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What's Fair In This Situation?


ruthless
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I've been asking people can I photograph their dogs for my portfolio. Someone just asked [in order to butter up the person they were asking on my behalf!] if they'd get the files in return. I said:

He can have lo-res files. I don't give out hi-res files. I can arrange one 10x8 print and if he wants any other prints I can get them printed at a place nearby where he'd just pay for them when he picked them up.

Is that fair? What would you offer/expect?

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Hi-res files = negatives in my opinion, so NO.

I do think it is fair to give them 'something' if they ask, a nice print or photo product?

(mind you not all ask or expect it, some are just flattered for their dog to be used).

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I've been asking people can I photograph their dogs for my portfolio. Someone just asked [in order to butter up the person they were asking on my behalf!] if they'd get the files in return. I said:
He can have lo-res files. I don't give out hi-res files. I can arrange one 10x8 print and if he wants any other prints I can get them printed at a place nearby where he'd just pay for them when he picked them up.

Is that fair? What would you offer/expect?

I think it's perfectly reasonable and fair.

If the person would agree to these terms - then it's the ideal situation. If they want the high res copies, then I guess it becomes a matter of how much to you want to have that dog in your portfolio.

I've given out hi-res copies once or twice before...With a signed contract that says they can be used for private, personal use only.

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To elaborate, I would much prefer to arrange a nice print myself

at a pro lab I am familiar with rather than just give away a hi-res

file that might be printed on a cheap home printer and look

pretty ordinary.

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It's pretty customary to give something to your subject when YOU are asking them to do things for you.

High res files are not out of the question as the person is helping you out. And "high res" can mean a lot of things - most people don't really understand. You don't have to give huge files, just make sure they are ready for printing up to something 8x12 ... and say larger prints need extra tlc and can be ordered through you. You might want to specify a number ... say 3 or 10 (or whatever) files suitable for printing.

When I've done a session to practice something new or for another reason that is about ME, I give them some images on disk and/or prints - depending on what the value to me is for the shoot.

I'd also make sure that I gave them some web ready files with your details (whatever you decide those will be) on them and in the agreement state that these are the ones to be used on FB and emailing and on their own web pages etc. Encourage them to get them out there coz they have your contact details on 'em!

Or if you don't want to give files, do the same thing with prints - offer a set number of poses/prints and sizes. I'd think more than one but no more than 10 is reasonable. I'd probably stick with 3 or 5?

I'd also make sure that I gave them some web ready files with your details (whatever you decide those will be) on them and in the agreement state that these are the ones to be used on FB and emailing and on their own web pages etc. Encourage them to get them out there coz they have your contact details on 'em!

Edited by kja
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If he wants high res files, he can take them himself!

He didn't ask, it was just mentioned that maybe if I offered it might work in my favour. The person hasn't even been approached yet! :laugh:

LOL then yep i think an 8x10 sounds fine

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It's pretty customary to give something to your subject when YOU are asking them to do things for you.

High res files are not out of the question as the person is helping you out. And "high res" can mean a lot of things - most people don't really understand. You don't have to give huge files, just make sure they are ready for printing up to something 8x12 ... and say larger prints need extra tlc and can be ordered through you. You might want to specify a number ... say 3 or 10 (or whatever) files suitable for printing.

When I've done a session to practice something new or for another reason that is about ME, I give them some images on disk and/or prints - depending on what the value to me is for the shoot.

I'd also make sure that I gave them some web ready files with your details (whatever you decide those will be) on them and in the agreement state that these are the ones to be used on FB and emailing and on their own web pages etc. Encourage them to get them out there coz they have your contact details on 'em!

Or if you don't want to give files, do the same thing with prints - offer a set number of poses/prints and sizes. I'd think more than one but no more than 10 is reasonable. I'd probably stick with 3 or 5?

I'd also make sure that I gave them some web ready files with your details (whatever you decide those will be) on them and in the agreement state that these are the ones to be used on FB and emailing and on their own web pages etc. Encourage them to get them out there coz they have your contact details on 'em!

:laugh: Ok, ok, I get it! :)

Hey, you're pretty generous kja!

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Thinking about this more, and based on what I have done in the past, I think I would be offering

them some nicely finished prints and some web versions for their personal use. A couple

of freebies or if they want a bunch, do a "deal" with them.

Edited by chezzyr
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Guest Tess32

I gave web-sized files for their own personal use. More people seem to want that lately than actual printed files half the time!

ETA - just be careful you don't ask someone with the attitude that it's THEIR dog so they deserve to earn some money the sales of your own photos! I hate that attitude - sure you own the dog, but it's MY work.

Edited by Tess32
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Standard TFP (time for prints) agreement = agreed upon number of web res files with photographers copyright on them for non-commercial use only, and agreement to provide any prints requested at cost price.

This is how it works with human models updating their portfolio, anyhoo :laugh: x

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I've given high res files on a provided memory stick. But this was a friend, it was my first time photographing dogs and I was very new to photography.

Agree with chezzyr re the home printer thing though, I saw what one of mine looked like off a home printer compared to what it looked like when I had it printed at a lab - nice green colour cast and not sharp. Argh.

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From a professional point of view I agree with chezzyr's suggestions.

If its a friend for a project then sure share the files but if you are acting in a professional situation/purpose would only offer a 8x12 print or similar certainly not hi res image files.

Depends on the situation.

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