Should I let them use my photos?

EMA747

EMA747

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Name
Andy
Edit My Images
Yes
I took some photos of the Nottingham Marathon over the weekend with the intention of building up some images for my portfolio. I have been contacted via flickr by Notts Hospice asking if they can use my images. I'm in two minds if I should let them use them or not. It is a charity at the end of the day. It might lead to some sale as well, see copy of message below.

Copy of message:

Hi Andy

I am the web editor for the Nottinghamshire Hospice website www.nottshospice.org and I am trying to build up our presence on facebook www.facebook.com/nottinghamshirehospice and twitter BANNED/nottshospice.

I was hoping to take a lot of photos at the Marathon (I am not even an amateur photographer!) but had to miss the event due to sick children and my Notts Hospice colleagues were too busy staffing the water stations to take many.

Would you let me download some of your photos and use them directly in facebook or on the webpage in return for a mention and a link to your flickr stream? I would also tweet the fact we have some interesting photos to view online. They would have the watermark on them and I could mention that if anyone wants a copy they can contact you via flickr.

Let me know what you think.

Best Regards
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That is a polite and respectful email. At least thet asked! And considering it's a charity, let them use them IMHO.
 
I'd definitely let them use them, just ouot of curiosity what were you planning to do with them? What is putting you in two minds?
 
I would let them if it was me, especially after a nice email asking, alot of people would just take the image and use it. Happened to me, not nice.

So charity and a polite email puts them in good books for me, as you say, it might lead some were, maybe sales or even ask you back next time to get the shots etc.
 
Polite request for a good charitable cause.....I would give them the images without question and it would be a bonus if some sales were made. In fact, I would probably donate any sales money too but that's just me because my photography is for fun.
 
I'm going to let them have some then. Maybe only low res and also provided they only use them for the what they stated in the message. I met some nice people photographing the event and will use a few in my portfolio so I think it's only fair to give something back.

The only reason I was in two minds was past threads on here where people get slagged off for giving away images. I am just starting down the long road to maybe going pro so I want to start off the best way.
 
EMA747 said:
I'm going to let them have some then. Maybe only low res and also provided they only use them for the what they stated in the message. I met some nice people photographing the event and will use a few in my portfolio so I think it's only fair to give something back.

The only reason I was in two minds was past threads on here where people get slagged off for giving away images. I am just starting down the long road to maybe going pro so I want to start off the best way.
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I don't see anything wrong with given images away in this case.

I think people get angry when your asked to turn out to an event do the pics and give them away for free. Asking for a days work for free etc

I think one reason giving images away is looked down on is if every hobbiest does it, it's going to spoil the skill of the photography industry. Your case here though I don't see a problem
 
Hell yes, copyright free full size. Good cause, how many were you really going to sell anyhow. Bit of free advertising build up a strong relationship with em you could end up well away. He has offered you a link from their site and you never know if you offered your services to the charity where it might lead. Word of mouth is power!
 
Rob.Richards said:
Hell yes, copyright free full size. Good cause, how many were you really going to sell anyhow. Bit of free advertising build up a strong relationship with em you could end up well away. He has offered you a link from their site and you never know if you offered your services to the charity where it might lead. Word of mouth is power!
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Listen to this man, he speaks the truth.

I would go as far as letting them sell full size versions and keep the money they make from them, as said word of mouth is great free advertising, especially when you consider the hospices contact with local radio stations, newspapers and even TV.
 
Its really up to you and i've done free photos before for a charity, a very small one.

However, with the larger charities, if they can afford to pay an area manager £45k+ a year surely they can afford a few photos.
 
EMA747 said:
The only reason I was in two minds was past threads on here where people get slagged off for giving away images. .
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saddest thing i have read in ages :( do what you want.. not what tp users want...
 
EMA747 said:
The only reason I was in two minds was past threads on here where people get slagged off for giving away images. I am just starting down the long road to maybe going pro so I want to start off the best way.
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The best way for you is to do what you want with your photos.

What others say or think isn't really of importance as they won't be the ones shaping your career path. You will.

