Advice needed

gingerjon · 09-02-2010, 09:08

How would you respond to this (unsolicited) email? Obviously the bits between asterisks have been removed to protect the innocent (guilty?).

Any thoughts would be very welcome.

----------

"Hello Jon,

I work for *football magazine*, we are profiling *a club you take pictures of* in our next edition and have spoken to *someone you know*. I’m contacting you to see if you can help us attain a range of action shots, team photo’s (senior/youth), shots of your facility and maybe a picture of *person you know* for use within in our full colour A4 publication.

Please send through a selection of 10 or so to our studio guys – *email address* they require the best resolution possible.

We can credit the pics to whome you choose. Please let us know what you would like displayed on the images.

Kind regards,"

Chaz Photos · 09-02-2010, 09:12

Do you one the *football magazine* have you spoken to *someone you know*
This is the first thing I ask I note no mention of Payment for photos?

ZoZo · 09-02-2010, 09:13

You're being asked to give them images for a small credit - so the question you need to answer for yourself is "am I happy giving my images away for a credit that virtually no-one will read, or do I want to be paid, and if I want to be paid, how much will I charge for usage of 10 images?"

The interesting thing with their email is the assumption that they make that you will gladly give up your images for free - they don't even make an apology for having no budget

nomorem6 · 09-02-2010, 09:18

Put a huge watermark on each of the images (which can't be cropped out) and sent them through with your rates and terms of use. I'm sure you'll never hear from them again but a) you never know, and b) it will tell them that you're not stupid!

KIPAX · 09-02-2010, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoZo

they don't even make an apology for having no budget

Where does it say they have no budget ?

Sorry but arn't you all being a bit quick on the old buzzer.. I see nothing in the email that says they want them for free... its a good guess yes but you shouldn't be hanging people on a guess

I have had simmilar from newspapers and I simply reply that yes i can provide good quality pictures as required.. can you please tell me what file format resolution etc and also your budget. (I know some send this as first contact and then if pushed will offer a price)

If no budget then a polite response saying I cant help in this instance but please feel free to contact me again for any other needs....blah blah

well better worded but tha knows..

always be polite.. never presume.

ZoZo · 09-02-2010, 09:28

I'm not saying don't be polite - however I've been in the business long enough to know when people want something for nothing - and just as they assume that 10 images will be sent through (with the instruction to tell them how to credit the images), so too can we as photographers assume that they intend to pay.

KIPAX · 09-02-2010, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoZo

I'm not saying don't be polite - however I've been in the business long enough to know when people want something for nothing - and just as they assume that 10 images will be sent through (with the instruction to tell them how to credit the images), so too can we as photographers assume that they intend to pay.

Well I have had exactly the same type of email for sports pics and when i politely tell them I cant then they ask what sort of money i am talking about..

I dont recall you actually offering any advice to the OP If he didnt want paying he would ahve just sent the images so he obviously feels he wants somehting.. my way has worked for me in the past... maybe you can offer some different advice as you have been doing it so long ?

Arkady · 09-02-2010, 09:40

Agreed ^ and ^^^
Be polite and ask them what resolution they require and how much they're prepared to pay...
If they were thinking they'll get them for free it'll merely alert them to the fact that you didn't just sail up the Clyde on a banana boat... And it'll be a starter for further negotiations.

-Rob- · 09-02-2010, 09:57

I'd respond with an e-mail saying you would be more than happy to help them out. Ask them for a timescale and state what the price will be per photograph you provide. Personally I'd charge them for providing the photo rather than for them printing it but that's up to you.

I'd assume from their e-mail that they are hoping to get the photos for free, that doesn't necessarily mean they won't pay for them if asked to. If you don't ask then you don't get.

gingerjon · 09-02-2010, 10:01 **Thread Starter**

Cheers for all the replies.

I'll reply as per Kipax's suggestion later when I have time.

Contrary to appearances I am actually at work at the minute!

