Volunteering and Photos

[teedlepeep]

I recently became a volunteer at a local organization to do some photography for them. Good cause, non-profit, etc etc. When I talked with them the first time we discussed a few events that are upcoming and a large portrait project that would end up going on display in several states. All of my work would have photo credit and there will be links to my web site etc.

I was fine with helping them out until I received an email today that had a paragraph in it that says they want ALL of the pics I take at any of their events or taken for them turned over to them on a disk so that they all become property of the organization. That is obvously not going to happen, but I am wondering what others do when they are in a similar type of situation?

[OsmosisStudios]

Tell them that wasn't what you had agreed to. They'll either push you on or tell you that they're moving in a different direction. Former: tell them to take a hike, latter: walk away head held high.

[private]

+1 for what Osmosis sd - OR you can say sure, my normal rate is ____ per digital image. Who shall I send the invoice to? And I will send the images when payment is received.

[teedlepeep]

Thanks for the response ..... I wasn't clear with what I was asking

I meant what do others do when they are volunteering their services not what do I tell them as a response.

Originally Posted by teedlepeep

Thanks for the response ..... I wasn't clear with what I was asking

I meant what do others do when they are volunteering their services not what do I tell them as a response.

Vol-uhn-tear?

What ... is ... this... word?

*small puff of smoke plumes from Max's ear*

I'm sorry, I have no clue as to what you mean?



Must be nice to be able to volunteer. Before you get all high and mighty on me, I have worked for jack-squat for the past 5 years in non-profit organizations, when I have had offers for DOUBLE what I currently make.

Just saying, I think I've done my fair share of sacrificing or what you call "volunteering".

~Eric

[private]

Oh, I do volunteer my services (PMDA and some Moms clubs) for example, but I make it perfectly clear what they are getting and I am up front that if they want anything else they will have to pay. And you should do the same. Tell them that is not what you agreed to, you would still like to volunteer based on the original verbal agreement. And if they are changing the agreement, you will also need to change the agreement.

I just had a recent situation, not a non-profit, but a Mom from a local Moms club wanting free digital images of her child. I explained the agreement (members of X moms club will get a free 11x14 (harder to copy) and her reply was sure but I also want all the pics that are taken, And I sd for ____ per image. And she sd, you mean there will be photos of my kid floating around that I know nothing about?

I sd, you will know, they will be in your password protected gallary and you can choose what you buy, but you will see ALL the images. I have not heard back. She wanted something for nothing - wasn't haveing it. THAT is the first time that has happened to me.

[teedlepeep]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Vol-uhn-tear?

What ... is ... this... word?

*small puff of smoke plumes from Max's ear*

I'm sorry, I have no clue as to what you mean?



Must be nice to be able to volunteer. Before you get all high and mighty on me, I have worked for jack-squat for the past 5 years in non-profit organizations, when I have had offers for DOUBLE what I currently make.

Just saying, I think I've done my fair share of sacrificing or what you call "volunteering".

~Eric

Sorry to make your ears smoke Did you get any good self portraits of that happeneing?

I have been fortunate the past few years in that I am able to do volunteering for a few hours a week. However for the last two years it has mostly involved cleaning up cat crap. This new organization among many other good reasons doesn't involve any feces.

I thought perhaps there was a "reasonable standard" you know, like the organization can use the shots for their purposes but may not pass them along to any other entity and that I can still use the shots for promotional purposes etc...... They threw me with the everything I take will become their property. I figured someone here has volunteered and may be able to pass along some words of wisdom .

[joefish]

Hi there,

I work for a non-profit, so my situation is a bit different, but here are the general guidelines when I take photos for work (which has actually been the majority of my photos):

- My work has a license to do what they will with the photos, after all, most of them are taken during work time.
- I also retain the right to do what I like with my photos; I don't need to ask permission to use my own photos in other projects etc.

What I would do is draw up an agreement, or at least make it clear verbally, what it is that you are offering. For example:

- You could offer them ownership rights of the photos (obviously you don't want to in this case).
- You could offer them a license to do whatever they like with their photos (eg use them in promo material - this would be reasonable), but you still own them and can do what you like with them.
- You should specify whether you want credit for photos used in anything they do (sounds like you thought this would happen). In my case I can't really ask for credit every single time a photo of mine is in a work publication since I take my photos in work time.

It sounds to me like the organisation in question probably wants to use your photos in some promo material or the like. It is possible that a lawyer has given some generic advice to them that any material they use needs to be owned by them, or that they need to have a license to use it however they like, to avoid any legal troubles later on. If this is the case then the person who has come to you and told you this doesn't fully understand how that effects you/makes you feel. I have run across people having similar issues in the past. If this is the case, it may be best to draw up a legal agreement between you and them to keep everyone satisfied.

Hope that helps.

[windrider86]

I do a heck of alot of volunteering for Noahs Ark (our local animal shelter) and a few other organizations. I've never been asked to "give" them all of the images, they are just happy to get what they get. I do get credit for any they publish, which is fine.
BUT, this is just local stuff for our lil community. Nationwide? UM NO , for free? UM NOOOOO!! Did I mention NOT FOR FREE! And certainly not giving them the rights to all images.
Your time is much more valuable than that.

[waffles]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Vol-uhn-tear?

What ... is ... this... word?

It would be nice if you would stop with this nonsense of not even answering people's questions when you reply. It's not helping anyone. Someone of your knowledge and skill should either help or keep out of the discussion.

Now back to the original question. When I volunteer anything they know what they're getting. Most of the time for me it's been everything but the vast majority of my volunteer photo work has been sports stuff fro my brother's high school and I felt no reason to hold anything back.

That being said, you obviously need to talk with someone and come up with an agreement on what they're going to get. If you ask me (and the posters above me seem to pretty much agree) the organization should be happy to get anything for free.

It wouldn't hurt to have a contract. That would help to keep things clear by specifically spelling out what they are going to get. Can't argue with that. It has the potential added benefit of letting them know that you're serious about this.

Don't let people walk all over you and only give them what you're comfortable giving them. Make sure they know what and how much they're going to get before you start and how they're allowed to use what they're getting. Don't let volunteer work get in the way of the rest of your life.

As to this specific situation, let them know that you were shooting this on a volunteer basis and they should be happy with what they got. Also let them know that there's no way that you're going to give them ownership of anything.