Go with your gut instinct and always make a decision you would be happy to make again in the same situation. If it doesn't work, you know to avoid the situation in the future. If it does, then you made it happen yourself.

Only you have your conscience as a bed fellow. Treat it well and it will return the favour.
 
EMA747 said:
The only reason I was in two minds was past threads on here where people get slagged off for giving away images. I am just starting down the long road to maybe going pro so I want to start off the best way.
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Jeepers... don't start listening to seriously to people on here, some have little knowledge of business or many morals and chirp up like their opinion rules the photographic world. I would let them have them with a mention back to you and when accepting offer help to them in the future if they need it... you can always decline if it is not attractive work.
 
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Did some free work for a charity many years ago following a sad report in the local paper - after a year they asked me to do some paid work and I've been receiving over £1K worth of work from them every year since.
Didn't plan it that way but it turned out well for me, could for you too - but even if not a Hospice is a very worthwhile cause.
 
KIPAX said:
saddest thing i have read in ages :( do what you want.. not what tp users want...
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Bob on, at the end of the day they're your pictures, giving something away to a worthy cause is one of the most rewarding things you can do whether it be a book to a charity shop a couple of hours of your time or a new car for a raffle.

Do what you want to do and ignore all the naysayers, if it were me I'd let them have the pictures and the money from any sales especially as it's a local hospice.
 
Your decision but as said above it could be a very good start to getting you noticed with the puplicity and link. This charity will have people from all walks of life involved in it which could lead on to other things, in the way of paid work.
 
at least they had the decency to ask, have said they would be watermarked and will provide a link back to flickr.
I would do it no problem - if only someone would ask lol.
 
Its up to you entirely, however, I agree with a lot of the sentiments in this thread that photography doesn't have to be about money any more than anything else you do in life does.

That'll be £25+VAT for this advice (as per NUJ copy rates)
 
I've sent them a message saying they can have some images free of charge. I also mentioned that is they put a message on about buying a copy then I would split any sales and make a donation to their charity, though I might well give them all the money.

If it leads to something bigger in the future then great, if not I'm still happy. I enjoyed shooting the event and meeting some of the charity runners so it's nice to give something back.
 
Would it be possible to charge them a nominal fee then donate it back to the charity and Gift Aid the donation? That way, they'll make a little extra on the deal with the gift aid.
 
I'd do anything for the hospices, you can't put a price on what they do so giving them a few pictures isn't going to do anyone any harm.
 
Harvey_nikon said:
Its really up to you and i've done free photos before for a charity, a very small one.

However, with the larger charities, if they can afford to pay an area manager £45k+ a year surely they can afford a few photos.
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Damn straight ;)

I'm doing a job for a charity tomorrow. As it happens they have an annual turnover well into 8 figures. Some of the execs get 6 figure salaries. They hired me via their PR agent. I also don't happen to agree with how they spend all their money. You can bet I ain't doing it for free ;)

But if a charity that I'd ordinarily support asks me nicely if they can use pics I've already taken and it's literally no cost to me then I'd be happy to help (actually that's true of nice people too - not just charities).
 
I do some work occasionally for a charity, the main problem was getting them to understand that every time I press down the shutter button, I'm spending money, or rather, loosing it through depreciation/wear and tear. That is for a very small charity though.

You should take this requests on a case by case basis. You say you want to go pro, then that will require you to make some money to live off at least.
 
Haven't read the entire thread, but if these images are for the charity's facebook page, then why not just place them on your facebook page and add them to their facebook page. That way is a win-win.
 
EMA747 said:
I've sent them a message saying they can have some images free of charge. I also mentioned that is they put a message on about buying a copy then I would split any sales and make a donation to their charity, though I might well give them all the money.

If it leads to something bigger in the future then great, if not I'm still happy. I enjoyed shooting the event and meeting some of the charity runners so it's nice to give something back.
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:thumbs: right decision!
 
I've had a little to do with this hospice. They do a wonderful job and, if the images were mine, I'd have no hesitation in giving them.

