Quote:
Originally Posted by Leah Ireland
I like your photos Meeshee and recommended you to a lady, but she reported back to me that you would charge her double to keep the rights to her photos.
As some ladies still prefer to be anonymous in this profession, I think that is a really scary proposition. Not everyones wants or can afford to pay extra for discretion, and I think coming from a female photographer that it is particularly disappointing.
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Yes you did refer her, Leah and I thank you for that. However, I have an obligation to abide by my policies and practices as I'm sure you do the same in your business, whether I'm a male or female is irrelevant. If I am going to do business with a client, it must be to the benefit of both of us, I'm sure you can understand.
When a photographer releases the (copy)rights to photos from a photo shoot it means that the photographer rightfully deletes all photos from their computer/records upon completion of the shoot and turns over all of his/her work to the client and has no rights to the photos whatsoever. In this regard, the client at that point has 100% rights to do whatever he/she likes to the photos and post wherever he/she desires and even profit from the photos without any rights or say from the photographer.
In terms of anonymity, I consistently have clients who practice total anonymity. In other words, they do not want any of their photos that may in any way shape or form suggest who they are. In honor of this, my contract fully discloses that prior to my posting any of their photos on my site. All of my clients can attest to this including ladies whom I'm sure you know. I obtain their consent on a per photo basis to what I would like to post on my website - period. As a woman, I understand this. There is nothing scary about that.
But when someone requests that I fully release copyright the exchange is a higher price. Given the terms of my contract, I think it is more than fair.
In today's economy, I totally understand that every penny counts. That is why I stand by the aforementioned clause in my contract of obtaining the approval to post individual images of my clients on my site. After all, my website is indicative of my work.
My pre-shoot phone consultations determine what style of shoot a client desires, whether it's showing face or practicing total anonymity as you have stated, Leah. Such an understanding enables us to maximize all of the photos without having to eliminate those that do suggest who she is.
This provides a fair arrangement for both photographer and client. Again, as a woman, I strive to respect the desires of my clients. But if the client desires to go a step further and ask that I release all copyright to my work, there is a price. Otherwise, it does not make sense for me to do business with her and she is best suited to find another photographer who will meet with her needs.
Smokin' Hot Photos: Stay Ahead of the Curve
