think about.

mshockley · #7 (**permalink**) 02-17-2011, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

As your local Iowa neighbor, I can tell you that the promotional posters that the Cedar Rapids roller girls put out are pretty damn good. Too good. They have to be paying a pro for that stuff. And not only a professional photographer, a make-up artist, and a good graphic designer as well. I seriously doubt people with this much skill are doing it for free.

Just something to think about.

I agree Neighbor! But here's the thing, this team is brand new, kind of the baby sister to our big team, the QC Roller Derby Team. They are in their first year, have managed through sponsorship to come up with $300 to have a Logo designed (rather cute one) but I'm pretty sure they are tapped. I thought I'd help them get started with a nice team photo and some individual player shots and call it a day. You know Karma and all that!

candleman · #8 (**permalink**) 02-17-2011, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshockley

I agree Neighbor! But here's the thing, this team is brand new, kind of the baby sister to our big team, the QC Roller Derby Team. They are in their first year, have managed through sponsorship to come up with $300 to have a Logo designed (rather cute one) but I'm pretty sure they are tapped. I thought I'd help them get started with a nice team photo and some individual player shots and call it a day. You know Karma and all that!

I know we often hear "doing stuff for free doesn't pay the bills" ...and it doesn't

It does however win friends in the right places.
EG. a photographer I'm now working with has done a few free shoots for a few magazines.. ......guess who just received HUNDREDS of insider Media e-mail adresses to send her press releases to?
OH, and endorsements from a wedidng and fashion magazine....

doing stuff for free can have benefits, but only if it's for the right people.

mshockley · #9 (**permalink**) 02-17-2011, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candleman

I know we often hear "doing stuff for free doesn't pay the bills" ...and it doesn't

It does however win friends in the right places.
EG. a photographer I'm now working with has done a few free shoots for a few magazines.. ......guess who just received HUNDREDS of insider Media e-mail adresses to send her press releases to?
OH, and endorsements from a wedidng and fashion magazine....

doing stuff for free can have benefits, but only if it's for the right people.

Candleman I so agree with the "doing for free doesn't pay the bills" line of thinking!

Still, for someone who couldn't roller-skate if my life depended on it, I feel pretty strongly about doing this for these girls, and I'm hoping it comes back to me somehow, but if not, I will still feel good about spending a bit of my time so they have some decent pic's to promote their team. My gut is telling me to do this, so I guess I'm committed