to watermark or not?

[MrJones]

Hi all,
I'm trying to start a cooperation with a video photographer for general events and weddings.
the main idea is to work together and present a whole solution of stills & video.
we didn't sign a contract or anything as we chose not to invest money together into it but more like promoting each other where we can.
the thing is, he's asked me to send him samples of my best work so he could present is his site as a slideshow, without any logos or credits.
naturally, I don't feel comfortable with that idea but I get that he wants to present himself as a "big studio" that do both stills & video, so having different logos on the photos and video could be awkward.
what do you think? what would you do?
on one hand this guy could provide me with some work through his business.. on the other hand, the thought of my photos presented without my logo or credit is troubling me.

[JFSanders]

No written contract, NO BUSINESS. This applies to anyone but your mother, for whom you will work for free. Anyone else, signs a contract. Licensing (we do not sell) for website use is covered under a basic usage fee. Size, location, and length of time all affect the price. Now if he wants a quid pro quo arraingement it should be exclusive barring scheduling conflicts but all stills would go through your office with the appropriate fee charged for work done. Office people don't work for free. But IN ALL CASES YOU GET A watermark or photo credit somewhere on each and every photograph used. And all photographs must have intact IPTC information.

Jim

[MrJones]

thanks Jim,
that's what I thought.. can't let those photos be presented on the web without a credit or a logo.

[UlpilotSC]

Definitely watermark. I'm not a pro... And I watermark anything I put up that I might think someone would use.
I made the mistake of sending my mother a few pics of my sister at her wedding reception, and said when I got the chance I would send her a good edit she could use or print. Instead, she edited them and dumped them on her facebook page with a bunch of pictures she took. I was like, WTF? I told her to take it down, when she got my edit she could put it up and credit me.
After having been screwed by the local newspaper, if I send them a picture I make sure I tell them "you may print only if you credit me." I've had them steal a whole article and picture, only to credit it to "staff writer".

So ..... Watermark. They're your pictures.