Help please with wedding photo being published in book

[graciousness]

Fact is that the publisher will be making money selling these books. They know that they have to pay possible fees when using other people's photos for the books. Can we say that the publishing company will make money off people's miseries and loss? Well yes, they are , even though it may not be quite that intentional. But there will be profit to be made from their miseries. That's evident.

A photographer makes money off his images and so let him protect those images if everyone involved (including models) agree to usage. Copyrights, royalties, etc, were made so that 'artists' are ensured they get paycheck for their work.

I don't think there's any battle in this scenario. If the OP wants to charge for usage of his photograph, why not? That's his/her business and guess what, that's how we're suppose to make money. Selling our images we take. If he/she wants to let them publish for free, that's also his/her business. But let's not forget that the publishing company is also in the mix here and that they can afford to pay fees if they have to for copyrighted images. That's the photographer's right.

[gturner]

Originally Posted by autofocus

I guess it boils down to someone else making money or deriving fame off your efforts.

and sometimes it is neither.
A very simple photographer to publisher agreement should be good enough.

You can win loads of goodwill and loose even more, depending on which way you handle this. Don't be an ass.

[graciousness]

And now, for a commercial break.

[sk66]

Vince,
If you say so....
IMO it is different. Microsoft pays staff to develop their product in the hopes they can sell it when it is (almost) completed. We are talking about work you only do AFTER being hired to do it.

I just completed a $2.5M project with a company to develop a computer program/ online education. We hired them to do the job. On my desk are disks with every bit of source code, base graphics, working files and the completed project. We own it (technically, you own it), not the company we hired to produce it.

[sk66]

Graciousness,

I agree to some extent. If you want to charge the publisher, and they will agree to pay, fine. It's your right.

But here's what happened and what's going to happen. They were chosen to have their stories included in part of a book. They were asked to submit photos of themselves which could be published with the story. They chose the photographer's pic because they liked it best.

The photographer steps in and claims their rights and wants money. Unless the amount is trivial (and maybe even if) the publisher asks the couple for a different submission. The couple will then submit another photo not belonging to a photographer or get into a mess and be pissed off with the original photographer, probably both.

We've seen it before. It's not worth it.

[AndyM2020]

Personally, I would say that was fine - the bridge & groom are obviously happy to be in the book, and presumably the publisher would get a model release directly from them.

Any yes, seeing as you are the presumably copyright holder (assuming it's in your contract and/or you don't live somewhere where law says otherwise), the publisher would need to talk to you about publishing the images.

Whether or not you charge, and how much is up to you. I would ask the publisher whether it's for pure profit for themselves, or for charity and what their expected print runs are, etc. I would consider allowing them to print for a minimal fee or even free as it could be a good advertisement for your services (if you make sure you're credited). If you refuse or charge too much, the bride & groom may supply some photos from a family member, or get dropped from the book, which would probably alienate them.

Personally, if they are willing to pay, then great, otherwise II would allow it (if the book was something worth being associated with) for free and write it off as "free" advertising.

[autofocus]

You can win loads of goodwill and loose even more, depending on which way you handle this. Don't be an ass.

Being that you responded to one of my comments, who exactly are you calling an ass? We certainly can differ in our feelings and our opinions here on DPS, but this is NOT cricket in my book!