KIPAX · 09-02-2010, 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingerjon

Contrary to appearances I am actually at work at the minute!

Your being paid to post on TP .. how good is that!!

gingerjon · 09-02-2010, 11:59 **Thread Starter**

Email sent!

ZoZo · 09-02-2010, 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIPAX

Well I have had exactly the same type of email for sports pics and when i politely tell them I cant then they ask what sort of money i am talking about..

I dont recall you actually offering any advice to the OP If he didnt want paying he would ahve just sent the images so he obviously feels he wants somehting.. my way has worked for me in the past... maybe you can offer some different advice as you have been doing it so long ?

I seem to have offended you. It was not my intention to offend. I am sorry that I have. The OP said 'any thoughts would be welcome', so I shared my thoughts. Again, sorry to have offended you with my thoughts.
Zoe

photon · 09-02-2010, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIPAX

Well I have had exactly the same type of email for sports pics and when i politely tell them I cant

But you want them to know you can...

Ah, my mistake, you ask them what their budget is

KIPAX · 09-02-2010, 12:23

ignore posted before previous edit

KIPAX · 09-02-2010, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingerjon

Email sent!

Its likely they will say no budget.. but the thing is.. if you get a few of these.. one will turn around and say OK how much.. averages

KIPAX · 09-02-2010, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoZo

I seem to have offended you.

I must have missed it.. where?

Arkady · 09-02-2010, 16:40

He's always like that Zoe...we'd have it no other way - it's what makes him special...lol

MARK AMIES · 09-02-2010, 16:55

Sounds a bit rum to me all this. No offence to anyone in the industry , but Magazines do try and get away with murder with picture sales.

If they can get it on the cheap or pay nowt they will. Don't let them.

It's a different matter when it comes around to advertising in their magazines though - top dollar everytime.

gingerjon · 09-02-2010, 18:05 **Thread Starter**

The email seems to have scared them off!

Ah well.

09-02-2010, 09:08	#1
gingerjon Forum Regular Real name : Jon Location: Chesham, Bucks Posts: 1,384 Camera: Nikon D90 / Canonet QL19 / Nikon F65 iTrader: (0)	Advice needed How would you respond to this (unsolicited) email? Obviously the bits between asterisks have been removed to protect the innocent (guilty?). Any thoughts would be very welcome. ---------- "Hello Jon, I work for football magazine, we are profiling a club you take pictures of in our next edition and have spoken to someone you know. I’m contacting you to see if you can help us attain a range of action shots, team photo’s (senior/youth), shots of your facility and maybe a picture of person you know for use within in our full colour A4 publication. Please send through a selection of 10 or so to our studio guys – email address they require the best resolution possible. We can credit the pics to whome you choose. Please let us know what you would like displayed on the images. Kind regards," __________________ *It's a blog about things ...* And elsewhere ... Jon Smalldon Photography / Me on Flickr

09-02-2010, 09:12	#2
Chaz Photos Keep going, going, going Real name : Chaz Location: Devon UK Posts: 4,361 Camera: 7D + Gripped EOS 50D + 50D iTrader: (13)	Do you one the football magazine have you spoken to someone you know This is the first thing I ask I note no mention of Payment for photos? __________________ Photographically><> Chaz <>< www.chazphotographics.co.uk Tiverton & Heathcoat Photographic Club Wellington & District Camera Club Taking and Printing Photos since 1964 Flickr Two 50D's For Sale

09-02-2010, 09:40	#8
Arkady Rugged, Windswept and Hormonal Real name : Rob Location: Iserlohn, NRW, Germany Posts: 8,886 Camera: Chang-Cheng DF-3 iTrader: (10)	Agreed ^ and ^^^ Be polite and ask them what resolution they require and how much they're prepared to pay... If they were thinking they'll get them for free it'll merely alert them to the fact that you didn't just sail up the Clyde on a banana boat... And it'll be a starter for further negotiations. __________________ "When I hold a camera, I Know no fear..." Alfred Eisenstadt "If your pictures are no good - you're not close enough..." Robert Capa FlickR

