first request for picture

how to handle freebies

[soapystar]

Having recently added my own copyright widget photo's to my website i have now been asked by a voluntary organisation for use of one of my pictures. I said it would be ok and just asked for a credit back to my site. The pictures of the site contain my copyright logo and i offered to let them have one without the logo but now im wondering how this should be handled. If i do that then the picture could be used free from there site without that logo by someone else. Anyone have experience in how this sort of thing should be handled?
Thanks.

[Sanenet]

They should put a disclaimer under the image, or at the bottom of the story - something along the lines of "Pictures used with kind permission from widget.com - reproduction prohibited".

Insert a "silent" watermark into the image.

[soapystar]

yes a slient watermark is a good idea. My only concern is that they sau the will use the picture in a banner so i dont see how the credit will go with the picture.

[Sanenet]

Hmm... if the picture isn't discernable by itself, it's probably best just to take the link and run.

How important is it for you to have the copyright? If it's part of a banner I don't suppose anybody is going to go to the trouble of nicking it. Maybe you could ask for a line that says "Additional images and content supplied by soapystar"?

[Leosghost]

i offered to let them have one without the logo

Apart from ...WWHAAAATT!

even if you were having a "bunnies and bambi" moment there ..unoffer the uncopywrittenmarked version back to a visiblycopywrittenmarked version quick...imagine ( it happens every day ) that some one rips off their banner for your image and edits ( crops ) off the rest of their banner ..they now have your image ..pristine and usable ....

Remember ..never ever do deals before having 2 big coffees .. ;)

[soapystar]

yup, after i said it i thought about what i was giving away. As i said this is my first time of being asked. Oh well, second coffee coming up!

[jimbo_mac]

Personally, I would take the link and offer the image as sanenet stated above.
Seeing it is a voluntary organisation, it is a sign of goodwill on your part, and both parties benefit.

However, if they want to use the image as a banner as well, a fee for the usage should be agreed, as that is a different type of usage altogether. (a small amount is better than no amount, after all the camera did cost you not to mention the time).

[soapystar]

The thing is the pictures are there for my customers looking for city widgets, the pictures are of the city. So i never intended to make money from them. Anyway ive replied saying the logo would need to remain in the picture. I just have no idea what the normal procedure is for a volutary non-profit organisation like them or anyone else for that matter.

[soapystar]

right ive no sent them a logo free picture and my conscious is clear. I'm still confused as to how others handle it though.

[topr8]

personally i think just because an organisation is a "charity" or a so called non profit there is no reason to let them have stuff for free.

are the staff working for no wages, is their office rent free, do they get free postage ... if the answer to these questions is no, then why give them something for nothing?

... rant over! i get fed up with charities wanting stuff for nothing.

btw ... a link back could be a good form of payment.

[soapystar]

yup, all good points. I figured this was my first and we all know what first times can be like. From now on i'll have a fixed worded reply ready to paste for requests. At the end of the day i thought at least they asked, so they did the right thing.

[JayNocera]

That's true. Non-profits doesn't necessarily mean they make no money. I've done work with non-profits in the past. I don't charge them as much, but I do charge. There's a non-profit I did work with that just had a successful event and made $300,000.

[jk3210]

>>Anyone have experience in how this sort of thing should be handled?<<

Yes. If, in your opinion, it is a worthy organization, let them use the photo.

[soapystar]

Yes. If, in your opinion, it is a worthy organization, let them use the photo.

it is and i did, i just wasnt sure if letting them use it without my logo was normal practice.

[jk3210]

What's their PR and how full is their links page? ;)

If they're a PR8+, I'd let them use my car.