Photos for a magazine article.

[DeLeon]

I recently shot some photos of some civil war era guns for a friend of mine that is a gun collector. I don't know much about them other than the short history lesson that he gave me the hour I was at his home that day. I received this e-mail today and I'm not sure how to handle the situation.

I am the publisher of a magazine produced by and for the Colt Collectors Association. XXXX XXXX has submitted an article with photographs for publication. I would like to use your photographs in the layout, attached. However, I wonder if you could provide me with scans without your business signature? It is always our policy to give photo credit but I would prefer not to have your business name as part of the image. They are great photos, by the way.

There is time to just put the scans on a CD and mail them to me. Or you could email them, if you would prefer. Please call me with questions. Thank you.

After I shot the photos I gave him a CD with low-res files because he said he wanted to e-mail them to some other collectors to see what they thought. He mentioned that he submited articles from time to time, but I didn't pay much attention to that (I guess thats my fault)

[Craig]

If the magazine wants to pay you for the use of the images, then I would remove the business logo. Make sure you get the details down in writing (terms of use). Some (not all) folks abuse your copyrighted work if they the terms are not crystal clear. They feel its easier to get forgiveness vs. permission. If they want them for free, then I would not let them be used. Its obviously your call, but my policy is, no pay, no photo. I have found if give your work away, it is harder to charge for it down the line (to the same mag, person, business, etc).

[ndsimm]

Craig is right...I learned this lesson the hard way. whatever agreement you get with them, get it in writing. Can you get a back issue of the magazine to see how the photos are credited?

[bondarnes]

If your friend who wrote the article was paid for the article then you should also get paid for the images. This may be like many small trade publications that don't pay for articles or pictures. I wouldn't count on being paid, but it is also nice to be "published". You will be able to use the magazine as a leverage tool to get paid work. You have also learned a valuable business lesson early on and will remember this in the future I'm sure.