Allowing unrestricted use of photos

[princess_kessie]

Hi all,

I am not sure whether this has been discussed before, but I looked back a fair way and was unable to get a satisfactory answer.

I was recently contacted via comment on my photobucket album (holiday snapshots for a travel blog I wrote for a bit) asking me for permission to use one or more photos in a book about to be submitted for publishing. The contact asked me for "unrestricted permission (all future world editions/languages/derivations) to use it in my book? (agreeing is like a signature)...", and seems to have agreed to keep my copyrights intact.

I was initially shocked at the request, and also honoured by the request, but now I've had a few days to mull it over, I keep feeling like there's something more I need to do or say in order to protect my photos.

I presume there are quite a few people here who have something similar happen in the past (this is my first time!), so I guess I'm just after some advice and wisdom in dealing with this situation.

I am grateful for any advice you all may have

Thanks in advance

[jdepould]

That's a bit of an oxymoron, because "to use it in my book" is a specific use, and doesn't need unrestricted permission. You haven't mentioned compensation; don't do it for free.

[OsmosisStudios]

Sounds a bit backwards to me too. Unrestricted rights (as Jim will likely tell you) is a big no-no, especially if youre not getting paid accordingly. Furthermore, it generally means you dont retain copyright of the image.

Keep in mind: ad agencies and graphic agencies often troll flickr et. al. for photos instead of hitting up a stock site, because they figure they might be able to get it for free like this. Its time people manned up and told them to "pay up, sucka"

[princess_kessie]

So any suggestions what I ought to charge for 9 high-quality, high-resolution photos? I am so brand new to this aspect, I have no idea what my photos might be worth!

To give some idea, here is the image that started all of this.

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He has requested hi-res versions of each of the 9 original photos used to make this compilation (which I indeed have). What should I do? I really didn't even think they were worth considering, but they seem to be what he wants.

ETA: I emailed him with my concerns, and he basically told me that since my photos were of such amateur quality they had no monetary value whatsoever, and that they could be easily duplicated from any number of other sources (like he was doing me a favour by using mine), and also attached a number of near-identical photos "for my perusal". I withdrew my permission for use since he clearly did not need my inferior quality photos.

But thanks for the original advice. I felt better withdrawing my permission (who knows, he may still steal them anyway) than allowing him to use them while feeling uncertain the way I did.

[jdepould]

Sorry to hear about the insult, but it sounds like he's not a client you really want.

Just to answer the question about pricing. Usage is important; a cover image is going to demand a lot more than a two-inch detail on page 57. Number of copies and distribution also plays into it, a run of 10,000 books, distributed nationally will bring a higher price than 500 distributed in one city. You also have to consider what it cost you to create the image, both in time and resources.

[princess_kessie]

Thanks for the great info

[Quo Fan]

Sure sounds like they wanted to get your photos for free. Once you asked for payment, they suddenly became "unacceptable".

Wow, "amateur quality"... sounds like a giant ass to me. Good thing you didn't do business with this loser, you'd have been screwed.

[digirebelva]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Keep in mind: ad agencies and graphic agencies often troll flickr et. al. for photos instead of hitting up a stock site, because they figure they might be able to get it for free like this. Its time people manned up and told them to "pay up, sucka"

Thats because a lot on Flickr will let them go for free...just for the (supposed exposure) they will get...and the thrill of having their work published

[sk66]

The insult was a low blow...
He was just trying to "convince you" that you should give him the rights for free....

Why would anyone want 9 amateur low quality images (in high res) to include in their book?