rocky_g1

I just drag my images to google image search

For the first time I used Google image search to look online for anyone violating my copyright. After loading three images I have found 6 of my images on a bunch of websites. I have found two interiors used by a local commercial and residential cleaning service. The kicker is they have credited my images to a different local photographer. But even more troubling, I found 4 of my images on an article by a major online international news publication. The images they posted were supplied by an international news, picture, and video company. This company boast 8 agencies on 6 continents around the world. Not only did they supply my images with out permission, they also watermarked them with their own copyright. I know there are a million threads, post, and articles on this and I am about to dive into them, but I was hoping someone more experienced than me might have some thoughtful insight based on my particular situation.

I have recently been asked to photograph exteriors of multiple buildings for an international siding company. Buildings were damaged as a result of hurricane Irma last fall and are being resided by this company. Company wants to use images for their product catalogue, a blog, a video, and social media. They want perpetual usage so they don't have to worry about usage rights expiring. They expect that they will want approx. 10 images total. They also want to share the images with their partners (the owners of the buildings). I am unsure of how to create the usage fees - I have never worked with a company of this size. I looked on my blink bid software. They have a usage fee estimate worksheet. According to that, I would be charging up to $5,000 per image! That seems excessively high, but like I said, it may be accurate when dealing with a company of this stature and wealth and considering what they want to do with the photos from an advertising standpoint. Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to overbid and potentially lose them, but I also want to get paid what is fair. Thanks!

Thank. Any advice on what to look for and how to go about it?

I would like to take my real estate photography business to the next level. I have done a few hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other commercial type shoots but nothing like what the big guys do. I have recently been contacted by the AP content department about some possible work as well as a major magazine and I realized how little I understand about the commercial world. I looked into joining my local ASMP but after doing some research, I found my local chapter is not very active. I could really use some advice from a working commercial photographer, especially one who specializes in hospitality. I would be grateful to pay him or her for their time. I am just not sure how appropriate it is to reach out to some one and offer pay for advice. Any thoughts?

<p>Thanks JayDann, real estate is crazy where Im at too. I think about a third of the local working population here are agents. </p> <p>Thanks for all the insight. I am going to go on from here informing clients of the proper use of my work and sticking to my guns. Now that brings up some logistic questions. </p> <p>First, it sounds like the best use for contracts is make sure you get paid. I have never had that problem and if I did, I wouldn't go to court anyway. I would just refuse future work. From my research I am under the understanding that the onus is on the client possessing the images and therefore I wouldn't need a signed licensing agreement to legally enforce my copyright. To take from the popular music analogy, you don't sign a contract when you buy a CD, its printed on the package and you are legally obliged to comply. I was thinking of just briefly explaining the terms on my website, and then attaching a licensing agreement to the invoice I send them. In addition, I would verbally explain to new clients during our first shoot. </p> <p>Secondly, I do plan on adding my copyright to the metadata on everything I shoot. I know most printers wont print anything with a copyright unless its accompanied by a release from the photographer. Is there anything other then the licensing agreement other then my name, the clients name, date, and parameter of the agreement to ensure they will have no hassle when printing brochures? </p> <p>Finally, does this plan sound reasonable, am I missing anything?</p>

<p >Thanks for all your response and yes, everything I am reading here has helped. I should have mentioned some other factors about my market that are driving my concern. First off, the copyright concern has nothing to do with ego. When my clients refer to me as an artist, I politely correct them. I inform them that I'm not pretentious enough to be an artist. I like to think of myself more as a craftsmen.</p> <p > </p> <p > I live on a small 2 by 4 mile island thats pretty removed from the mainland. We have a crazy expensive real estate market and properties are turning over all the time. My biggest concern is that once I shoot a property, my images will be giving away and I will be loosing out on future work. I already feel that I'm priced way too low but I like to work. </p> <p > </p> <p > I think I am just going to put a small disclaimer posted on my website and reiterate the terms on the invoices going out. I treat all my clients like gold, so if they are offended, oh well. I know they wont find anyone else down here that does what I do for what I charge.</p> <p > </p> <p >Thanks everyone </p>

<p > I have recently run into an issue with my biggest client concerning copyright and I'm not sure how to handle it. I shoot both listings and vacation rentals for this company. I charge $200 for listings and $400 for vacation rentals. I got an email from an agent, I do solely vacation rentals for, requesting a copy of the full resolution images to give to the owners of the property. I explained to her that I will give them the images for personal use, but they are copyrighted and they are not able to use them for anything else. The agent seemed to be a little confused and annoyed.</p> <p > I shot them for this company, I was payed by this company so I expect that they have rights to the images and they can't give them away. The agent explained to me that although they hired me and wrote the check, the owners are the ones who actually payed for the images to be done. </p> <p > I went ahead and sent the images in full resolution to the agent to pass onto the owners with my copyright embedded into the metadata. I usually don't put copyright info in the files I deliver but i felt in this case i should. Maybe I should do that from now on. The agent sent me a text today asking that I resend the images without the copyright in the files.</p> <p > I know, I should have a contact and everything in writing. I should be clear with my clients about the usage limitations. But when I have a new client, I don't want our first conversation to be about what they can't do with the images. I would think that would put a bad taste in someones mouth. Secondly, it seams impractical to have a contract for every shoot. Not only would it be a pain in the ass for me to have a contact written up for every shoot, it would also be an inconvenience for my clients. I have one client that I've done a few listings for that I have yet to meet. </p> <p > Im sure others here have had similar problems. Any advice one how to go about this?</p>