I wish I'd known they wanted the images. If I had known I'd have given them a days free photography.
 
Go for it, as this is free advertising for you and your photography skills. I have had quite a few of my images used in local papers and on various websites, again I only allow the right sized images for what they require and no bigger, plus my website address. And I know that I have picked up plenty of paid shots from these images.
 
I'd let them use them tbh. Free advertising for you, they get some publicity as well, and you never know they may stipulate that they were given the images for free, which in turn gives you a better public image
 
They are going to put a note saying people can contact me if they want a copy of the images. Is there any issues security wise with giving out my email address? Contacting me by flickr is complicated if people are not signed up already.

If anyone did purchase a copy of an image is DSCL the best place to get them printed? Is there anywhere that will print then post them direct to the buyer rather than post back to me then me post them out?
 
KIPAX said:
saddest thing i have read in ages :( do what you want.. not what tp users want...
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Couldn't agree more. No one on TP has the right to tell you what to do with your images anymore that someone has the right to use them without your permission. Some people on TP don't like that this happens but that's their problem.

I think you've made the right choice and it will help a good cause.
 
EMA747 said:
They are going to put a note saying people can contact me if they want a copy of the images. Is there any issues security wise with giving out my email address? Contacting me by flickr is complicated if people are not signed up already.

If anyone did purchase a copy of an image is DSCL the best place to get them printed? Is there anywhere that will print then post them direct to the buyer rather than post back to me then me post them out?
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no secufrity issues with your email, but you may get some spam increases.

Loxley will send direct to a client, and send the invoice straight to you. Don't know about DSCL
 
My feeling is that most charities are the same as any other business and should be charged. If you feel its a small organisation operating in what I would describe as a charity in the true sense of the word then let them have them for free and count them as a useful business contact.
 
My opinion is if you are asking yourself if you should let them use the images - the answer is probably yes.

Provide them with a set of web sharpened images for facebook - as many as they want. Earlier this year I did a shoot for a 10k run and for prints I just set up a photobox professional gallery. That way folk could order prints - but I wouldn't have the burden of sending them off/taking payment/sorting out orders etc. Then everything that was in the account as profit I donated to the charity.
 
RichardtheSane said:
My opinion is if you are asking yourself if you should let them use the images - the answer is probably yes.

Provide them with a set of web sharpened images for facebook - as many as they want. Earlier this year I did a shoot for a 10k run and for prints I just set up a photobox professional gallery. That way folk could order prints - but I wouldn't have the burden of sending them off/taking payment/sorting out orders etc. Then everything that was in the account as profit I donated to the charity.
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Richard any idea what the quality was like from Photobox? That's exactly the sort of service I am after. I don't have a website yet so somewhere that I can just put the images up and not have to worry about postage and payments would be ideal.

Do you mind me asking how many images you sold/profit made? I understand if you don't want to say but it would be useful info in case I shoot anything like the Nottingham Marathon in the future. ;)
 
Sorry, I don't know first hand what the quality was like - but I did put a caveat on the page that if anyone was even remotely unhappy with the prints to drop me a line and I would get them reprinted using my usual supplier (DSCL). No-one got in touch.

Now, after all the work getting it sorted I got precisely two orders totalling 12 prints with a net profit to charity of just over a tenner! :lol: OK, I did price myself a the low end to see if I could get more people paying up but it didn't really work out.

I might get a few prints done for myself by photobox just to see if they are good enough for charity events like this.
 
I have used photobox recently for some 10x8 images and the quality was very good. They also had a quick tunaround, well packaged and email progress updates to you.

With regard to the hospice wanting to use the images I see you have already let them but wanted to add that as my Son uses East Anglian Childrens Hospice (EACH) for respite I have taken photo's at a few events and always offer them the use of them FOC. They do a fantastic job and I have no doubt that as a family we would have been in a far worse state without their assistance. I know for a fact that EACH only get 4% of the funding from stautory sources and have to fundraise the remainder - approx £14,000 per day 365 days of the year to offer the service.

Thanks

Nick
 
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