09-02-2010, 09:57	#9
-Rob- Say Cheese!...Oh, and call me Susan Real name : Rob Location: Preston, Lancashire Posts: 2,249 Camera: Nikon D300 iTrader: (28)	I'd respond with an e-mail saying you would be more than happy to help them out. Ask them for a timescale and state what the price will be per photograph you provide. Personally I'd charge them for providing the photo rather than for them printing it but that's up to you. I'd assume from their e-mail that they are hoping to get the photos for free, that doesn't necessarily mean they won't pay for them if asked to. If you don't ask then you don't get. __________________ www.BlackBullPhotography.com View my Facebook (if you send me a friend request then please add a note to let me know who you are)

09-02-2010, 12:23	#15
KIPAX over it Location: Accrington Posts: 5,744 Camera: Canon 1D mkIV iTrader: (11)	ignore posted before previous edit Last edited by KIPAX; 09-02-2010 at 12:27.

09-02-2010, 09:13	#3
ZoZo Forum Regular Posts: 502 iTrader: (0)	You're being asked to give them images for a small credit - so the question you need to answer for yourself is "am I happy giving my images away for a credit that virtually no-one will read, or do I want to be paid, and if I want to be paid, how much will I charge for usage of 10 images?" The interesting thing with their email is the assumption that they make that you will gladly give up your images for free - they don't even make an apology for having no budget

09-02-2010, 09:18	#4
nomorem6 Been here a while Real name : Chris Location: Up my lane Posts: 472 Camera: Canon 5D MkII x4 iTrader: (2)	Put a huge watermark on each of the images (which can't be cropped out) and sent them through with your rates and terms of use. I'm sure you'll never hear from them again but a) you never know, and b) it will tell them that you're not stupid!

09-02-2010, 09:28	#6
ZoZo Forum Regular Posts: 502 iTrader: (0)	I'm not saying don't be polite - however I've been in the business long enough to know when people want something for nothing - and just as they assume that 10 images will be sent through (with the instruction to tell them how to credit the images), so too can we as photographers assume that they intend to pay.

09-02-2010, 10:01 Thread Starter	#10
gingerjon Forum Regular Real name : Jon Location: Chesham, Bucks Posts: 1,384 Camera: Nikon D90 / Canonet QL19 / Nikon F65 iTrader: (0)	Cheers for all the replies. I'll reply as per Kipax's suggestion later when I have time. Contrary to appearances I am actually at work at the minute!

09-02-2010, 11:59 Thread Starter	#12
gingerjon Forum Regular Real name : Jon Location: Chesham, Bucks Posts: 1,384 Camera: Nikon D90 / Canonet QL19 / Nikon F65 iTrader: (0)	Email sent!

09-02-2010, 16:40	#18
Arkady Rugged, Windswept and Hormonal Real name : Rob Location: Iserlohn, NRW, Germany Posts: 8,886 Camera: Chang-Cheng DF-3 iTrader: (10)	He's always like that Zoe...we'd have it no other way - it's what makes him special...lol

09-02-2010, 16:55	#19
MARK AMIES funnier than Les Dennis Location: East London Posts: 494 iTrader: (0)	Sounds a bit rum to me all this. No offence to anyone in the industry , but Magazines do try and get away with murder with picture sales. If they can get it on the cheap or pay nowt they will. Don't let them. It's a different matter when it comes around to advertising in their magazines though - top dollar everytime. __________________ Everywhere and Nowhere

09-02-2010, 18:05 Thread Starter	#20
gingerjon Forum Regular Real name : Jon Location: Chesham, Bucks Posts: 1,384 Camera: Nikon D90 / Canonet QL19 / Nikon F65 iTrader: (0)	The email seems to have scared them off! Ah well.